http://www.stltoday.com/sports
October 4, 2013
St. Louis Cardinals' Carlos Beltran (3) hits a three-run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third inning of Game 1 of baseball's National League division series on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013, in St. Louis. Catching for the Pirates is Russell Martin. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
When the Pittsburgh Pirates win a game, team broadcaster Greg Brown makes the victory official with the traditional shout out, “Raise the Jolly Roger!”
For those not well versed in Pirate lore, the Jolly Roger is the intimidating skull and crossbones flag flown over the vessel to convey imminent danger of an attack and force frightened enemies into surrendering.
If the Pirates had any intention of raising the Jolly Roger — metaphorically speaking — at Busch Stadium on Thursday afternoon, the plan was blown to smithereens in an outrageous third inning by Cardinals right fielder Carlos Beltran.
With runners on first and second, Pirates starter A.J. Burnett tried to jam the lefthanded-swinging Beltran with an inside fastball. Burnett had used the same tactic in the first inning, getting Beltran to bounce out.
This time, Beltran was waiting for the same pitch. He connected flush, the ball soaring through the late-afternoon sunshine, seemingly making the playing field brighter as it climbed higher and higher in a spectacular arc.
“I thought he hit it clear out of the stadium,” said Cardinals leadoff man Matt Carpenter, who was standing off first base. “He killed it.”
Beltran’s three-run homer ripped open the game, gave the Cardinals a 3-0 lead, and ruined poor Burnett. The Pirates’ ace never recovered from the Beltran burn marks, and he was unable to get a single out before his removal in the Cards’ destructive seven-run third inning.
Beltran’s epic 443-foot homer run caused jaws to become unhinged in St. Louis and Pittsburgh, let the Pirates know that they didn’t have the sorry, no-account Cincinnati Reds to kick around anymore, and launched the Cardinals to an emphatic 9-1 win in Game 1 of the best-of-five NL division series.
Beltran’s blow smacked the facade of the second deck, right above a “Mercy” health-provider advertising sign.
No mercy.
Cardinals’ starting pitcher Adam Wainwright, who was standing near second base, could only gawk in admiration as he tracked Beltran’s shot across the Pirates’ bow.
“I almost got caught up in the moment,” Wainwright said. “I threw my hands up in the air as soon as he hit it. I knew it was gone. Then I just watched it for a minute, because I knew it was very gone, and then I realized I had to run.”
Think about that Jolly Roger again. Imagine it flapping in the wind. Symbolically, Beltran sent a cannon blast through the skull and the crossbones — right between the eyes — leaving nothing but tatters and tufts of smoke.
Is anyone surprised by this? It doesn’t matter how slowly Beltran is moving. His knees may be achy and swollen. He may be in a horrendous slump late in the regular season. In the intense St. Louis summer heat that saps energy, Beltran may appear to be about 67 years old on some days.
Flip the calendar to October.
Flip the switch on Beltran.
“That guy,” Cards third baseman David Freese said. “That guy knows how to play in October.”
In the MLB postseason, Beltran becomes better than Babe Ruth, better than Lou Gehrig, better than just about any hitter in postseason history.
And no, we’re not exaggerating here.
Babe Ruth had 129 career postseason at-bats and homered 15 times.
Beltran has 129 career postseason at-bats and has homered — yep, you guessed it — 15 times.
Yes, exactly the same. The Babe was the sultan of swat, and Beltran is the sultan of swagger.
And there’s much more here. This was Beltran’s 35th career postseason game, and he has put up extraordinary numbers.
Let’s survey the damage Beltran has done to pitchers — and to MLB’s postseason record book:
Beltran’s 15 homers tie him with the Babe at No. 8 all-time.
Beltran’s average of one homer every 8.6 at-bats ties him with the Babe for the best HR ratio in postseason history.
Beltran’s postseason slugging percentage (.783) is the brawniest and biggest in MLB history.
Beltran’s .462 postseason onbase percentage ranks fourth all-time.
Beltran’s combined postseason onbase-slugging percentage of 1.244 is the best in MLB history. Gehrig ranks second and Ruth third.
Career postseason batting average: .357.
“I mean, this guy is just a postseason monster,” Wainwright said. “That just adds to your confidence level. He has a lot of confidence going in here, I would say.”
Please explain, Mr. Beltran.
“For me, it’s simple,” he said. “For me, it’s God giving me the opportunity to play in meaningful games and hard work through the years. I think as a ballplayer you always dream to be able to play in postseason games and try to win a World Series. There is no other explanation.”
The quotes may lack drama, but the swing does not. There’s only one thing missing. Beltran broke into the majors in 1998, and he’s won awards, played in multiple All-Star games, rampaged through multiple postseasons, and earned the respect of teammates and competitors.
One goal remains elusive. Beltran, 37, hasn’t played in a World Series. And no matter how tired he may be feeling after a long regular season, the quest for the ring makes him feel young.
This is Beltran’s second — and probably final — season in St. Louis. The Cardinals missed the World Series by one game in 2012, and the failure left them more determined to make it this time around. You could say that Beltran’s presence inspires them.
“That’s what were trying to do,” Freese said. “We want to push through this for him. A guy like Carlos, you know he deserves a ring.”
Maybe the Cardinals can give Beltran a three-year contract — and tell him just to show up in late September each season. If Beltran moves on as a free agent, he’s going to say goodbye with aplomb — just as he said bye-bye to Burnett’s smoke-on-the-water fastball.
“Great players do great things,” Cards GM John Mozeliak said. “And that’s what you see with someone like Carlos Beltran. And he always seems to do it with an exclamation point.”
There was no raising of the Jolly Roger on Thursday in downtown St. Louis. Not in Beltran’s house. Not in Beltran’s favorite month. Beltran turned Bush Stadium into a no-fly zone.
Watch "Breakfast with Bernie," each weekday, sponsored by Papa John's, where you get 40 percent off regular price menu items the day after a Cardinals victory. Use promo code "CARDSWIN" at checkout. 10% of purchase price benefits Siteman Cancer Center.
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