2013 World Series: Cardinals walk-off to beat Red Sox in Game 3

The series has posted strong ratings through the first three games, as Brown notes:

Sunday’s Game 4 will directly compete against the NFL, squaring off against a prime time game between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings. Some will want to compare the ratings between the two sports on Monday, but Dayn Perry of CBS Sports writes that the television ratings for the two sports are not directly comparable:

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak appeared on air, saying, “Overall, we’re optimistic he didn’t go backwards or have a major setback.”

“I feel OK, a little sore,” Craig said after the game. “Just trying to get home, I didn’t have much in the tank, to be honest with you. That’s probably the fastest I’ve tried to run in the past two months.”

Craig scored the walk-off run in the ninth inning of Saturday night’s game on a crazy play. Here is video of the game winner:

Most people believe the call of obstruction that allowed Craig to score was the correct one. Still, Craig told Fox Sports Midwest that he initially was not sure exactly what had occurred.

• World Series: Cards win Game 3 | Obstruction rule explained

• Brisbee: The evolving definition of The Cardinal Way

First pitch for Game 4 is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET, with coverage of the game on FOX beginning at 8 p.m.

Neither pitcher has worked more than six innings during their playoff appearances, so expect both managers to have quick hooks during the game. Red Sox manager John Farrell also acknowledged that Buchholz is still dealing with injury, which could limit Buchholz on Sunday night.

For a full explanation of the play the rules involved, click here.

Bogaerts had an impressive game at the plate, leading off the top of the fifth inning with an triple to right-center field:

Should the call have been made or not? That has predictably been a hot conversation on Twitter since the conclusion of the game. Here, you have a guy who has spent a lot of time watching and covering baseball offer a completely different opinion than a guy who has played the game for many years:

To Hall’s point, Craig appeared to be a fair distance away from the baseline when he got to his feet and began to run toward home plate. However, as long as the runner is within three feet of the baseline, he isn’t considered to be out of it, per MLB Rule 7.08.

Third base umpire Jim Joyce called obstruction on Middlebrooks, which is clearly defined in the rulebook:

The rulebook also includes a commentary on what counts as in the act of fielding the ball, outlining the exact situation that Middlbrooks found himself in:

Peavy lasted only four innings. He allowed six hits and notched four strikeouts. Peavy surrendered a pair of runs in the first but kept St. Louis off the board in the next three frames, including in the bottom of the fourth when the Cardinals had the bases loaded with no outs and failed to score.

• World Series: Sox win Game 1 | Cards win Game 2

Victorino has been plunked by seven pitches this season, the most hit-by-pitches during a single postseason. Sam Miller of Baseball Prospectus compared that number to his regular season hit-by-pitch numbers:

• World Series: Sox win Game 1 | Cards win Game 2

It’s the kind of back-and-forth affair that will make fans lose their heads. This guy knows what I’m talking about:

The Cardinals and Red Sox are tied, 4-4, entering the bottom of the eighth inning.

• Brisbee: The evolving definition of The Cardinal Way

• Gold Glove finalists announced | Brisbee: And they actually make sense!

• World Series: Sox win Game 1 | Cards win Game 2

• Brisbee: The evolving definition of The Cardinal Way

Beltran slightly overran the bounce, but also appeared to be limited on how far he could bend down to get his glove on the ball. The 36-year-old star suffered a rib injury while crashing into the outfield wall in Game 1.

The Cardinals hold a 2-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth inning.

Drew has played strong defense up the middle, but the calls for someone else to handle shortstop will only grow louder as he continues to be a liability offensively.

• Brisbee: The evolving definition of The Cardinal Way

• Gold Glove finalists announced | Brisbee: And they actually make sense!

Here’s the full play, for your viewing pleasure.

A strange sequence of events all around.

• World Series: Sox win Game 1 | Cards win Game 2

• Brisbee: The evolving definition of The Cardinal Way

Cardinals hitters were very aggressive in their half of the inning, noted by Buster Olney of ESPN:

St. Louis enters the top of the second with a 2-0 advantage.

Beltran was nominated for, and eventually selected as the winner of, the award due to his contributions through the Carlos Beltran Foundation, which was founded by the eight-time All-Star and his wife. The efforts of the foundation include the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy, which opened in 2011. Beltran, who has personally donated $4 million to the academy, created it to give children opportunities that he did not have as a young player, according to MLB’s press release.

The 36-year-old star hails from Puerto Rico, as did Clemente. Beltran talked about the honor associated with receiving the award in a press conference earlier on Saturday:

Napoli has played 506 games in his major league career, and the only positions he has played at that level have been catcher, first base, and DH, according to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times. He did appear at third base in three games in the minor leagues, however, and recorded a putout and three assists in four chances. In this year’s playoffs, Napoli is 9-for-40 (.225/.326/.475) with a pair of home runs.

Although Napoli’s potential position change is being widely reported, it is far from a sure thing that it will happen in a game. Farrell has remained non-committal, telling Fox’s Ken Rosenthal that “It’s being thought of,” and stating to Kevin Thomas of the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram: “Not tonight, but it’s an option.” Farrell also addressed the issue on MLB Network Radio, but would only hint that “we’re open to anything.”

The 2013 World Series is tied at a game apiece, and the series shifts to Busch Stadium for Game 3 on Saturday. The Boston Red Sox won Game 1 thanks in part to some shoddy defense by the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Cards won Game 2 thanks in part to some shoddy defense by the Sox. With the designated hitter eliminated in the National League park and the DH’s forced to don gloves and play the field, defense (or lack thereof) could continue to be a theme in this series.

To illustrate this point, David Ortiz is in the lineup for the Red Sox at first base after playing the position just six times during the regular season. Daniel Nava is also starting, which Rob Neyer believes should have happened more often this October.

“My groin was bothering me, but I was trying to keep going, trying to help the team win. But you know, it [didn’t] happen,” Mujica told reporters.

• World Series: Sox win Game 1 | Cards win Game 2

Despite Lackey’s top-shelf stuff, the Cardinals got on the board first, thanks to Matt Holliday’s elusive triple to center field.

Pedroia’s defensive wizardry merely postponed the run for St. Louis. Yadier Molina brought Holliday home with a groundout to give the Cardinals a 1-0 in the fourth.