Cardinals Pitching Coach Dave Duncan Hung Up on Tony La Russa When Asked Who Should Start Game 7 of World Series

Both Kyle Lohse and Edwin Jackson were fully rested for Game 7 of the World Series. But according to Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan, Chris Carpenter was the only man for the job.

"I called [Duncan] in the morning," manager Tony La Russa said, "and I said 'how about the alternatives?' He says, 'are you kidding?' It's Chris Carpenter,' and he hung up."

Duncan's confidence in his ace stemmed from?not only knowing what Carpenter was capable of, but of what he had already done in the postseason. Carpenter finished the playoffs with a 4-0 record, which included an NLCS Game 5 win over Cy Young candidate Roy Halladay.

What worried the Cardinals skipper, though, was that Carpenter had already made two starts in the World Series and he was on short rest. He showed signs of fatigue in the first inning, giving up two runs, but he then locked down the next five innings?to hold the Rangers scoreless en route to the Cardinals' 11th title in franchise history.

Source: http://www.nesn.com/2011/10/dave-duncan-hung-up-on-tony-la-russa-when-asked-who-game-7-starter-should-be.html

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