Who Will Step Up For Game 7?

The stage has been set. Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS between the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets is set for tonight. The winner goes on to face the surprising Detroit Tigers, the loser goes home to their families and favorite golf courses.

The pitching match-up doesn't necessearily conjure up images of Bob Gibson vs. Denny McLain or Bob Feller vs. Johnny Sain. However, the Cardinals will start veteran Jeff Suppan. Suppan baffled the Mets in his Game 3 start, scattering three hits and one walk over eight shutout innings. Before coming to the Cardinals in 2004, Suppan bounced around with the Boston, Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Arizona - never truly being able to capitalize on his ability to locate his pitches and change speeds. However, he's had a renaissance of sorts since being paired up with Cardinals pitching coach, Dave Duncan. He's been able to mix the speeds and locations of his fastball, curveball and change-up to keep hitters off balance. As a result, Suppan has been able to post 44 regular season wins over the past three seasons, almost equaling his win totals from his first nine seasons combined. Whether or not he can duplicate his Game 3 performance or not, the Cardinals have to feel very confident with their Game 7 starter.

The Mets will be countering with late-season acquisition, Oliver Perez. The Mets Game 4 starter and enigma du jour struggled to keep the Cardinals from scoring (giving up 5 ER in 5 1/3 innings of work), but was saved by an explosive offense. Perez's performance was gutsy and he did help preserve the bullpen arms for the rest of the series, but the Mets are going to need more from Perez tonight if they wish to advance to the World Series. You can't count on the offense (not even this offense) to post 12 runs a game.

Other Game 7 notes:

Don't be surprised to see Tom Glavine out of the bullpen tonight, if necessary. Both teams will do whatever they need to do to win the game. Will the Cardinals start Scott Rolen? Rolen has done absolutely nothing at the plate this series. Is his defense worth the lost AB's. I say yes. Will they start Scott Spiezio? If so, where? He could start at 3B, if LaRussa doesn't want to play Rolen. He could start in LF, but the right-handed Preston Wilson could be a good start against the hard-throwing lefty, Oliver Perez.

Other rumors, news & notes:

• The Minnesota Twins are expected offer young stars, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau five-year, $40 million deals this winter. The St. Paul Pioneer Express speculates that Morneau might bite, but Mauer who already inked a $5.15 million bonus, might opt for one-year contracts.
• Oakland A's catcher Jason Kendall is willing to defer money from the $8 million he is owed in 2007 if the Athletics extend his deal 2-3 more years. Kendall is actually owed a total of $13 million in 2007, with the Pirates footing $5 million of the bill.
• Texas OF Gary Matthews, Jr. plans to test free agency this offseason. With the amount of dollars expected to be handed out, the Rangers might be wise to let Matthews go and use that money on some starting pitching.
• The Phillies will be looking to move OF Pat Burrell this winter. Burrell struggled in 2006 to provide 1B Ryan Howard with protection in the lineup. Burrell, who is not a natural outfielder, would probably be a good fit in the AL. Burrell does have a no-trade clause in his contract, which he used in July to void a deal the Phillies had in place with the Baltimore Orioles.
• The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the Padres are interested in acquiring Mets SP Oliver Perez (once a Padres farmhand), for use out of their bullpen in 2007.