The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 31

www.pantagraph.com I 1 The Pantagraph Saturday, October 23, 2004 D7 Ji. a Ji. -I .1 JL -jr J. 3 JL i A. JL.

li JiT A JL X. i Jl i i A A Thf him- attress Doctor "Delivering Dreams to You. ft A I'h A I i I "2 B- T7n T7R 777 i Associated PressERIC GAY Cardinals starting pitcher Woody Williams delivered a pitch against the Astros during the National League Championship Series Monday at Houston. Williams will start Game 1 of the World Series for St. Louis tonight against the Red Sox at Boston.

Tim Wakefield will start for the Red Sox. SERIES Cardinals-Red Sox comparisons Regular season statistics STARTERS AVG HR RBI Catcher Matheny, StL .247 5 50 Varitek, Bos .296 18 73 First Base Pujols, StL 46 123 Millar, Bos .297 18 74 Second Base Womack.StL .307 5 38 Bellhorn, Bos .264 17 82 Third Base Rolen, StL .314 34 124 Mueller, Bos .283 12 57 Shortstop Renteria.StL,. .287 10 72 Cabrera, Bos .294 6 31 Outfield Sanders, StL .260 22 67 Ramirez, Bos .308 43 130 Edmonds, StL .301 42 111 Damon, Bos .304 20 94 Walker, StL .298 17 47 Nixon, Bos .315 6 23 Designated Hitter Mabry.StL .296 13 40 Ortiz, Bos .301 41 139 RESERVES Inflelders StL .249 3 22 Mientkiewicz, Bos .238 6 35 Anderson, StL .237 8 28 Reese, Bos .221 3 29 Outfielders Cedeno, StL .265 3 23 Kapler, Bos .272 6 33 Taguchi, StL .291 3 25 Roberts, Bos .256 2 14 Catcher Molina, StL .267 2 15 Mirabelli, Bos .281 9 32 PITCHERS ERA SV Kline, StL 2 2 1.79 3 Tavarez, StL 7 4 2.38 4 King, StL 5 1 I 2.61 0 Calero, StL 3 1 2.78 2 Isringhausen, StL 4 2 2.87 47 Marquis, StL 15 7 3.71 0 Eldred, StL 4 2 3.76 1 Suppan, StL 16 9 4.16 0 Williams, StL 11 8 4.18 0 Haren, StL 3 3 4.50 0 Morris, StL 15 10 4.72 0 Foulke.Bos 5 3 2.17 32 Schilling, Bos 21 6 3.26 0 Mendoza, Bos 2 1 3.52 0 Martinez, Bo's 16 9 3.90 0 Arroyo, Bos 10 9 4.03 0 Timlin, Bos. 5 4 4.13 1 Embree, Bos 2 2 4.13 0 Myers, Bos 5.1 4.64 0 Wakefield, Bos 12 10 4.87 0 Leskanic, Bos 3 5 5.19 4 Lowe, Bos 14 12 5.42 0 "This is all bonus time," said Kevin Millar, who will play first base for the Red Sox in Boston but make way for ALCS MVP David Ortiz when the designated hitter comes out of the lineup at Busch Stadium. Boston is used to the charm of its own 92-year-old ballpark, which holds about 35,000 fans.

There's the 37-foot-high Green Monster looming beyond left field, just 310 feet from home plate at the foul line. Across the way, there's Pesky's Pole in right, 302 feet from home, with a tricky fence that's only 3-to-5 feet high. "It's a neat environment. Fans very close to the ball-field," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "A lot of passion, a lot of knowledge of the game." Outside the park, fans dressed in Boston hats and jerseys walked around, looking for a way to get in for the games.

"I want to see us win one time, because it's been a long time coming," said 85-year-old Johnny Pesky, a former Red Sox star who now is a special assignment instructor with the team. "I can die happy then." Pesky was blamed by some for Boston's Game 7 loss to the Cardinals in '46, with some say-, ing he held the relay too long on Harry Walker's double, allowing Enos Slaughter to score in his mad dash from first. Boston didn't make it back to the World Series until 1967, when it faced the Cardinals yet again, and Bob Gibson pitched a three-hitter on three days' rest to beat Jim Lonborg. St. Louis, which last won the Series in 1982, features with a powerful lineup that includes NLCS MVP Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen.

Cardinals' bashers, whose .278 batting average led the National League, will have to deal with Wakefield's often-baffling floater before Curt Schilling throws harder stuff at them in Game 2. St. Louis isn't ready to pick its Game 2 starter. "Woody tomorrow, TBD, TBA," La Russa said. "We still have some decisions to make." --H 4 HT7TT YTT1Y feV I THIPLE BJOMJS i fe; now i ROM Dl St.

Louis, which beat Houston 5-2 in Game 7 Thursday night to return to the World Series for the first time since 1987, didn't arrive until early evening. With the sky turning dark, the Cardinals got an up-close look at Fenway, which the Red Sox claim is "America's Most Beloved Ballpark." Reggie Sanders and the other St. Louis outfielders spent a lot of time practicing how to field balls hit off the high wall. Manny Ramirez and the other Boston boppers figure to take aim in that direction. "The way these guys are hitting in the ballpark, it's amazing how far they hit the ball over that wall," Williams said.

"Hopefully, the balls will bounce off the wall and our guys will make a good play and keep them to a single." There figures to oe a boisterous crowd at tonight's game, with dry weather forecast and the temperature in the low 40s. "I think I appreciate where we are," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "But as far as that goes, that's it. The task at hand is all that's on our mind, because the task isn't over. When it's over, we can sit back and think about a lot of things, and I'm sure that will bring a smile to my face." Last year, the Red Sox grounds crew painted the Series logo on the field before the seventh game of the AL championship series in New York, only to have the Yankees rally from a four-run deficit to win on Aaron Boone's llth-inning homer off Tim Wakefield.

"No premature logos, I can assure you," Red Sox president Larry Lucchino said earlier this week. On Wednesday, Boston went ahead early in Game 7 and beat New York 10-3. After celebrating in front of Yankee Stadium's monuments on Wednesday night, the Red Sox took Thursday off, then worked out at midday Friday in empty Fenway on a cool and cloudy day an a mm a OPINIONS 111 0 OFF FURNITURE Including Those Pictured! getting the monkey off their back will carry them. I hope it goes to seven and I hope the Cardinals win." Bee admires St. Louis' execution of the fundamentals.

i LA jj I ry. Neal Tim Cotts Bogar FREE SETUP NOW i Jl fl Dan Freed mill ncyuidi ucuvciy Top Tent-Add $139 i nnv Atm' DUA I SPRINGS w4t-'l S- SOFA SLEEPERS Starting At With All Qualifying Sets." The 'Choice of mattresses sold separately FROM Dl "With Pedro (Martinez) and (Curt) Schilling, they have the two best pitchers in the whole series," Martel said. "That gives them a little bit of an edge. Both teams can hit. But usually better pitching shuts down better hitting." Martel said Boston's unprecedented rally from a 3-0 deficit to the New York Yankees and the resulting opportunity to win its first World Series since 1918 is "unbelievable.

You hoped, but you weren't sure. History was against you." Illinois State coach Jim Brownlee believes Boston's homefield advantage will be a large factor and picks the Red Sox in seven games. "As much as the pitching was overused, I think there will be a lot of runs scored," Brownlee said. "The team that's hottest will probably be in the driver's seat. I wouldn't want to be pitching.

They've both got great lineups. "I think St. Louis is the best team in baseball, but Boston's got four home games. Former ISU pitcher Dan Freed saw the Cardinals in spring training in his job as professional scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Freed liked what he saw.

"I can honestly say I picked the Cardinals (to win the NL Central) from day one. Their lineup is better than the Cubs and their pitching got healthier, which was a big key for them," said Freed. "It's definitely going to be ah entertaining matchup. You're going to see some firepower. I don't think either side's ATTRESS IJOCTOIfc "Delivering Dreams to You.

"They do a lot of things right. Their pitching and defense has been real solid," he said. "Over a seven-game series I think they're the best team in baseball." Bloomington coach Steve Clapp picks Boston in seven games. "Coming back from 3-0 down to New York, they really showed some tenacity. They just kept battling," he said.

"I have a lot of respect for both teams." Normal West coach Chris Hawkins calls himself "a National League guy so I'm pulling a little for the Cardinals. I'm rooting for a seven-game series so it gives me something to watch on TV at night. "I don't think either side has an edge. It's going to be a hecku-va series. I'll go with Boston in seven." Former major leaguer and Bloomington resident Tim Bogar gives St.

Louis the nod in both relief and starting pitching. He believes the Cardinals will test Schilling's ankle stability with bunts. "I like both offenses, but I like the way the Cardinals played the last two games (in the NLCS). They were a little more aggressive on the bases and got some guys in motion," Bogar said. "I'll take the Cardinals in six and it could be less than that" pitching will hold the other down.

Both staffs are filled with tired arms." Freed, who will attend the first two games in Boston, believes the Cardinals will exploit the Boston bullpen and wonders whether Schilling's ankle will hold up' on a chilly Game 2 evening. "It's very close in the pitching and hitting departments," Freed said. "The Cards are so much better defensively. That could be where the series is won. I'll say the Cards in six." Chicago White Sox pitcher Neal Cotts, a former ISU hurler, is a native of Lebanon in southern Illinois and therefore a St.

Louis fan who picks the Cardinals to capture the Series crown in six games. "I still follow them. It's a different league so I always want them to do well," Cotts said. "They're pretty impressive. It Joesn't surprise me what they've done." Former ISU coach and current San Diego scout Jeff Stewart likes the Cardinals baserun-ning and defense.

"They have great power but they can play small ball. Their pitchers have a comfort level that allows them to be better than they are," said Stewart. "I think the Cardinals, on paper, are a better club. Maybe Boston 103 Hamilton Rd. ACROSS FROM SALE BARN 821-9600 Vrtcranj Sooth to Rle.

51 South on Hamihon Hd. OppotUr tbr sir ir 135 Radio City Drive PARKSIDE PLAZA 382-2600 1474, Ex Rtc. 29 Hex a Dtwn il ALL STORES 8859N.Knoxville NORTHPOINT SHOPPING CENTER 691-8600 12 mile North of Pioneer Parkway Stxt loBtgLots OPEN 7 DAYS! HOURS: M-TH 10-8; FR1 SAT 10-6; SUN 11-4 Handicapped "Set store for drtaib "Resular delivery charge faicuded, sets to choose from you buy the mattress anil receive matching box spring FREE Friendly ndlv! rd.