When last the Cardinals faced San Francisco in the postseason and had to contend with an MVP-level monster in the middle of its lineup, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny had first-hand experience with the approved approach, quite literally. It was his hand that signaled for the intentional walk. In the 2002 National League championship series, the Cardinals, with Matheny at catcher, faced the Giants and their incomparable slugger Barry Bonds. Although Tony La Russa initially talked about "challenging" Bonds, the Cardinals eventually yielded and with 10 walks in five games and adopted the popular strategy, "Anybody But Barry." This October has brought the same foe in the NLCS, another MVP in the...
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