NO ROOM AT THE INN: So now we know what the Cardinals' problem was in the first two games: a lack of late-night food.
Because it was a busy weekend in Boston, with a big regatta and parents weekend at a number of colleges, the Cardinals couldn't get a hotel closer than suburban Quincy, Mass., about 10 miles from Fenway.
And, according to manager Tony La Russa, it wasn't exactly what they expected.
"It was a real bummer to the point where a lot of us were upset and embarrassed," he said.
As an example, La Russa mentioned how the players' only option for postgame food was a spread of bar food that the hotel set out.
"You get to the World Series and you want it to be everything you've dreamed about," La Russa said. "I get back on the last bus Saturday and I see guys eating hamburgers, pizza and chicken wings. Hopefully we'll get back to Boston (for Games 6 and 7) and we'll take care of it then."
With hotel rooms in St. Louis scarce this week due to a convention of nephrologists, La Russa suggested the Cardinals make the Red Sox stay somewhere like Jefferson City, Mo. But they already are checked in at the Adam's Mark, which is within walking distance of Busch Stadium.
BIRD MAN: The Red Sox invited former Celtics great Larry Bird to throw out a first pitch, but he said he couldn't make it to Boston. What he didn't say is that he grew up in Indiana a Cardinals fan.
BENNIFER II: The Boston Herald sure likes to have fun with native son Ben Affleck. Monday, the Herald documented Affleck's affinity for bringing his current gal pals to Fenway.
So there was a picture of Affleck with Jennifer Lopez at last year's ALCS, next to a picture of Enza Sambatarro at a May Sox game, on top of a picture with latest girlfriend Jennifer Garner last weekend.
Affleck won't meet the Sox in St. Louis because he is going back to Vancouver to continue shooting his latest movie, Man About Town .
PRICELINE: The prices aren't as high, and the tickets more available, in St. Louis than Boston, but it still isn't cheap. Two second-deck seats for tonight's game had a bid of $1,225 on eBay late Monday afternoon.
