Chris Carpenter: Clutch in the Postseason

Chris Carpenter had a terrific postseason this year, cementing his place among the greatest Cardinals pitchers. His Game 5 Division Series duel against Roy Halladay is unforgettable, one of the best pitched postseason games I've seen. Besides his first start in Game 2 of the NLDS when he pitched on 3 days rest, he was lights out. He won 4 games and the Cardinals were 5-1 in games started by Carpenter this October.

Really, during Carp's postseason career he's only had 3 bad starts out of 15. He got roughed up in Game 2 of the 2006 NLCS, and in Game 1 of the 2009 NLDS. There was also his first start of this years playoffs were he only went 3 innings on 3 days rest. But it was Carpenter's start in the last day of the season that helped clinch the wild card. Carp is 9-2 in the postseason and the Cards are 12-3 in games he starts. Carp also pitched in the only two games the Cardinals won against the Astros in 2005 NLCS including the Pujols/Lidge game. Carpenter has also won 3 series clinching games, including two this year.

There has been many pitching heroes in Cardinals postseason history, from Grover Alexander to Dizzy Dean to Harry Breechen to Bob Gibson to Joaquin Andujar, but Carpenter now has the most wins and highest Winning Pct. in Cardinals postseason history. Carpenter is now 10th alltime in postseason victories with 9 and had 4 this past year. I would still say Gibson's postseason career is the most dominant in Cardinals history, he was 7-2 with a 1.89 ERA in 9 starts(all complete games) with 92 srikeouts in 81 innings pitched. While Carp isn't quite as dominant as Gibson was, he's proven to be a guy you want in there with the season on the line.

News and Notes: Jonathon Broxton has traded in Dodger Blue for Royal Blue, should be a good addition if he's healthy. I'd also like to thank the Red Sox for hiring Bobby Valentine to be their manager so I no longer have to hear him on Sunday Night Baseball games, he gets on my nerves. It looks like the Cubs are joining the Marlins and Cardinals in pursuit of free agent Albert Pujols. I have my doubts that Pujols would serious consider signing with the lovable losers up north, but we'll see.