Neither the Cardinals nor the Rangers were supposed to return to the World Series—at least not this year. The Cardinals were in a funk in spring training after staff pitching ace Adam Wainwright went under the knife for season ending Tommy John surgery. Five months later, the Cardinals had to stage a historic September comeback that lasted until the final hours of the regular season just to reach the postseason. The Rangers lost their star pitcher, Cliff Lee to the Phillies.
The 2011 World Series will also be the third for manager Tony La Russ Albert Pujols who is set to become a free agent in this winter. Until the free agent signing period blooms Pujols will remain in a St. Louis uniform and another championship would send him off as the best Cardinal in franchise history.
While the Cardinals have a championship pedigree that dates back a century, Texas didn't make its first trip to the playoffs until 1996. Since Nolan Ryan became president and principal owner of the Rangers, the entire culture has changed in Arlington. During his playing career, Ryan was one of the best hurlers in Major League history. However, these Rangers have won with power hitting. Pitches have been exploding off the bats of Texas hitters all season.
On Saturday night, the Rangers collectively stamped their World Series tickets courtesy of a 15-run explosion. After hitting for a .338 average in the regular season, Young totaled just three hits for a .111 batting average in the first seven games of the playoffs. However, in Game 6, Young ignited the Rangers offense with a pair of two-run doubles and delivered a home run in the seventh inning.
However, for all the Rangers hitters, they will head into the Series riding the hot bat of Nelson Cruz, who hit 29 home runs in 124 regular season games. In six ALCS games, Cruz blasted a postseason record six home runs and 13 RBI's.
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa practically owns a fall timeshare in the World Series, having won six pennants as a manager and two World Series championships in his managerial career. However, the last time Tony La Russa saw a team with this much power in the Fall Classic, he was leading the Oakland A's to American League pennants in the late 80's.
La Russa's championship teams in Oakland were led by the Bash Brothers, Mark McGwire and José Canseco, however, the Rangers entire lineup can hit lineup. The Cardinals bullpen will have a challenge on their hands trying to defuse Texas' explosive offense. The fireworks will begin Wednesday night at Busch Stadium. Cardinals fans better hope the Rangers don't use their bats as the fuse.
is a member of the 
Be the first to comment on this article!