It’s the Top of 12th Inning:
Andrew had a great day yesterday as we reported and the results of all the tests and observations from yesterday are complete and they all confirm that he had a good day. We are excited about the progress and emotionally the opportunity to see his eyes and to communicate with him is indescribable. However, we must stress how little these steps are from a clinical stand point and he has a long way to go. His lungs are severely diseased and compromised. Healing will take a long time and the extent of his recovery will be something that only time will tell. So, today will be another day of small changes and goals. They are continuing to tweak his breathing machine levels as they move him to breathing more and more on his own. So small steps yet huge progress.
If you’re like us, then you may be starting to ask yourself, “just how bad off was he” on Sat. Well, if you know me, then you know I asked that question myself. The short answer is that Friday into Saturday was even more dangerous than we could realize without being doctors ourselves. Andrew barely made it. Gumby really did save the day.
Game Report:
Bob Uecker here sports fans. I have a special guest today. Longtime Cardinals announcer and fan, Jack Buck. Welcome Jack. Thanks for letting me join you Bob. I just had get back to do my part and hopefully be able to end this broadcast with, “that’s a winner!” Plus, this historic effort by Team Andrew and Big Andrew himself may be even more dramatic than calling Kirk Gibson’s one armed game winning home run in the 88 World Series! In fact, I know this is the most dramatic MLB game I have seen. That courageous steal by Andrew in the 9th sums it all up. But I am still amazed that he scooped that bullet out of the dirt in the 7th and cut the runner out at home. That defensive play by Big Andrew is what’ve we come to expect form him on first but it was still amazing even for him.
Well, we rejoin the game in the Top of 11th. Commercial considerations prevented us from preempting the daily soap operas but we are back in action. The Cardinals left Big Andrew on second in the bottom of the ninth. They left two men on base in the 10th. They have been knocking on the door in every inning but just haven’t been able to get that game winning score. But, they are wearing down the Pneumonia Yankee’s pitching staff. They’re running the pitch counts up with every batter and draining the bullpen each inning as well. It will have to pay off eventually. That’s right Bob. The Cardinals are grinding it out.
The story for the moment is now the pitching performance of Wall-E. Wow, the stamina and command he has shown. Closers are special but notoriously weak when it comes to stamina and command. All speed and power. Little Control. But Wall-E has been a steady nightmare ever since they called him in back in the 7th.
You know Bob, he’s the overlooked player for the Cardinals. He’s just steady. Gets out there and does his job. People really take him for granted. The Yankees are getting a taste of what other teams experienced when Mariano “The Sandman” Rivera would step on the mound. He has struck out every player and has only thrown four balls up to this point. That’s right Jack. And he’s doing it with command and intimidation. He looks as imposing as Bruce Sutter did in his prime. Wall-E has always been efficient. All business. Look at that Jack. He’s standing on the rubber bouncing the ball with disgust as he’s waiting on the Umpire. He is locked in. Wow, a fast ball for out #one. Incredible. Out number two. Three Cutters! Three straight cutters. He is dialed in Bob! I bet he can’t even hear the crowd he is so in the ZONE! Now, The Yankees acquired Big Papi late in the year and he is now up. You can cut the tension with a knife. We all know of his October magic. Let’s see if he has it in January. Another cutter for strike 1. A split finger for strike 2. What will Wall-E do for this pitch. Big Papi will be looking for that notorious fastball. He got him with a Change Up!! He got him with a Change Up for Strike 3! Is there a pitch that Wall-E can’t throw, Jack? Bob, I haven’t seen one. He just dropped his velocity from 100 all the way down to 70! No, Jack. The gun says he dropped all the way down to 60! Incredible. That’s just unheard of for a closer.
Well Bob, there is a lot of talk of this being Big Andrew’s last game. He may have to retire from baseball after this season. His lung damage may prevent him from continuing in the game. The players all know it. Joe is reporting that in the 7th Wall-E told the manager, “Give me the Ball! Big Andrew ain’t going out like this!"
We’ll be back after the break!
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