Image Credit: Eric Gay/AP
Though Game 7s should be, by definition, the most dramatic games in sports, Game 6s have a better reputation for classic World Series games. The ball dribbled through Bill Buckner’s legs in a Game 6. Carlton Fisk waved his home run fair in a Game 6. Kirby Puckett hit his walk-off home run in a Game 6. Last night, St. Louis Cardinal David Freese, who hit only 10 home runs during the season, saved his team’s season with a two-strike, two-out triple in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the score and then hit a solo home run in the 11th to win the game and force a deciding Game 7. It was the kind of game that every little kid dreams of having, especially since the 28-year-old third baseman grew up in Missouri.
Game 6 was a thrilling heart-stopper, with the home team rallying from three runs down to force extra innings. But even then, fate seemed to turn against them, as Texas’ injured star Josh Hamilton conjured up visions of Kirk Gibson with a two-run home run in the 10th that seemed destined to be the series-clincher. Somehow, the Cardinals rallied again in the bottom of the inning: with two outs and two strikes, Lance Berkman tied the game again with a run-scoring single, settling the table for Freese’s 11th-inning heroics. Four hours and 33 minutes after the game’s first pitch, all of St. Louis was bedlam. The Cards literally ripped Freese’s jersey off his back! “Not much to say but thanks everybody,” Freese tweeted after the victory. “Like I said though… unfinished business. One more.”
So just like that, we’re looking at a winner-take-all Game 7 of the World Series! On a Friday night! (Bartenders rejoice!) Baseball hasn’t had a Game 7 since 2002, and if tonight’s game has even half of the excitement of last night’s classic, even Fringe fans might take breaks from updating the Faux-livia Wikipedia page to check the game’s score. St. Louis media is reporting that the Cardinals’ ace pitcher, Chris Carpenter, who pitched well in Game 1 and 4, will take the mound tonight to face the Rangers’ Matt Harrison, who was roughed up in Game 3. That bodes well for the Cardinals, who might not be the underdog anymore after playing that role for the last three months: In the last eight World Series Game 7s (dating back to 1982), the home team has won every time.
Will you be watching tonight? Have you even recovered from last night’s drama? Did you wear a baseball cap to work today?
Read more:
Is the World Series still worth it for Fox?
CBS pulls Friday dramas due to World Series
Game 7 bumps ‘Fringe,’ threatens ‘Chuck,’ ‘Grimm’
Baseball is a sport for fat people.
Fringe is a show for deaf people.
Fringe is a waste of time for fat people.
Rosie wins!
What exactly does Rosie win? The worst comeback award?
Last night was a great game and I was rooting for the Rangers just so I can have a new episode of Fringe. 21 days without Fringe is a freaking mess.
I WANT MY FRINGE!!! I miss Peter and his cute behind!
I disagree with the fat people comment. I am a baseball fan, but of my team, which is not in the WS.
Yeah….I just want my Fringe back.
While I’m happy that you’re excited for a game 7, not all of us are baseball fans. Fringe wasn’t on last week either and I’m annoyed that I have to wait another week to see it. It won’t end my world, but it’s a bit presumptious to think everyone is excited for the World Series.
I agree. It’s a shame he couldn’t find a way to say he was excited for the game without insulting other groups.
oh jeez. lighten up! who cares about Fringe, Supernatural, or the CBS dramas in a time like this? those shows will come back next week. but there is only one night for game 7.
Come on guys, I don’t think that he meant anything by it. I understand I hate when my show gets bumped but hey watch the game… If it’s anything like last nights you’ll really enjoy it
It’s just one week of a TV show. You’ll have it back soon enough. “Modern Family” was a repeat this week, and I got over it too.
Um, I don’t think that they’re “presumptuously” assuming that EVERYONE is excited for the World Series, any more than you’re assuming (because I’m giving you the benefit of believing that you wouldn’t be so presumptuous) that EVERYONE is excited for Fringe. The nature of TV programming is that they put on something that many people will be excited for and you have multiple options. So if you’re not excited about baseball, watch something else. But let those of us who are get to watch our game. A world series game 7 only comes around once every several years, and you’ll have every Friday for the rest of the season to watch Fringe.
So watch it on a damn sports channel. Some of us only get 2 channels. This is making us wait 3 whole weeks for a new episode of Fringe and it is very depressing. The guy who wrote this article is a JERK.
This headline and this article made me want to stop coming to this site.
Baseball? Seriously? Ugh.
This site’s first name is ‘entertainment,’ which many people consider baseball to be. Adios, Dessy, we won’t miss you…
Whatever. Fringe > baseball.
At least baseball won’t be canceled after the 2011 season like Fringe will haha
“Nathan”/”Tim”/etc – I’m glad that being mean on the Internet makes you feel important.
No thanks. I’ll be watching something else.
At least I HAVE a Wikipedia page you jealous so-and-so. Other things I have: I have an Olympic medal in marksmanship. Watch yourself.
Best comment ever.
Cards got this.
I love sports and baseball in particular, but to be honest I would much rather watch Fringe tonight.
It’s not like Fringe is going to have less episodes in the season because of the one-week delay. Think long-term people! This means one less break come spring. This coming from someone who watches the show every week.
Still being a big Fringe fan, I can’t wait for Game 7! I was up late screaming at the TV until 1 am last night and I hope I get to do it again tonight. I’m watching the game.
Long-Term is that Fringe has one less sweeps episode which could affect its long-term chances of being renewed. Just sayin…
Idiot, sweeps starts next week.
You might want to google that Jimbo. They started yesterday. Who’s the idiot now?
And with a guaranteed ratings juggernaut of Game 7, this only allows for advertising for in-time viewing of next week’s episode. I guess I’m just always the optimist.
Very good point Andrew. If anything, this whole postponement has given Fringe more press on the entertainment sites and social networks than it usually gets. (and I know it gets a lot anyway) But, the additional advertising during game 7 can’t hurt. I love optimism!
A) Jim do you need to call him an idiot. People talk all tough on here and you know that they would never speak the same way to them face to face
B) I’m sure fox will understand the sweeps situation and take that into account. I don’t watch the show but I know there are a lot of dedicated fans out there. So I hope for their sake that it doesn’t get canceled but it’s been on the block for a long time now- if it gets chopped one baseball game will have nothing to do with it.
I’d still call him an idiot to his face.
Anyway, the World Series is way more important than a one hour TV show that can be rescheduled at any time. It won’t effect renewal chances in any way.
I have watched every episode of Fringe from the night it premiered until now, and at least I can understand that something more important is happening than the return of Peter.
People need to chill out, go to a bar, have a drink, and watch a great game.
Hey Jimbo, apparently you didn’t see this comment at the top of the page from me. “Shows how much you know. Faux-livia probably isn’t even going to be in the preempted episode!! lol I am upset that Fringe won’t be on but I’ve come to terms with it. I’m sure I’ll be watching the WS at the bar, bitter that the Phillies will be doing the same thing.” I was at the bar watching the game and “chilling out”. But I can still talk about how the game airing might “AFFECT” Fringe in the long run. Crazy how the human brain can process multiple things! And way to own up to being wrong about Sweeps.
The point is why was there a repeat last week, 3 weeks into the frakin season?!? Whatever the people at the FOX scheduling dept make is a waste of $$. In what reality does it make sense to premiere shows and then give them extended breaks 3 weeks into the season. Premiere in late August or wait till November.
So why again was there a Fringe repeat last week when we could have gotten a new episode? Pointless scheduling. Thanks FOX now go fight with Directv some more so they can raise my bill even further to carry the same stupid channels they’ve always carried.
I know I keep bringing this up on every column but the question keeps coming up too. It’s all about sweeps. Most shows were in reruns last week. (i.e. from Thursday to Wednesday of this week) This Fringe episode with Peter’s return was designed to be a SWEEPS episode and Sweeps started last night (yes, usually starts in November as Jim so politely tried to point out to me above. But the way Thanksgiving fell, I’m guessing that’s why it started in October). So, this is just normal scheduling protocol for any channel. FOX didn’t count on the game getting rained out on Wednesday and causing this situation. And I’m sure it’s quite tough to PREDICT the weather when coming up with an ideal schedule for your programming. Now, Ben, back to your island duties. I’m sure Hurley and Walt need your help!
Game 7 will pull in substantially more viewers than a single episode of “Fringe.” Folks at the Fox network are probably ecstatic right now, esp. since these numbers will influence the net’s overall sweeps performance.
You forgot about the greatest game 6 moment, ever. Joe Carter’s come-from-behind, walk-off, series-winning three-run homer.
Ahhh bad memory for us phillies fans. I was 9 and it’s still hard haha.
Great game six last night!
I don’t care about baseball; I want Fringe!! Way to be insulting to the people your magazine caters to dude.
Sports is entertainment dude, and last night’s game was great tv
I agree that sports can be considered entertainment, but IMO, the coverage is best left to ESPN.
Wow, the tone has definitely changed from the first article that was written before the Classic started. How it did not matter because it did not feature The Yankees or Red Sox. Now here we are coming off one of the best games ever and even more people watching the game tonight. Alot of the shows I like are being pulled or delayed (I am looking at you NFL) and then I just sit and suck it up. This has been going on for years, why is still a shock.
Nope. I want Fringe! Baseball is more boring than a dog’s butt.
Enjoy Fringe while you can, that crap’s as good as canceled after the 2011 season.
Nathan you were probably sitting in your parents basement last year writing the same comment.. Low and behold, Fringe is still here and why wouldn’t Fox want it to hit the 100 episode mark to sell for syndication?! Back to your toy trains now..
Did Jeff Pinkner run over your dog or something? What is your problem?
When did this become a sports website?
its ENTERTAINMENT Weekly…and last night, the game was entertaining. Its not rocket science.
Good answer wino!