No, this post does not refer to the WNBA.

Anthony Reyes, you done good... real good. Reyes' start tonight was reminiscent of his best outings of the year: pounding the strike zone with fastballs, working quickly, giving up a ton of fly balls (3 GO, 17(!) FO), but few runs. The camera focused on Reyes and Dave Duncan having a conversation in the dugout during the top of the 2nd, and whatever was said there apparently worked (I'm thinking it was something to the effect of "throw fastballs, don't nibble"). The ton of fly ball outs didn't hurt him in the cavernous Comerica Park, especially with probably the Cards' best defensive outfield out there. Indeed, lboros noted in his Series preview over at VEB that a Tigers weakness at home was the hugeness of the outfield neutralizing their home run power. It definitely did, and even more appropriately, Pudge Rodriguez hit a ball a mile to the warning track in left late in the game, and So Taguchi hauled it in without blinking.

I mentioned earlier Taguchi's start in Game 1 of the '04 Series, for outfield defense, and that I wasn't anticipating that happening this year given the bevy of outfield options. But sure enough, La Russa did it again - So was solid as usual in LF and went 1 for 4, killing his postseason OPS. Preston Wilson, who I had hoped would start in LF, came in to get yet another K late in the game, replacing Chris Duncan at DH. Duncan had an RBI double in the third inning, likely sufficiently rattling Verlander before the Tigers' decision to pitch to Pujols put them behind 4-1 and took the crowd out of the game. Even Juan Encarnacion contributed, sort of, by drawing a walk (!) and getting an RBI groundout on the wacky obstruction play that scored 2 runs in the 6th. Ronnie Belliard actually had an awful game, going 0 for 4 with a K while missing a diving stop of a ground ball, but had perhaps the biggest intangible contribition of the evening, so he's off the hook.

So, Jeff Weaver faces Kenny Rogers tomorrow night. Rogers has been dominant this October, posting 15 shutout innings with 7 H, 14 K, and 4 BB, and supplying some snarling, fist-pumping excitement for the crowds at Comerica. Weaver has also been solid, posting a 2.16 ERA in 16 2/3 IP despite some not-so-pretty peripherals (12 H, 7 BB, only 5 K). The biggest news, however, could be the weather - it's supposed to be downright ugly in Detroit tomorrow. If this game is rained out until Monday - which doesn't look a whole lot better, so MLB might try to get it in tomorrow in the rain anyway - the Cards could come back with Chris Carpenter in Game 2 on normal rest, just like in the NLCS, moving Suppan up to Game 3 in St. Louis, and pushing Weaver back to Game 4, Reyes Game 5, and Carp and Suppan in 6-7 if necessary. Although given Reyes' performance tonight, starting him twice in the series might not be the worst thing in the world.

Every game that goes by, the more I realize we have a great shot to win this thing. The Cards are playing hungry, and do not want to be denied. Go get 'em tomorrow night.