Busch needs a win tonight to stay alive
I would not be surprised if at about 10:45 p.m. Monday night the lights came on at Busch Stadium.
Because that was night that the lights went out in Houston.
Albert Pujols’ dramatic ninth-inning home run propelled the St. Louis Cardinals to a shocking 5-4 win over the Astros and set up Wednesday night’s Game 6 in St. Louis.
With the new Busch Stadium jamming into her regal south side, the old Busch wasn’t quite ready to call it a season – and a life.
She might have gone into history quietly, if it were not for FOX. With two outs and no one on base, FOX decided it was time to close the old Busch Stadium.
They showed a pretty sketch of the new stadium, showed construction and pretty much said old Busch was history.
This “fat lady” refused to sing on Monday night.
While many St. Louis fans have mocked Minute Maid Park, no one has watched or played in a game in the new stadium. It will not be perfect, folks. It will not be as bad as the Houston monstrosity, but who really knows what the game will be like in the new surroundings.
The old Busch Stadium demanded respect on Monday. She refused to have her last game end in the way it would have without Pujols’ home run —
thousands of fans poured out of Busch Stadium with the Cardinals down just three runs in the eighth inning last Thursday. Unfortunately, too many of today’s Redbirds’ fans really have no idea what baseball is about. They are into the beer and hanging out at a bar after the game.
This was an insult to Busch Stadium, to her history and to the players that brought joy to millions of fans.
Busch Stadium didn’t like it. Fate must not have liked it, either.
Busch Stadium said she is going to go out with a World Series. She was not closing down with a Game 2 loss to Houston with fans filtering out in droves.
Busch Stadium will rock during tonight’s Game 7. Matt Morris vs. Roger Clemens.
To the south, the new stadium will be jealous. It might not ever see what the old Busch Stadium has viewed. It might not ever be home to Hall of Famers – with the exception of Pujols.
It will be a fun place. But time will tell if it becomes as historic and beloved as old Busch Stadium has been.
The old Busch is ready to taste the champagne of victory tonight. Then it’s ready to host at least two World Series games, most likely three.
She was smiling on Monday night. She’ll be thrilled tonight. She’ll be hailed as a queen when the Cardinals win the world championship.
Then she’ll shed a tear or two and bow her head for a final time as the wrecking ball becomes a reality.
And she’ll be leaving on her own terms.
