Big Three Can Still Do More

Champagne and beer flowed freely in the St. Louis clubhouse Sunday night, the Cardinals spraying anything and anyone in reach to celebrate their National League division series victory.

But no matter how much liquid was streaming through the cramped quarters, it could not wash away one obvious fact -- that the Cardinals’ modern-day Murderers’ Row was more Jekyll and Hyde than Helter Skelter in four games against the Dodgers.

“It doesn’t matter,” Cardinal clean-up hitter Scott Rolen shouted above the din as he blinked his eyes to ward off the stinging spray. “What matters is we won. I mean, I didn’t get a hit the whole series and we’re still in here popping the champagne.”

He’s right. But then again, with the depth of the Cardinal lineup, their Big Three was not needed against the Dodgers.

Rolen, Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds batted a combined .214 for the series and Rolen was 0 for 12 after the Cardinals’ series-clinching 6-2 victory. And while he did draw five walks in the NLDS, he is batting only .100 (three for 30) since coming back from a calf injury on Sept. 28.

“He’s a little off with his timing, but he’s a strong guy,” Pujols said of Rolen. “He goes out there and intimidates the other pitchers. You can tell by the walks. He’s the best third baseman in the league. You’ve got to respect that.”

Pujols, though, was the most productive member of the Cardinals’ Big Three. He hit .333 (five for 15) with two home runs, five runs batted in and three walks. He gave the Cardinals their first lead of the series, a solo shot in the first inning of Game 1, and he also gave the Cardinals their final cushion, a three-run blast in the fourth inning of Game 4, when the score was tied, 2-2.

“It’s big,” Pujols said. “It’s the biggest hit of my career. Hopefully I get some more.”

A gimpy Edmonds, who was a game-time decision to play after fouling a ball off his right shin in Game 3, was 0 for 3 with three strikeouts, and also walked and was caught stealing. He batted .267 (four for 15) with a homer in the series.

And Pujols joined his limping teammates. He fouled an Eric Gagne pitch off the instep of his left foot in the ninth inning.

“It’s sore a little bit,” he said, “but it will be OK.”

He was referring to his foot, though he could just as easily have been talking about the prowess of St. Louis’ Big Three as the Cardinals prepare for the National League championship series, starting Wednesday, against either the Atlanta Braves or Houston Astros.

“Like I said before, [Saturday] night was Lima Time,” Pujols said. “We wanted to make sure that tonight was our time.”