OVERHEARD IN A SHEA MEN'S ROOM: "Hey, it smells like Billy Wagner in here."

Ouch.
























Game 2 of the National League playoffs was a study in reversed expectations. Cardinals pitching ace Chris Carpenter was supposed to dominate rookie John Maine, but Carpenter didn't have his stuff and Maine managed to give up only two hits in four innings (though he also walked five) before manager Willie Randolph replaced him--perhaps prematurely. St. Louis played catch-up ball for much of the game, but in the late innings, when the Mets relievers were supposed to secure the win in their home stadium, the Cards managed to tie and then surge ahead due to clutch hitting--not from the vaunted Albert Pujols but from So Taguchi, who has now racked up two home runs in two postseason at bats. It was a blow from which the unlucky Mets did not recover.

"What can I say," a sheepish Taguchi said, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I am surprised."

And now it's off to Missouri.

Here's New York Times coverage.







































































BONUS TIP After a game, consider "life hacking" this kind of huge subway line by walking west to the next stop.
























Photos: David Marc Fischer