The Lost Cardinal Titles

This week on Lost, we saw the initial aftereffects of what happened when the H-bomb exploded and, at least in part, reset the timeline from the plane crash on September 22, 2004. (If you aren't a Lost follower, one, why not and two, don't worry, you can still read this post.) Since 2004 has a special significance for St. Louis fans, I thought I'd try to explore what might have happened to the Cardinal franchise if Oceanic Flight 815 hadn't gone down.

Let's assume that, on board that flight from Sydney to Australia was a Yankee scout, checking on a prospect. Since the plan doesn't crash, he lands in Los Angeles and continues his scouting on playoff opponents. In this report is a tell on Dave Roberts. Roberts has a certain habit when he's stealing, something that the Yankee brass wasn't aware of.

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Also on the Network: √ Doing It The Hard Way [C70 At The Bat] √ Bobby Jenks Saves Sox's Win Over Seattle [Tremendous Upside Potential] √ Deadline moves [Feeling Dodger Blue] √ Manny's impact [Feeling Dodger Blue] √ Shea Stadium Plays Citi Field [Loge 13] √ Frustration Revisted [C70 At The Bat] √ Not So Fast, T-Mac [Tremendous Upside Potential] √ Payroll breakdown [Feeling Dodger Blue]

Based on this information, in Game 4 of the ALCS, the Yankees call a pitchout and Jorge Posada nails Roberts trying to steal. Mariano Rivera locks down a relatively uneventful save and the Yankees are back in the World Series for the first time in three years.

Nothing changes on the National League side, as the Cardinals battle through a hard-fought NLCS to take Game 7 against the Astros and Roger Clemens. So instead of a nation focused on the Red Sox trying to beat the Curse, it's a battle of the two most storied teams in baseball history--a battle that has most of the country on the Cardinals' side.

With the Series opening in New York, it's not difficult for the Cardinals to find a good hotel and have less logistical nightmares, keeping them well focused on the task at hand.

With the Cardinals not having to face the knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, the potent offense tees off on Javier Vazquez to take an early lead in the Series. The Yankees are able to pull out a win when Orlando Hernandez bedevils the club, but the Redbirds take Game 5 to end it all.

The Cardinals are World Series champions, ending their 22-year drought.

In the aftermath of that victory, St. Louis works to keep their shortstop, Edgar Renteria, who is a free agent. Boston puts an offer on the table that is slightly better than the one presented by the Cardinals, but St. Louis is the World Champs while Boston is still a cursed team. Renteria decides that fortune looks better in the Midwest and stays with St. Louis. The shortstop carousel never happens, as Orlando Cabrera and David Eckstein stay with their respective teams.

Because JD Drew is in the doghouse with Tony LaRussa, the trade to the Braves of him and Eli Marrero for Jason Marquis, Ray King and Adam Wainwright goes through that offseason.  However, because of Dan Haren's exceptional work in the World Series and the fact that the team won a Series, the demand for a top-of-the-rotation lefthander is lessened and the team Is not inclined to bite on Oakland's demand of Haren, Kiko Calero and Daric Barton for Mark Mulder. No one else takes Billy Beane's bait and becomes unmovable when a physical reveals the extent of his injuries.