Screen Shot 2011-10-03 at 8.14.59 AM

I'm sorry, what?

Ladies and gentlemen, Jimmy Rollins: [quote via John Clark]

You could hear a pin drop out there. Fans were a little uptight. It was not a good atmosphere.

 

There's more:

Screen Shot 2011-10-03 at 7.39.14 AM
Screen Shot 2011-10-03 at 7.39.14 AM

I'm fairly tired, so I'm just going to wipe my eyes in case I read that wrong – wipes, adjusts lighting, squints – Yep, he said that.

Let me offer up a few explanations as to why, Jimmy.

The record-setting crowd of 46,575 had the wind blown of its sails when A) Cliff Lee blew a 4-0 lead, B) the lineup went down in order in innings 3, 4, 5, and 6 – three of which came against the Cards' bullpen, and C) you got picked off trying to steal second with Chase Utley batting in the seventh. 

I'll keep going.

It was cold, wet, and late. Major League Baseball started a baseball game at 8:37 on a Sunday. Most people in attendance likely had to wake up less than six hours after returning home. I'd imagine it was difficult to muster up the energy to applaud Ace #2 getting his elevated fastballs sprayed around the field in the Cardinals' hit parade. I'd also imagine it was difficult for the 46,575 in attendance to get excited watching the lineup bend over for the gaggle of misfits that trotted out of the Cards' bullpen. For the second time in just a few hours, one of our teams was imploding before our very eyes. That’s not fun. It’s less fun when it’s 11:30 on a Sunday night, damp, and chilly. And it’s even less fun when the guy who got picked off with two outs in the seventh has a problem with it.