The St. Louis Cardinals stumbled into the playoffs, almost not making the postseason at all as the surging Houston Astros made the N.L. Central very interesting.  But, despite the a finish to the regular season beign thisclose, the Cardinals stepped up their game in the National League Division Series against the N.L. West champion San Diego Padres. 

They took the series three games to one, surprisingly thanks to their pitching which was considered mediocre as a staff and not having as much depth as the Padres did.  Okay, let’s be serious, it was really thanks to Chris Carpenter, a Cy Young candidate.  Carpenter won two of the three games that sent the Cardinals to the National League Championship Series against the strong New York Mets club that swept the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Game One between the Cards and the Mets starts on Wednesday at Shea Stadium at 8PM EST.  The Cards will throw Jeff Weaver on the hill, while the Mets will start their ace, especially with Pedro Martinez injured, Tom Glavine.