NLCS: Same foes, new look

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published October 13, 2005

ST. LOUIS - The Cardinals and Astros are facing each other for the second straight year. But they aren't the same teams.

Four of St. Louis' eight position players have changed. The starting rotation has two changes.

For Houston, only catcher Brad Ausmus and third baseman Morgan Ensberg are in the same spots. Two others changed positions. There are four newcomers and one change to the rotation.

"Changing the makeup of your club, that's just routine with free agency and stuff," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said.

Perhaps, but continuing success is the mark of a savvy organization.

St. Louis replaced free agents Tony Womack and Edgar Renteria at second base and shortstop with Mark Grudzielanek and David Eckstein.

Abraham Nunez replaced the injured Scott Rolen at third and Yadier Molina took over for free-agent catcher Mike Matheny. Mark Mulder was added to the rotation through trade, and Chris Carpenter came back from injury.

"I thought they were going to be hard-pressed to duplicate what they did last year," Astros manager Phil Garner said.

After losing centerfielder Carlos Beltran and second baseman Jeff Kent to free agency, Houston's road was uphill as well. But rookie Willy Taveras has done a nice job in center and Craig Biggio moved from leftfield to second.

Lance Berkman moved to leftfield from right, which now belongs to Jason Lane. Adam Everett took over for Jose Vizcaino at shortstop and Mike Lamb replaced the injured Jeff Bagwell at first. An injury-free Andy Pettitte pushed Pete Munro out of the rotation.

"We're a different club," Garner said. "We're not as offensively potent as last year, but our pitching is more solid top to bottom. Somehow we found a way."

So did the Cardinals.

ROY WHO? With Pettitte and Roger Clemens commanding headlines, it is easy to overlook Roy Oswalt. But tonight's Game 2 starter is the first pitcher since Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling in 2002 to have consecutive 20-win seasons.

"If that happened with somebody else, it would be all over the place," Garner said. "But Roy is not a self-promoter. He's very laid back."

Oswalt's 20 wins gave him a majors-high 40 the past two seasons, and the right-hander's 2411/3 innings were second in the league. He allowed no more than three earned runs in 22 of his last 28 starts.

Still, when asked the key for the Astros, Oswalt said, "Adding two dominant pitchers like Andy and Roger."

ODDS AND ENDS: The Game 1 winner has advanced to the World Series 12 straight years. ... Mulder, who starts tonight, said he has no discomfort in his left biceps that was hit by a line drive in Game 2 of the division series. ... Grudzielanek's eight assists tied an NLCS record he holds with Philly's Manny Trillo for a second basemen in a nine-inning game. ... Houston's Chris Burke homered in consecutive postseason at-bats.

[Last modified October 13, 2005, 01:12:06]