Wow. Simple wow. What a great weekend! I took a road trip to Los Angeles and back in Utah in got back in about 60 hours. Dang California traffic cost us a few hours. No. I didn’t experience the Cardinals winning. But, in this game, there was just about a little bit of everything. Playoff atmosphere, drama for both teams late in the game, blunders and much, much more. Game 2 of the NLDS between the Dodgers and Cardinals was great. I must say, even in a loss, as a fan of the Cardinals, this game really lived up to the billing. Shear domination by Zach Greinke through 7 innings. 2 hits, 0 runs and after warming up to start the 8th inning, manager Don Mattingly decides to bring in relief for Greinke. Everyone and their dog knew it was quetsionable. In fact, my friend Nick, a huge Dodgers fan, only had this to say on the decision: “this move by Mattingly is going to bite us in the ass.” Did it, indeed! Cardinals 3B Matt Carpenter approached the plate vs. JP Howell with Carpenter representing the tying run. Carpenter was sitting on a fastball and crushed it to tie the game in the 8th inning. Heroics in play, but this was just the beginning as RF Matt Kemp came up huge in the bottom half of the 8th inning, hitting a solo shot in what was one of the more up and down moments you can experience, during a baseball game, in a span of ten minutes or so. Game over as the Cards went down in the ninth. I could’ve been bitter, we’ve all had our moments, but with that being said, I have to look at this in a totally different limelight. I went to a Major League Baseball playoff game! I experienced “true playoff atmosphere.” I saw my favorite player hit a home run. I was with friends and family that enjoyed the game with me. I met many great Dodgers fan and some amazing Cardinals supporters that made the game even more fun. I wish everyone could experience the day that I had at “the ballpark”. So here’s to that!! When it’s all said and done, I want my team to win through and through, but this was an experience that you hold on to. The pictures, the moments, the memories from a trip like this are what make things great in life and sports. Not trying to get all gushy on you ESPN 700 followers/listeners, but hopefully you all can at least see where I’m coming from. For instance, Utes fan traveling to see Utah play the #8 UCLA Bruins in Pasadena this past weekend, win or lose, got quite an experience, but the win makes it all the sweeter! The win is icing on the cake, but just being at the Rose Bowl, makes for an instant dream accomplishment, for some people. As they say, enjoys those fruits in life, it’ll make things that much easier.
