Live radio hit with Deck McGuire

Hey, Deck McGuire, thanks for joining us during a live WTPL Radio show in New Hampshire yesterday. The 2010 Blue Jays No. 1 pick phoned in and spoke with Bob Lipman and me on the Bob Lobel Show. We learn Deck was inspired by John Smoltz and Randy Johnson, and how he's daring to dream big in 2012. He'll mostly likely begin the season at Double-A New Hampshire but says, "No offense, but I'd really like to start in the big leagues. Whether I'm in Toronto or New Hampshire, I'm just going to embrace the opportunity and try to get better and try to help this organization win a World Series."

Step to the plate, Albert

Albert Pujols made a crucial error in Game 2, but he made more news by dodging the media after the game. Earth to Albert: It's the World Series. Don't hide in the kitchen after a tough loss, forcing the media to grab sound bites from others.


You're a so-called leader. You've been paid $105 million by the Cardinals. Stand at your locker and answer some questions because that's part of your job. Tony La Russa tried to cover for Pujols today in Arlington, but, really, it all sounded quite lame.


"It's get-away day, we leaving earlier because we had an early workout. They wanted to pack for their families. If anybody had said, we need to talk to Albert, he would have stayed," La Russa said. "I heard the criticism, and it offends me because I know our attitude as an organization is 180 degrees different from the way it's being portrayed. Nobody asked for those guys, and they got out of there."


Pujols didn't own up during workout day in Arlington.


"You want me to wait 40 minutes for you guys? I was in the (kitchen)  getting something to eat," he said. "What about the night before when I spoke for an hour and a half? That's not fair ... Nobody approached me for 40 minutes, and I was on my way home."


Pujols went on to say his responsibility is to God and his family. That's weak, Albert. 

World Series Game 2: Strategy and Mistakes

CAN'T BELIEVE I'm saying this, but Tim McCarver actually made some great points in the ninth inning as Texas rallied to beat the Cardinals, 2-1, and knot the series. 


With St. Louis leading 1-0 in the ninth, the Cards were burned by their "no doubles" defense when Ian Kinsler's high blooper dropped in the outfield. Kinsler reached because the Rangers outfielders were playing across the Mississippi, and he ended up scoring the tying run. 


Moments later, a failed relay catch by Albert Pujols allowed Elvis Andrus to advance to second after singling. That was huge! Andrus would score the game winner on Michael Young's sac fly. 


"Scrabble" Update: Ex-Fisher Cat Marc Rzepczynski has now retired four Rangers, all righty bats, in the Fall Classic ... Tony La Russa removed Jason Motte a little early, ya think? For all the talk about TLR and his Hall of Fame-managing, Ron Washington got heeeem in Game 2.

World Series postgame: Chris Carpenter

I've been covering Chris Carpenter during my 17-year career and never seen him mesmerize a press corps like he's doing this postseason. More insightful answers after Game 1, on catcher Yadier Molina:


"I read a book called 'The Blind Side,' and they talk about the left tackle covering the quarterback's blind side, and if it wasn't for the left tackle, he wouldn't have the time to get that pass off to make the quarterback a star or that wide receiver a star, because he's not doing his job. That's what Yadi is -- secretly behind the scenes. He just makes it that much easier.


"He makes me be able to go out there and do the things that I do with zero concern, knowing that he is just on the same page and doing the same things that I'm doing, studying hitters, studying our game plan, knowing that he prepares, knowing all the information that he keeps inside, paying attention to what each at-bat is all about. He's phenomenal."

Chris Carpenter surpasses Bob Gibson

CARPE DIEM! New Hampshire native Chris Carpenter picked up another postseason win by defeating the Rangers, 3-2, in World Series Game 1. That's now eight postseason wins, tying with Mariano Rivera for the most among active pitchers. 

The win also moves Carpenter ahead of St. Louis Cardinals great Bob Gibson for most all-time in club history. (I know what you're thinking: Gibson didn't have the NLDS or NLCS. He made nine postseason starts.)


Regardless, Carpenter (13 starts) has shut down the Phillies, Brewers and Rangers in a clinic on the mound. Game 1 was a chilly 40-something degrees, and the ace adjusted by commanding two-seam fastballs with Maddux-like movement. Other pitchers struggled with their off-speed stuff because the cold baseball felt slick. 


"Carp" didn't throw a deuce until his 31st pitch. And how about the Trinity High graduate diving into first base to make the out. Gamer.

CHRIS CARPENTER dives into first base and gets the out
 after catching a throw by Albert Pujols.  Reuters Photo

"That ball in the first, I think we need to work on that one next spring," Carpenter said in postgame. "It was just an instinct. He threw that ball, it was a little out of my reach and I dove. I was like 'I'm going to go get it, and it turned out to work out."


BIRD FEED: Rangy Albert Pujols was tremendous at first base, making an impact with his glove instead of his bat ... Mad scientist Tony La Russa did it again, successfully pinch-hitting for Carpenter and having Allen Craig drive in the go-ahead run.


Lefty reliever Marc Rzepczynski became the first ex-Fisher Cat to play in the World Series. "Zep" struck out a pair of righties to end the 7th.

Chris Carpenter focused on Game 1

I had a really nice talk with Chris Carpenter's dad, Bob, and his high school coach, Eddie Poisson, while working on this feature story. It's amazing how much focus young Carp showed at an early age:

“Let me tell you a story,” said Bob Carpenter, who coach Chris through Little League and into Babe Ruth. “He got invited to a Brockton (Mass.) invitational as a senior and pitched against juniors and seniors in college. There were people and scouts everywhere. After the game, I said, ‘Can you believe how many people were watching you?

“He said, ‘I never saw them. All I saw was the glove. I didn't even know who was hitting.' That's when it donned on me, when I realized how he goes about pitching.”

You know how the Brewers have tried agitating Carp? They failed. Zack Greinke said “a lot of guys on our team don't like Carpenter.” Last month, Nyjer Morgan tossed a wad of chewing tobacco in Carpenter's direction, inciting a bench-clearing incident.

“(The Brewers) tried to chirp and chirp and get to him, but he's too focused to get the out. None of that other stuff matters,” the father said.

In 2003, an assortment of elbow and shoulder injuries nearly ended Carpenter's career. Released by the Blue Jays, he signed a minor-league contract with the Cardinals and spent the entire season on a comeback mission.

“It goes back to his determination and drive,” Poisson said, in the New Hampshire Union Leader. “After the Blue Jays let him go, he sat down with his wife and cried and said, ‘What's the next step?' Next thing you know, the Cardinals gave him one more shot.”

Milwaukee says goodbye to Prince

Great moment as Milwaukee fans gave a standing ovation to Prince Fielder in his final at-bat with the Brewers before moving on to free agency. The Brewers simply can't compete with baseball's large-market teams that will shell out perhaps $200 million on Fielder's next contract.


Asked about taking off Milwaukee jersey for perhaps the last time, Fielder showed real emotion:


"I had to clear the throat once, but it was all right. I love these guys. I've been playing with most of them since I was 18. So this organization has been great to me. Yeah, man, it's just been good. It's been real," said Fielder, who added more reflection on his time in Milwaukee: "It's been cool. I've kind of grown up a little bit. My kids have gotten older. That's about it, really. Just gotten older. Every year has been a learning experience. I don't know, it's been cool, man. Hopefully I'm here for more years to come. But if not, it's been cool."


It's not. Scott Boras will make sure of that.

World Series: Rangers vs. Rally Squirrels

A FEW THOUGHTS while watching the Cardinals advance to the Fall Classic:

• Ron Darling is just as good in the broadcast booth as he was in Shallow Hal. Seriously, that was on Sunday night.
• Texas is the only team in MLB that hasn't played at Busch Stadium? Didn't know that.
• To quote Mr. Darling, it's an "embarrassment of riches" to have Mike Napoli (.320, 30 homers, 75 RBI) batting sixth for Texas. And still surprises me to see Nelson Cruz batting seventh. The ALCS MVP had six home runs and 13 RBI, both records for a postseason series. 
• That's now 121 career postseason games for manager Tony La Russa. Chris Carpenter, asked about the skipper, said, "Tony is the most prepared person I've ever been around. He lives and dies by numbers, by matchups, by lineups."
• Carpenter goes for a franchise-record 8th postseason win in Game 1 of the World Series at St. Louis. Likely C.J. Wilson for the Rangers. As Tom Verducci reminded us, the Cards have home-field advantage thanks to Prince Fielder's homer off Wilson in the All-Star Game. That's awesome.
• The Rangers won the ALCS without a starting pitcher earning a victory.
• Front Row Amy gave it her best shot.
• That Shaun Marcum for Brett Lawrie trade is looking better and better for the Blue Jays.
• Good luck to Game 6 winning pitcher Marc Rzepczynski, the first New Hampshire Fisher Cat to reach the World Series. Now if I only I'd grabbed one of those squirrel T-shirts at Busch.
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Catching up with "Zep" in the NLCS: That's the face of Prince Fielder's worst nightmare.