2011 World Series Game One: Predictions and Discussion

by John Sickels on Oct 19, 2025 2:06 PM EDT

The St. Louis Cardinals host the Texas Rangers in the first game of the 2011 World Series tonight. Here are my predictions for the series and for Game One.

**I pick the Cardinals to win the series in seven games
**The Cardinals will win tonight's game by a 7-3 score.

Share your predictions here and discuss the game!

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Comments

Rangers in 5

At some point the bad Starting Pitching (aside from Carpenter) is bound to catch up with LaRussa and the Cards. I prefer the Rangers bullpen, give the Rangers a slight edge in Starting Pitchers and consider the offenses a virtual wash. Of course, playoffs are a crapshoot, but I think the carriage is about to turn into a pumpkin on the Cards.

by Cormican on Oct 19, 2025 2:23 PM EDT reply actions

Rangers in 6...

TEX hasn’t been running out the best SP combo, and while I’ll take Carpenter over Wilson, Holland-Lewis seems a better pair than Garcia-Lohse.

Bullpens are actually pretty even IMO, STL might even have the edge there given how Lynn/Motte/Scrabble/Dotel/Salas have been hurling, but the TEX group is no slouch.

Still, I think TEX’s lineup is far superior to STL’s, at least in depth - many folks might take the heart of STL’s lineup over TEX’s (Pujols-Holliday-Berkman vs. Hamilton-Young-Beltre) - but Cruz, Napoli, Kinsler, et al. seem far superior to Schumaker, Furcal, Jay, Freese (hot as he has been) et al.

by dbreer23 on Oct 19, 2025 2:31 PM EDT reply actions

E-Jax...

might be the wild card, though - he could make the SP matchup pretty even…sorry, had blanked on him for some reason.

by dbreer23 on Oct 19, 2025 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions

I find all the bagging on CJ Wilson to be interesting

He’s been mediocre in the playoffs (though that brushes over his ALCS game 1 start, which was very good until the rains came). But over the season he was better than Carp. And for all Carp’s supposed playoff heroics, he was bad in game 2 vs the Phils and not great in game 3 vs the Brewers.

by nivarsity on Oct 19, 2025 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I actually don't see a big gap between Wilson & Carp...

But I do think on full rest, Carp has the edge over Wilson in general. In a 7-game series, though, anything can happen.

by dbreer23 on Oct 19, 2025 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

OK. I guess you're just going with your gut...

Cuz Wilson has been 2 wins better than Carp over the last 2 years.

by nivarsity on Oct 19, 2025 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not trying to be a dick btw

Carp is obviously really good, and capable of beating Wilson twice. Just saying that Wilson isn’t getting the credit he’s due.

by nivarsity on Oct 19, 2025 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions

The post season is all about SSS

Cards hit lefties just as well as righties

check out VEB on facebook...just search groups for Viva El Birdos

by Dttl89 on Oct 19, 2025 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions

And the Rangers mash righties....

by nivarsity on Oct 19, 2025 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions

didn't think you were being a dick at all...

I’m not a fan of either team, so I’m not at all pushing for Carp necessarily…their FIPs for 2010-2011 (reg. season) are actually damned close (3.40 to Wilson, 3.35 to Carp). Carp is just more of a known quantity in the playoffs (even with Wilson’s work in 2010, 3.70 ERA in 24.1 IP).

by dbreer23 on Oct 19, 2025 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm going with Rangers in 6 as well

It just feels like their year, or at least it has for the last month or so. Still, you never know what Tony LaRussa and Albert Pujols will pull out…

by Angelsjunky7 on Oct 19, 2025 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Rangers in 5

by PrincetonCubs on Oct 19, 2025 2:41 PM EDT reply actions

Texas in 5

I don’t see the offenses as close. Carpenter may currently be the best SP in the bunch, but after that I like TEX’s depth more. Wilson should pitch better than he’s been so far.

by walnut falcons on Oct 19, 2025 2:59 PM EDT reply actions

Rangers in 6

by cookiedabookie on Oct 19, 2025 3:01 PM EDT reply actions

My brain says Texas, but why are the Cardinals even here? Because they seem to be ignoring what they are "supposed" to do for the last month.

Cardinals in 7.

follow @casetines

by Kenneth Arthur on Oct 19, 2025 3:04 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

hopefully the rangers

don’t care how many games it takes ’em.

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by doublestix on Oct 19, 2025 3:24 PM EDT reply actions

Rangers in 7

Carpenter beats Wilson tonight, though: 5-3 Cards.

by Brownson on Oct 19, 2025 3:39 PM EDT reply actions

Rangers lose in 5 again

No way Texas can hit in 50-60 degree weather tonight or tomorrow. Returning to Texas wont stop the Cardinals bullpen.

by knebworth on Oct 19, 2025 3:41 PM EDT reply actions

So, uh, if it's so hard to hit in the cold, how is St. Louis gonna do so?

It’s hot there most of the baseball season too you know….

by nivarsity on Oct 19, 2025 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Texas in 5

by Yankees10 on Oct 19, 2025 4:00 PM EDT reply actions

This is a tough one

Other than Chris Carpenter, I don’t see any starter on either team really shutting down the opposing lineup meaning we could be in for some wild games here. Texas is the better team but St. Louis is probably the hotter team.

I’ll take the Cards in 7 but man, it’s close.

I was pretty disgusted after the Rockies season, but the rapid demise of the I-95 teams have helped with that.

by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Oct 19, 2025 4:14 PM EDT reply actions

cardinals in 6....

since it is pretty close to random and almost nobody has picked the Cards in 6 yet.

I truly believe the Rangers are the better team, but the better team probably wins about 55% of the series.

by DenverBears on Oct 19, 2025 5:19 PM EDT reply actions

This is what I was going to say

so +1

check out VEB on facebook...just search groups for Viva El Birdos

by Dttl89 on Oct 19, 2025 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I'll take the Rangers in 6

Even though Chris Carpenter is the best pitcher left in the series. One of the most under rated pitchers in baseball, IMO. I just don’t see Freese hitting .500 again and all the other little things that went right against Milwaukee.

"Never have a motto, that's what I always say" - Me
http://marcel-oehler.marcellosendos.ch/comics/ch/1986/05/19860506.gif
"I Hate SF" - The Chosen One.

by padmadfan on Oct 19, 2025 7:08 PM EDT reply actions

Rangers in 5

I think the Rangers feel they have unfinished business after coming so close last year. I like their depth and I love their bullpen. It’ll be interesting to see how many head scratching moves are made by Washington and LaRussa.

When they start the game, they don't yell, "Work ball." They say, "Play ball." ~Willie Stargell, 1981

by high heat on Oct 19, 2025 8:09 PM EDT reply actions

Rangers in 6.

The cards have better starting pitching. but the rangers have a hot offense and a more powerful one. Not to mention a great bullpen. Although i do think the cards will take game one. Carpenter over wilson anyday.

by Jt Malley on Oct 19, 2025 9:21 PM EDT reply actions