NLCS: Berkman soaks in welcome fan noise
By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published October 20, 2005
ST. LOUIS - Whatever happened in Wednesday's Game 6, Lance Berkman said he was going to enjoy the moment. The Astros first baseman said it will be easy because Cardinals fans make it so.
"It's not like these fans boo you," Berkman said. "If you're in the batter's box and it's a big situation, they're going crazy because they want their pitcher to do well. You know, this place, it may not have a reputation, but in my opinion it's every bit as noisy as (Houston's) Minute Maid Park."
Berkman knows the noise was going to peak because of St. Louis' do-or-die situation and because, as it turned out, it the final game for Busch Stadium, which closes after the season.
Still, he said, "I don't think the noise is going to come into play. It's more like just playing a game on an airport runway. It's just like the background noise of jet engines. Whether you're hitting or playing defense, the noise is constant.
"For me personally, it's easier to play on the road because if I do bad, I feel like I didn't embarrass myself in front of all my friends and family."
WATCHING ROGER: Astros general manager Tim Purpura has watched pitcher Roger Clemens for two years and said he is not the aloof character often portrayed.
"Despite the tough, competitive side, he is a terrific teammate," Purpura said. "He's just impressed me as the ultimate team player.
Purpura told of Clemens' opening-day gesture in which he gave T-shirts not only to teammates but clubhouse staff.
"He's a team guy," Purpura said.
Clemens, who was scheduled to pitch Game 7, is expected to pitch Game 1 of the World Series, though he said he has not heard that officially. He did say an NL championship will help ease the pain caused last month by the death of his mother, Bess.
"This, for the moment, helps keep my mind on other things," he said. "I feel grateful and blessed to be able to be part of this."
OVER AND OUT: Houston closer Brad Lidge did not get in the game. No matter, his team's performance helped wipe out the memory of the winning home run he gave up to Albert Pujols in Game 5.
"I don't know if I feel relief but I feel elated that we're going to the World Series," he said. SECOND BILLING: Astros starter Roy Oswalt said Game 6 might not have been the biggest game of his career. He said pitching against South Korea in the 2000 Olympics in a game that determined if the United States played for gold or bronze produced more butterflies.
"It was a little bit of pressure there," said Oswalt, who did win gold.
LINEUP CHANGES: Cardinals third baseman Abraham Nunez, who missed two starts because of a bruised thigh, was back in the lineup. Houston's Willy Taveras, who missed three starts in favor of Chris Burke's once-hot bat, also returned.
ODDS AND ENDS: The Cardinals are now 6-2 when trailing three games to two in the best of seven format. ... No Central team in either league has won a World Series since the six-division format was adopted in 1994. ... Lidge and St. Louis' Jason Isringhausen are tied with Tug McGraw and Robb Nen for most career NLCS saves with five.