Carpenter starting Game 7 for Cards on short rest

ST. LOUIS (AP)—Chris Carpenter is starting on three days’ rest in Game 7 of the World Series for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Manager Tony La Russa said he decided Friday morning after consulting with pitching coach Dave Duncan, who
gave the thumbs up. The team made it official several hours before the deciding game against the Texas Rangers.

"Dave had a real heart-to-heart with him to gauge just how ready he was to pitch just physically, not mentally but physically,” La Russa said. “And then I think if he would be available to pitch, he probably would have pitched in this game sometime.

The bottom line: the Cardinals wanted their best pitcher on the mound.

“He’s the guy our club wants to have out there, and he’s ready to take it,” La Russa said. “Plain and simple. He’s our guy.”

Carpenter started on short rest for the first time of his career in the first round of the NL playoffs against the Phillies and lasted only three innings, allowing four runs on five hits in his shortest outing of the year.

Napoli, Rangers move 1 win from World Series crown

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP)—Mike Napoli was dialed in, no matter who he was going to face. A charmed season for Napoli and the Texas Rangers got even better Monday night, thanks to a most unlikely twist—a bullpen telephone mix-up.
After a dropped ball and a dropped call, of sorts, loaded the bases in the eighth inning, Napoli delivered a tiebreaking two-run double that beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 and gave Texas a 3-2 edge in the World Series.
The Rangers moved within one win of capturing their first crown, which they can do Wednesday night in St. Louis.
“We certainly won’t be out there thinking about we’ve just got to win one game,” Texas manager Ron Washington said. “I’ve been there before, and that doesn’t work.”

And the Cardinals’ approach? Maybe get a smartphone, or perhaps next time they should try texting the bullpen.

The boston Red Sox (former) general manager Theo Epstein has packed his bags and is headed off to the windy city of Chicago.  Epstine spent nine years with the Red Sox, and brought them two world series titles (2007 and 2004).
Epstine made some great moves for Boston, some of which include:  Picking up Josh Becket and Mike Lowel in a trade from the Marlins in the 2003 offseason.  Trading Nomar Garciapara at the trade deadline in 2004.  Most recently picking up slugger Adrian Gonzalez.  Theo will be missed greatly from the Sox.  Epstein resigned from the sox with one year left on his contract, knowing that Theo grew up a Red Sox fan, I am vrey suprized to see hin walk away.