Workout day at our house
Practice before Game 3 was just your normal day. We go out there for batting practice, talk with the guys, and just talk about situations that happened with Game 1 and Game 2. See what we can correct and what adjustments we have to make. We’re just getting ready for tomorrow. Now we can go home and relax and just enjoy our families.
This will be my first World Series home game — me along with probably half the team. Especially with it being in the new ballpark, the fans are probably just going to go crazy. I expect them to be crazy.
We’re going to have fun with it. It will be a great experience. But first and foremost we’ve got to go out there and play hard and win. I’ve got family coming in town, so it’s going to be even more exciting.
John Rodriguez's Birdblog 
John,
Thanks much for blogging! I really enjoy seeing what goes on besides just the games themselves. Bravo.
I have absolute faith in you guys…of course it’s far from over, but in any case I think you guys have a shot at this. Even though the Tigers were supposed to win in 3…I believe you all will have the last laugh in that one.
I’m sending you my luck and positive energy (I have an abundance) – give some to everyone, especially Carp!!!
-Gillian
As stated by 4 year old Ian in his very own words:
Go Cardinals!! Good luck for everybody, especially John and Albert!!
From your favorite little fan in Peoria!
You guys will do awesome! All of us in St. Louis are so proud of you guys!
J-Rod-
I AM 14 AND THE BIGGEST CARDS FAN FROM BLOOMINGTON,ILLINOIS. I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH AND AM SO PROUD OF YOU THAT YOU GOT THIS FAR. IT IS AWESOME. I WATCH THE CARDINALS ALMOST EVERY NIGHT OF THE SEASON UNLESS I HAVE A GAME MYSELF. LETS WIN 3 IN STL AND WIN THE WORLD SERIES AT HOME WITH THE BEST FANS IN THE WORLD CHEERING AT BUSCH. WHAT A 1ST SEASON AT BUSCH! I NEED TO QUIET THE CUBS FANS AT SCHOOL WHO ARE NOW (TIGER FANS) SO GO OUT THERE AND DO IT GOOD LUCK! GO CARDINALS I LIVE FOR THIS- ANDREW
J-Rod-
I AM 14 AND THE BIGGEST CARDS FAN FROM BLOOMINGTON,ILLINOIS. I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH AND AM SO PROUD OF YOU THAT YOU GOT THIS FAR. IT IS AWESOME. I WATCH THE CARDINALS ALMOST EVERY NIGHT OF THE SEASON UNLESS I HAVE A GAME MYSELF. LETS WIN 3 IN STL AND WIN THE WORLD SERIES AT HOME WITH THE BEST FANS IN THE WORLD CHEERING AT BUSCH. WHAT A 1ST SEASON AT BUSCH! I NEED TO QUIET THE CUBS FANS AT SCHOOL WHO ARE NOW (TIGER FANS) SO GO OUT THERE AND DO IT GOOD LUCK! GO CARDINALS I LIVE FOR THIS- ANDREW
J-Rod-
I AM 14 AND THE BIGGEST CARDS FAN FROM BLOOMINGTON,ILLINOIS. I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH AND AM SO PROUD OF YOU THAT YOU GOT THIS FAR. IT IS AWESOME. I WATCH THE CARDINALS ALMOST EVERY NIGHT OF THE SEASON UNLESS I HAVE A GAME MYSELF. LETS WIN 3 IN STL AND WIN THE WORLD SERIES AT HOME WITH THE BEST FANS IN THE WORLD CHEERING AT BUSCH. WHAT A 1ST SEASON AT BUSCH! I NEED TO QUIET THE CUBS FANS AT SCHOOL WHO ARE NOW (TIGER FANS) SO GO OUT THERE AND DO IT GOOD LUCK! GO CARDINALS I LIVE FOR THIS- ANDREW
J-ROD SORRY I ACCIDENTALLY PRESSED ENTER TO MANY TIMES
J-Rod!
I am so excited about the world series coming to STL!!
I will go through my house on a daily bases and pet all my cardinal birds, even on days we don’t play… don’t wanna ruin a good thing!! We wish ya’ll the best of luck… I know we really don’t need it, because we’re good!!! Gotta love the long ball!!!
Shannon Cardinal-Apprill
j-rod.im a huge fan,i live and breathe off of the cardinals and it would just tickle me pink to see a win for st.louis especially after the devistating past years to the tiering astros and the redsocks,win one for us,
When you say “crazy”, you have no idea! Enjoy man!
Cards in 5, lets get it done at home!
Would you fill us in about what the team was saying about the whole-Kenny Rogers “dirt/pine tar” ordeal?
We have heard all the stories except from the team. I want to know what you guys were saying/thinking.
Thanks!
Go beat those Tigers! Grrr?
(this email is in no way connected to Albert Pujols?)
Hi John, Glad ya’ll had a good day. Don’t worry about game three… the faith from thousands is with you all. We are trucking on down to bama thru the nite and are thinking of the cards each mile that goes by.Don’t forget to give a special backslap, nod,hello or whatever to my Jim for me. We will be watching, cheering and praying. Cardinals Rule !
J-Rod,
We’re cheering you & the cardinals on in Alb., NM! You’ve got what it takes to WIN the world series! Sure wish we could be there personally, but know that we’re there in spirit! The Spirit of St. Louis (baseball heaven)!!! Our prayers are with you guys!!! WE BELIEVE!!!! 🙂
Enjoy your time with your family. I’m sure they’ll feel welcome in this great baseball city. Can’t wait for tomorrows game. Let’s win this one. GO CARDS!!!
Kim
John,
What a great 2 games, we had a party for all the displaced Cards fans here in Hawaii, cheering all of you on. Good luck to you and the rest of the team. It would be great to see this end in the new stadium on Thursday!!
It feels this year was made for the St.Louis Cardinals. I want you to win the next 3 games and call it a Victory. ~you got all of my energy~
-Jamie-
Rogers knows if he did or didn’t and must live with it . . . end of pine tar story, although I expect he’ll get booed at tomorrow’s game when he’s introduced. We will be there tomorrow, cheering with every pitch/every play — my first WS game, I am counting down the minutes!!! My best to you and your family and the guys. GO CARDS!!!!
Okay, just one more pine tar comment. It seems like Tony had to defend his actions about the incident. I say he handled it perfectly. He pointed out the situation, then it became the responsibility of the umpire crew to uphold the rules. Thumbs up, Tony. One more “GO CARDS”! and I’m calling it a night!
J-Rod, you know what the worst part of this World Series is right now? I can’t be at Busch Stadium! You can bet that I’ll be just as loud in front of my TV as the fans will be downtown. We’re all excited, so bring home a winner! Go Cardinals!!
GO HARD OR GO HOME !!!
THATS IT IM DONE HERE !!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/PRKAYZ/JohnRodriguez.jpg
John,
Tony LaRussa is one class act. The entire Cardinals team is a class act… Anxiously awaiting Game 3..GO CARDS !!!!! Your #1 fan, JOJO
Hi im Anthony from Abingdon, VA im a senior at Abingdon high school and i have been a cardinals fan for about 3 years……..I would really love to see you guys win this world series at home….it would be great for St. Louis. I really want you all to win because all of my friends have been telling me how the tigers have this series but i just want you guys to prove them wrong and everybody else in the country that St. Louis is the best team in Major Leauge Baseball!!!!! Go Cards!!!!!
CARDS GO THE DISTANCE…
CARDS GO THE DISTANCE…
Noone on this team needs to justify anything; they are here regardless of naysayers, they are only concerned with their own performance, and they will attack this series with honor. What more could true fans want?
DESTINY IS EARNED. The Cardinals will be remembered in this series as the truer athletes, and winning this series despite everything else will prove it. No asterick by this one 😉
I love how everyone says that Cards fans are better than those in other cities and how they think that Kenny is the only pitcher to use a foreign substance on his pitching hand to get a better grip in 30 degree temperatures. Cheater you call him? Cheater. You might want to check your own pitchers before calling attention. Maybe that is why Tony didn’t go any further with this than he did.
St. Louis is associated with one of the biggest cheaters in the game… Mark McGwire. Remember that while perched up in your Big Mac Land at the new Busch Stadium….
The one reason Tony did absolutely nothing is for one simple reason. He had to make sure his bench was squeaky clean before saying anything. Leyland worked for Larusa for the past six years so he knows all his ins and outs.
After Kenny’s left hand was brought into focus in the first inning there were two Tigers who were hit with pitches that got away…. perhaps the Cards lost there grip on the ball after cleaning up there pitching hands also!
J-Rod and all of the players on the team good luck tonight..
Hi John,
Thanks again for this blog. It is great getting that insider perspective. You guys never fail to amaze the fans. Can’t wait for tonight’s game, go out there and bring home a winner!! I really hope you see more playing time. Good luck tonight and wish all the guys our best from Cardinal Nation. Busch will be ROCKIN tonight!
John, good luck tonight hope to see you in the game tonight! I know with Carp out there for us, nothing but good can come from it. Go Cardinals!!!
JRod,
Thanks for the blog..it is nice to get a players view. You guys are going to win tonight and win it all..I can feel it! You all really deserve it after the stunt Rogers pulled. Keep up the good work! GO CARDS!!!!!
Hey J-Rod
I am soooo ready to work tonight! I misssed the BEST TEAM and FANS IN THE WORLD!!! This is my first year as an usher and I can’t believe I get to see a World Series! Good Luck to tonight! I will be cheering for you!
One Luv
#1 J-Rod Fan
Monique
JRod,
Just want to start out by saying thank you for the blog, it’s really great! I go to about 20 home games a year and a few on the road, and have done that for about thirty years. I have seen the birds at their worst and I’ve seen them at their best. And I really think it is great that the year they say we’re not going anywhere, we end up in the world series!! To give my $0.02 on the Rogers thing, Tigers fans and players can say what they want, but pictures are worth a thousand words!! So tonight when I settle into my easy chair with an ice cold budweiser, wishing I could hear Jack Buck call 1 more series game, I hope the sea of red at Busch III will welcome Detroit to Baseball Heaven! Good luck boys!!!
Mark it down, quote me, say I told you so but….
Cards gonna get spanked from here on out…period!!!! GOOOOOOOO TIGERS!
J-Rod,
Thanks for the blog. It’s cool to get a behind the scenes look at things. Know that the entire Cardinal Nation is behind you and the rest of the team. Keep up the good work. Cards in 5 is my prediction. Tigers are good, but the Cards seem hungier this year- y’all want it more! Buena Suerte!
~Jenny
http://jbearsden.blogspot.com/
Sore losers!
Rogers pitched a scoreless first inning with the gunk on his hand. And then he pitched seven more scoreless innings without anything on his hand. In fact, one of the two hits he gave up came during the first, as did a walk. So he actually pitched better after his hand was clean.
Looks like Cards fans are just looking for something to hang there hats on… a loss is a loss is a loss!
GOOOOOOOOOOOO CARDS!!! I can’t wait till tonight. It’s so exciting to finally have baseball BACK in St. Louis. I would LOVE to win all 3 of these so you can be home with your fans when you celebrate your World Series Championship. Just thinking about it gets me all giddy inside.
BE HUNGRY, CARDS…GO GET YOURSELF SOME TIGER STEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
John, wishing you guys all the luck in the world. Show them what a truly honest classy team can do! GO CARDS!!!
John,
Thanks for taking time during the playoffs to do this blog. Thanks for the insight as to what’s going on behind the scenes. Let’s get this thing done at home and make it a great first year at the new Busch!! GO CARDS!!
Just another three games and the Series is OURS! You’ve got this! I wish I could give all of you guys a big huge hug and cool handshake! You guys go. Play your butts off, but not all the way. You guys have cute butts. Okay, WIN WIN WIN! We’ll be watching.
YOU GOTTA BELIEVE.
hey aarthur. they got a lower case key on your computer keyboard. why don’t u try using it, man. we ain’t blind or in need of braile, buddy!
oh, aarthur. i didn’t red u’r writting. yure only 14. so. get of the blogg and go do som homewurk, little buddy!! learnin how too red and write are more imporetunt than sportz, beleve me son. i know. frum esperuence. i tel you
How I love the irony!!!
Isn?t it so ironic that the same fans that cheered Mark McGuire on when he broke the Home Run record in 1998, are now complaining about fairness in baseball!!!
And I thought the Angels played in Anaheim?
the cardinals stinnnnnkkkkms!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk the tiger will eat you you dirty bums!!!!!!!!!!!!!!go back to bum territory before the mets anialate you with el ducke and pedro ….Bums!!!!!when did u guys make a catch like endy chavez oh yea neverBUMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
to all the cardinals haters out their i guess the cards showed you guys the we can win……J-Rod great game
thehornedbee, people that are too sure of themselves are rarely right. Ha!
Tigers are whimpering!
Congrats Cards! Just TWO more games, J-Rod
thehornedbee gota be a Mets fan. Please Mets are old news, and el ducke is also a slang term for poo realy no need for that kind of language. Sorry J -Rod. Cards have another great win the fans are pushing for you all God bless and good night
Guess there are some baseball fans just can’t stand it that there team didn’t make it to the Series, and don’t have a class act team like our CARDS! The Cards brought on the heat so Rogers had to CHEAT! I hear there is a t-shirt out there with this on it! Thanks, again, JROD..hope you get to get in there and play some! GO CARDS!!!!!
Read the post by partylikeits84 above….great point!!!!
A lot of Cardinals fans must live in glasss homes and have short term memory loss!! I wrote you all a short sweet little poem….
Cheater, Liar?
Can you say Mcgwire?
by the way this is faaaar from over. I dont hear any large female singing!
Hey there! I am new to this whole Blog thing, but just thought I would say what a great player I think you are and they need to put you in more often.. just so I can watch you swing back and forth when you bat, I LOVE THAT!!! Anyway- I have had the opportunity of meeting you a couple of times and wish we could have hung out a little longer. You probably don’t remember, but at Patio’s I took a pic with you with my Cub (yes I am a cub fan too) gear and and you covered up my Cub hat. Then I had the chance to meet with you again at one of the Caravans and you happily signed my pic. Then my son took it upon himself to ask if you were single. Ha,loved it. Anyway- hope to hear back from ya. Good luck at the games and hopefully I get to watch you shake it at the plate again!!!! 🙂