From someone with a screename Cardinal70: http://p216.ezboard.com/fdtfcdtfcstlouiscardinalsforum.showMessage?topicID=248.topic ]Pujols At The Bat -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The outlook wasn�t brilliant for the Cardinal nine that day The score stood four to two with but one inning more to play And so, when J-Rod went down on strikes and Mabry did the same A pallor wreathed the features of the fans of Redbird fame. A straggling few turned off the tube, the rest Clung to the hope that springs eternal in the human breast They thought, �If only Pujols could get a whack, at that We�d put up even money now, with Pujols at the bat.� But Eck preceded Pujols, and so did Jimmy E, The former was a pipsqueak and the latter one for three. So upon that stricken multitude a death-like silence sat. With Lidge there seemed but little chance of Pujols getting to the bat. But Eck bounced a single when he only had one strike more And Edmonds, the streaky slugger, then went and took ball four. So when the dust had settled, oh what a sight to see! There was Eckstein safe at second, and on first was Jimmy E. Then all across Cardinal Nation there arose a joyous yell It rumbled in the mountaintops, it rattled in the dell. It rolled against Busch Stadium and recoiled to where Walt sat For Pujols, mighty Pujols, was advancing to the bat. There was ease in Pujols� manner as he stepped up to the plate. There was pride in Pujols� bearing, and focus upon his face. And when, with panic building, Houston fans started sounding flat, No stranger in the crowd could doubt, twas Pujols at the bat. All Cardinal eyes were on him as he knelt upon the dirt Praying for the strength to on that baseball put a hurt. And as the writhing pitcher got a visit on the mound There was a noticeable drop in the level of the sound. And now the leather-covered sphere comes hurtling through the air And Pujols took a rip at it, missing it with inches to spare A slider from the closer Lidge had been the pitch he missed A groan went up from St. Louis, Houston cheered and hissed. From the benches, black with people, came decibels of sound As the Astros looked to be moving to the next round. And now Lidge holds the ball, and now he lets it go, And now the air is shattered by the force of Pujols� blow. Oh all across Cardinal Nation, the sun is shining bright Bands are playing somewhere, and all the hearts are light So many men are laughing and telling their children of the sight, Because Albert Pujols hit the baseball long into the Texas night. Not bad. Later