That was the scene in the bottom of the 7th inning when, down 2-1, Houston Astro Lance Berkman launched a 3-run-homer off Chris Carpenter to put the ‘Stros up 4-2. It was the top of the 9th inning. Minute Maid Park was rocking. With former President George Bush and his wife Barbara looking on from just behind home plate David Eckstein stepped up to the plate with 2 outs. Soon he had 2 strikes against him and the Astros were one strike away from going to their first World Series in franchise history.
But Eckstein got a base hit. He then stole second. Then Brad Lidge, phenom pitcher, walked Jim Edmonds. With 2 men on and 2 outs Albert Pujols stepped to the plate. Pujols is admittedly one of the best hitters in baseball but he had been ineffective all series long. He had stranded runners on base in this very game. He swung and missed the first pitch but the second pitch that Lidge lobbed over the plate had home-run written all over it and Pujols rocketed the ball way above the upper deck of the stadium. It was incredible! I literally cried out “no way!” which brought my wife scrambling out of the next room to see what had occurred.
As much as I love October playoff baseball I have to admit that 90% of the games thus far have been somewhat disappointing affairs. This game made up for that and more…it was the kind of thing you only see in movies. And so the Cardinals kept themselves alive to return to St. Louis to play game 6. They are still down 3-2 and are one loss away from the end of the season. Even if they lose I appreciate the performance given tonight! That game truly was October baseball at its best.
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Have you been checking out the full moon the last few nights? Here in KC it has been incredible. Two nights ago there were thin patches of cottonball-like clouds rolling past the moon giving a nice eerie effect. Last night the sky was clear and the moon was amazingly bright. I took a back road home from my part time job and observed lots of low fog over the fields. With the full moon overhead it made for a perfect October atmosphere. I expected to see werewolves running across the fields in search of hapless victims.
If you’ve looked in the eastern sky just as it gets dark this month or if you have been looking at the ever-growing moon these past few days you may have noticed how close and how bright Mars is. It looks like a very large, bright star that is following the moon very closely across the night sky. When the moon isn’t so full you can notice a slightly redish tint with the naked eye. I looked at it with the telescope the other day and though it doesn’t magnify it much it does show it as a perfectly round disk, like the full moon but much smaller. This is the closest Mars has come to earth in 50,000 years and will be at its closest on October 29th. Check it out in your night sky, its pretty cool. With a bigger telescope you just might be able to see the Martians getting ready to attack.
What gorgeous pictures of the moon! Did you take those? We’ve had so much cloud cover, it’s been hard to see…maybe tonight!
Ummm…no Janet, can’t take credit for those. I was once again kicking myself last night for not having a digital camera because the moon shots I could’ve gotten the last few nights would have been incredible.
You just had to bring up last nights game didn’t you. š
I guess I need to look up. We were camping all weekend and I didn’t even notice the moon!
I remember when each of our girls discovered the moon when they were toddlers. Everytime we went outside at night they’d get so excited and point and say moon, moon, moon!!
We get so used to the fascinating things all around us. It’s fun to rediscover them with children.
You have to admit Jeff, that was amazing baseball!!!
I can’t believe you camped out all weekend and didn’t notice the moon. I’d ask what you were doing all night but then frankly I don’t want to know! š
GO CARDINALS!!!!!!!
I hope they win tonight at least to stretch it to a game 7…these playoff series have been going by too fast.
Hey Uncle Carl, What I’m going to ask has nothing to do with baseball or the moon, (Sorry) although I did see the full moon! I just wondered if you and Mary have gotten the 12th Lemony Snicket book? I did! I was soooooo excited! It’s called the Penultimate Peril. It’s really awsome soo far! Just thought I’d ask and see! Love you tons, tell Tori and Mary I said Hi! Love , Haley!
Nope, I’ll probably be getting it for Mary really soon. Glad you are liking it. Mary has kept up with them but I am still back on book 6. I get too distracted by other books! Love you too and tell all your family the same.
ASTROS WIN! š
Very funny Jeff!!! The birds did indeed plummet from the sky last night and did so without putting up a fight. Quite a pitiful performance really, they deserved to lose.
Haley, I’m glad you like the book; I can’t wait to read it. I love Lemony Snickett’s writing style!!
Jules, Carl and I have a funny story about Lydia and the moon. Remember we took her to Carl’s work Halloween party when she was about 3 or 4 (she was still calling Carl “Car” back then)? She had a great time and on the way home noticed the moon. We made a turn temporarily blocking her view. She kept asking to see the moon. The next time Carl turned the car she exclaimed, “Thanks for the moon, Car.” It was priceless to see the joy of a young child and the belief that Carl had the power to make the moon reappear. :o)
So once again, thanks for a glimpse of the beautiful moon, Car.
Are you suggesting that I DON’T have the power to make the moon appear at will? Oh woman, how long have we been married and yet you still doubt my awesome powers!
Where were your powers last night when the Cardinals needed you?
We had the perfect October night on Tuesday – it had been 78 during the day but the wind whipped up as the sun set and the temp dropped to about 68. The moon was rising behind some clouds, but the sky above the cloud line was bright. The wind scattered dried leaves across the road, like little crabs darting beneath my wheels. I took the back roads home as well…
I was using my awesome powers to keep the moon out during the storm James…didn’t have enough reserves left to help the Cards.
It got very fall-like today here Shannin…high only in the 50’s, cloudy and rainy. Its really great!!! Love it!
Carl…sometimes reading your comments are almost as entertaining as reading your posts!
Probably more so!