Baseball Tonight just had a story about the NL Central Championship banner controversy. Players from both teams and officials from MLB called it a non-issue. The Cardinal players laughed it off, said they didn't notice, and told the Astros to b**** where someone gave a damn. Bags, Big, and Reynolds said the Sunday game was for the title or in Big's words "I wouldn't play on Sunday". But then they too didn't care however one Astros player was so pissed he called the St. Louis press box to complain. LaRussa said MLB sent the Cardinals a certificate declaring them "Co-Champions", and MLB agreed since the Astros and Cards tied that St. Louis was co-champion. However, MLB also declared the Astros "Champions" because of the tiebreaker. In conclusion, I hope MLB goes on strike cause they don't have the balls to end this controversy.
Because there was only one 2001 NL Central Champion. There was no tie for first place so how can you have a co-champion? MLB should force St. Louis to change their pennant to "2001 Wildcard Champion" then I'll be happy.
From what I could tell from this story, the only player on either team that really gave a **** one way or another about the Cardinals banner was the anonymous one that called the Co-ardinal's press box. It looks to me like ESPN Baseball Tonight is the one making this story more than it should be. Certainly there are some fans who think the banner is bull****, but for any team you would have fans that thought that. The whole thing is quite ridiculous.
Sheesh, it is not like the banner says World Series champs. I mean both teams tanked in the playoffs & both have .500 records today, so who really cares? DaDakota
First of all, I don't think either team tanked. They both were trying their hardest. Second of all, I don't see how any of that has anything to do with the controversey.
I'm pretty pissed about it too...but the simple fact that the Cards have a banner that says they're co-champs makes them look like fools as it is. So that satisfies me enuff.
If I owned the Astros, I'd put up a "2001 World Series Co-Champions" banner up at Astros Field. And if anyone asked me about it, I'd say, "Well, we were tied for the World Series at the end of the regular season..." Do the Angels have an AL West Co-Champion banner from 1995?
