Chris Carpenter

Downing beers in a hotel room doesn't seem the ideal setting to practice mind control, but Chris Carpenter recalled when he and Roy Halladay did so as teammates in Toronto. At the time, they were two righthanders still trying to find their way, intrigued by a book titled The Mental ABC's of Pitching by the late Harvey Dorfman, learning how to mentally clear out the clutter. "If you can't figure out how to get rid of [the distraction], it's pretty tough to execute what you're trying to do," the Cardinals' big righthander said Saturday.

THE TEXAS Rangers are trying to figure out who released the profanity-laden locker-room speech that manager Ron Washington gave to his players before the team's Game 7 clash with the Cardinals in the World Series. "It's unacceptable for this type of thing to be out there," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels told ESPNDallas.com yesterday. "It was a private moment for the team, not meant for anyone else's ears. We're looking into it, probably won't have additional comments until we've finished that process.

ST. LOUIS - It is a stacked deck of a starting rotation, aces everywhere you look. It is a rotation put together by the Phillies for the sole purpose of papering over whatever other deficiencies might prevent the team from competing for a championship. Halladay, Lee, Hamels, Oswalt. Each has been a wonderful pitcher over the long course of his career. Each has helped get the Phils to this point - in the playoffs and trying to fight their way through to the end. But now, for anyone who has been paying attention, there is only one game that matters, and only one of the stars who is supposed to take the ball on Friday night and decide things in this opening-round death struggle against the St. Louis Cardinals.

At Citizens Bank Park.   Friday at 7:05 p.m. St. Louis LHP Jaime Garcia (12-7, 3.68 ERA) vs. RHP Vance Worley (11-2, 2.92)   Saturday at 7:05 p.m. St. Louis RHP Jake Westbrook (12-8, 4.61) vs. RHP Roy Oswalt (7-9, 3.88)   Sunday at 8:05 p.m. St. Louis RHP Chris Carpenter (9-9, 3.80) vs. LHP Cole Hamels (14-8, 2.71)   Monday at 7:05 p.m. St. Louis RHP Kyle Lohse (13-8, 3.62)

If I were a Carpenter Chris Carpenter (1-5) pitched nine innings against the Cubs on Sunday, surrendering seven hits and two walks. The Cardinals' righthander finished strong, retiring eight of the last nine batters he faced, with the base runner coming on a walk. But his teammates were gripped by whatever ails the Phillies and went extra innings with Chicago before winning, 3-2, in 10. Carpenter has won at least 15 games in all of his healthy seasons since 2004, but remained stuck on his lone win back on May 10.   Newsy notes Placido Polanco ended Sunday hitting .320 and Domonic Brown was at .304.

CHRIS CARPENTER noticed a crowd building behind the chain-link fence. Seems word had spread that the St. Louis Cardinals' ace was doing some throwing. These days, even playing a few minutes of catch is a big deal. "Amazing, isn't it? Did I do OK?" Carpenter asked afterward. The reigning World Series champions certainly hope Carpenter did, since their rotation to open the season may depend on how he feels over the next few days. Carpenter's few minutes of catch with teammate Jake Westbrook yesterday may be considered a positive sign for the Cardinals, who have dealt with a flurry of injuries so far in camp - the status of the guy who won Game 7 of last year's World Series most prominent among them.

MIAMI - The sellout crowd in the Miami Marlins' new ballpark cheered the introduction of their starters, who were accompanied by women dressed as Latin showgirls. There was another roar for Muhammad Ali, who delivered the first pitch. Then Kyle Lohse and the World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals went to work, and the place grew quiet. Lohse held Miami hitless until the seventh inning and pitched into the eighth to help the Cardinals win the first game in Marlins Park, 4-1, Wednesday night.

LOS ANGELES - The Cardinals and Dodgers have combined for 35 National League pennants and 16 World Series championships. Managers Tony La Russa and Joe Torre are third and fifth all time in major league wins and have won six championships between them. The Cardinals have the best one-two starting combination in baseball in Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright. They also have the best player in baseball. All Albert Pujols did this year was lead the NL in home runs, finished third in batting average and third in RBI. The Dodgers won more games than any team in the National League, but had no .300 hitters and no pitchers with more than 12 wins.

Chris Carpenter, who built Sterling High into a South Jersey baseball power, confirmed yesterday that he has resigned to spend more time with his family. "It was a very difficult decision," said Carpenter, who will remain at Sterling as a social studies teacher. "I was torn between two families - the one at home and the one at school. And the one at home is the most important. " Carpenter and his wife have two small children, Matthew, 4, and Katie, 5 months. "During the four months of baseball, I would kiss them goodbye when I left in the morning and, by the time I got home, they were sleeping," Carpenter said.

The Cardinals are in the midst of their worst slump of the season and are in danger of falling out of both the National League Central and wild-card races. The Phillies have to hope the Cardinals' desperation makes them dangerous because Atlanta's 49-19 home record is by far the best in the majors. St. Louis will try to get on track Thursday with staff ace Adam Wainwright going against the Braves' Jair Jurrjens. Wainwright is in the midst of a four-game losing streak, the longest of his career.

ST. LOUIS - Seems only 2 weeks ago we were writing the obituary for this Phillies bullpen. Actually, it was only 2 weeks ago. But things have changed, good things, as a matter of fact, as Thursday night's 10-9 victory over the Cardinals continued to bear out. It was May 9 when Ruben Amaro Jr. decided to make a line change and call up lefties Jake Diekman and Raul Valdes from Triple A Lehigh Valley after watching his bullpen's latest...

MIAMI - The sellout crowd in the Miami Marlins' new ballpark cheered the introduction of their starters, who were accompanied by women dressed as Latin showgirls. There was another roar for Muhammad Ali, who delivered the first pitch. Then Kyle Lohse and the World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals went to work, and the place grew quiet. Lohse held Miami hitless until the seventh inning and pitched into the eighth to help the Cardinals win the first game in Marlins Park, 4-1, Wednesday night.

TAKING A QUICK spin around the major leagues while trying to figure out whether Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish is the next Ichiro or Irabu. ON THE WAY UP   Marlins Nationals Angels ON THE WAY DOWN   Brewers Cardinals Phillies MANAGERS ON THE HOT SEAT (aka calling Ryne Sandberg) Fredi Gonzalez, Braves Don Mattingly, Dodgers Jim Tracy, Rockies -  Thanks to playoff expansion, a team can now finish third in its division and get into the playoffs.

CHRIS CARPENTER noticed a crowd building behind the chain-link fence. Seems word had spread that the St. Louis Cardinals' ace was doing some throwing. These days, even playing a few minutes of catch is a big deal. "Amazing, isn't it? Did I do OK?" Carpenter asked afterward. The reigning World Series champions certainly hope Carpenter did, since their rotation to open the season may depend on how he feels over the next few days. Carpenter's few minutes of catch with teammate Jake Westbrook yesterday may be considered a positive sign for the Cardinals, who have dealt with a flurry of injuries so far in camp - the status of the guy who won Game 7 of last year's World Series most prominent among them.

JUPITER, Fla. - The signature moment of the St. Louis Cardinals' remarkable run to the most unlikely of titles will always be Game 6 of the 2011 World Series. Down to their last strike of the season twice against the Texas Rangers, the Cardinals survived with a classic extra-inning victory behind the heroics of David Freese and Lance Berkman. Then ace Chris Carpenter won Game 7. That game is the climax of the story, but any book about the Cards' 11th World Series title should include at least a chapter or two - maybe even three - about the Phillies.

THE TEXAS Rangers are trying to figure out who released the profanity-laden locker-room speech that manager Ron Washington gave to his players before the team's Game 7 clash with the Cardinals in the World Series. "It's unacceptable for this type of thing to be out there," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels told ESPNDallas.com yesterday. "It was a private moment for the team, not meant for anyone else's ears. We're looking into it, probably won't have additional comments until we've finished that process.

ST. LOUIS - Nothing in the St. Louis Rams' first six games indicated they were capable of even keeping this one close. Maybe the crosstown Cardinals' pregame appearance with the World Series trophy inspired them to pull off a shocker of their own. A few choice words from their star player helped, too. Steven Jackson awoke in the middle of the night on game day, deciding he'd tell teammates enough was enough and that no way the Rams...

ST. LOUIS - A Game 6 that ranked among baseball's greatest thrillers. A three-homer performance by Albert Pujols that was one of the best hitting shows in postseason history. Ron Washington running in place, Tony La Russa reacting in dismay at a ball that got away. Everyone learning how to chant "Nap-Oh-Lee!" Oh, and a Rally Squirrel on the scoreboard and a telephone mix-up in the bullpen. "I told you it was going to be a great Series - and it was," Texas slugger Josh Hamilton said.

ST. LOUIS - Pushed to the brink, the St. Louis Cardinals saved themselves. A frantic rush to reach the postseason on the final day. A nifty pair of comebacks in the playoffs. Two desperate rallies in Game 6. Turns out these Cardinals were merely gearing up for a gigantic celebration. The Cardinals won a remarkable World Series they weren't even supposed to reach, beating the Texas Rangers, 6-2, in Game 7 on Friday night with another key hit by hometown star David Freese, the Series MVP, and six gutty innings from Chris Carpenter.

ST. LOUIS - Colby Lewis and his Texas teammates casually tossed a ball in leftfield, trying to avoid the tarp and any anxiety about being so close to the World Series championship. On this day, the only winner was the weather. Last night's Game 6 was postponed because of an accurate wet forecast, delaying the Rangers' bid to clinch their first championship. Ahead 3-2, they can close out the St. Louis Cardinals tonight. It's likely to be clear with temperatures in the low 50s at Busch Stadium.