Jubilation to dejection in just one pitch

What an incredible Game 5 of the NLCS between Houston and St. Louis! I may hate both teams, but I have to admit that was an exciting last few innings of baseball. After Lance Berkman's 3-run homer in the 7th, everybody was punching Houston's tickets to Chicago for the World Series. Even the announcers were writing off the Cardinals at that point. Of course they were wrong—Albert Pujols, in what seemed like a scripted scenario (batting with two outs in the bottom of the ninth in a playoff game, facing elimination) slugged a mammoth 3-run home run well over the left field fence to recapture the lead.

As I realized that the ball was bound for the bleachers, my heart immediately went out to the true blue Houston fans. Make no bones about it, I do not like the Astros. I'm only rooting for them in this series because my Cubs fandom will not allow me to cheer for St. Louis. (Not that I'd be in the Cardinals' corner otherwise.) I do realize that all real fans, especially those who have been deprived of the ultimate level for so long, share a common set of characteristics. As such, I can empathize with the rollercoaster ride of emotions that the Astros fans rode on in that ninth inning. To be so sickeningly close to a goal and then have it snatched away in an instant is simply heartbreaking. I still predict that Houston will win the series, but at this moment in time I can understand what baseball fans in the Lonestar State are going through.

That being said, how good is Albert Pujols? I mean absolutely no disrespect to Derrek Lee, who had an absolutely phenominal year and is a total class act, but if I had to choose anybody to be my first baseman it would be Pujols. The guy not only puts up consistently astounding numbers, he is also clutch. To come into a situation with that much pressure—on the road and against a dominant closer like Brad Lidge—and do what he did just simply amazes me. It's such a shame that he is a St. Louis Cardinal.

-Mark