OT / Cardinals miss chance to show class

[FrankWakefield]

I just watched my Cardinals lose in the NLDS. I'm ok with that, I'm no longer greedy, their 2006 win is recent enough to tide me over for a while. Good for the Dodgers. Hope they do well.

What frustrates me is this: My recollection is that when the Cards beat the Dodgers in the 2004 NLDS, the Cards clinched in Los Angeles. And the Dodger players lined up, then went out on the field, and congratulated the Cards players, just like in a high school game today. That's the last time I saw that done on a major league field. It was special. The Cards had a chance to return the favor tonight. They missed it. No matter how frustrated they were with baserunning and fielding probems, with a lack of hitting, with losing, it was still a chance to show some class and return that kindness the Dodgers showed 5 years ago. Maybe they'll have that chance another day. I almost hope that next time the two meet in the playoffs that my Cards lose, just so they can make amends and show some class.

Sorry for the OT, I know this isn't old ballcards.

[Doug]

Sadly, class isn't something that professional sports in general is overflowing with. It would be nice, but you hardly see anything like that anymore.

[calvindog]

Frank, the Cards also missed their chance on about 95% of the fastballs they saw tonight.

[rdwyer]

California rules! Angels, Dodgers, Lakers, Ducks!

[gashouse34]

I agree with u frank...I remember very well that series and I gained a lot of respect for the Dodgers after they did that...It would be nice to see that more often but it seems like an unspoken rule that clubs just don't do it

[FrankWakefield]

I'm glad someone else remembers that... thank you for posting.

I Think there had to be some leadership on the Dodgers that evening (was it late afternoon?) to start that. I'd like to see a replay of that to see which Dodgers were at the front of that line. Maybe it was Jim Tracy, the manager, who got 'em up the steps and out there... The top 4 Dodgers on the payroll in '94 were Shawn Green ($16.67 mil), Darren Dreifort ($11.4 mil), Hideo Nomo ($9 mil), and Steve Finley ($7 ml). Maybe it was Finley and Green... Alex Cora made the last out, maybe he did it... Someone did. Whoever he is, baseball should honor him.

[thekingofclout]

Originally Posted by rdwyer

California rules! Angels, Dodgers, Lakers, Ducks!

I've lived in So Cal for 46 years and there are thousands of reasons why it rules, but none of them are for having some good/great sports franchises, I assure you.

[sox1903wschamp]

Originally Posted by rdwyer

California rules! Angels, Dodgers, Lakers, Ducks!

Wow, a Cali fan that cares about pro sports. Cool

[chaddurbin]

there are definitely sports fans out west, you just wouldn't know it because espn only feature boston/new york highlights...

[yawie99]

Maybe I'm just a sore loser/ungracious winner, but I was fine with the lack of reciprocity tonight. It was a nice moment in '04, but I don't think the post-series handshake could ever again have the same spontaneity and genuineness. Besides, we're five years on and I reckon that both teams have had a high degree of roster turnover. Maybe if the Cards lost to the Dodgers in '05, I might've expected the team to return the favor, but it would've seemed forced and unnatural tonight.

[HRBAKER]

They would have probably missed their hands anyway. What a pathetic showing.