Of all the surprises in baseball's play-offs, none is more startling than the presence of the St Louis Cardinals in the National League Championship Series (NLCS).
As recently as late August, the Cardinals found themselves far behind Milwaukee in the NL Central division and 10.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the wild-card chase.
But that was before the Cards went on a spectacular September run and overtook the Braves on the final night of the season to secure the wild-card berth. And, of course, before they knocked off the Philadelphia Phillies in the Division Series in a five-game nail-biter.
The absence of the Phils in the NLCS was upset enough, since the club won 101 games, more than any team in either league, and possessed the best starting pitching in the game. St Louis upending the Phils makes the entire post-season more unpredictable.
Give the Cardinals credit: they hit just enough to do some damage against the vaunted Philadelphia starters. Whether they can do that for a second straight round, against the Milwaukee Brewers, remains to be seen.
Any line-up featuring Albert Pujols is formidable, and Matt Holliday gives the Cards another weapon. Lance Berkman's monster comeback season thickens their line-up, but the Cards rely on top-of-the-order performers to execute and set the table for the duo of Pujols and Holliday.
As befitting a team managed by Tony La Russa, the Cards are solid fundamentally, and their bullpen deployment is masterful. But not having ace Chris Carpenter, who out-pitched Roy Halladay in Game 5 of the division series, until Game 3 could be tough to overcome.
The Brewers, who beat the Arizona Diamondbacks on the 10th inning of Game 5 to advance, feature the best 3-4 hitting combination of the four play-off teams in Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder. But the Brewers' not-so-secret offensive weapon may well be the outfielder Nyjer Morgan, whose brash personality and energetic style of play have given the team a new dynamic.
Milwaukee's strength is the depth of their rotation. The Brewers have three starters who have front-of-the-rotation stuff in Zack Greinke, Shaun Marcum and Yovani Gallardo. Not always consistent, each takes the mound with the ability to shut down most line-ups.
The back end of the Milwaukee bullpen is shaky, despite the fact the closer John Axford failed to convert just two save opportunities all season.
Axford's blown save in Game 5 against Arizona hints at a potential vulnerability, especially since the set-up man, Francisco Rodriguez, is pitching with diminished velocity and effectiveness.
Hanging over the series will be an interesting subplot: both teams stand to lose elite first basemen to free agency when the post-season is complete.
Fielder has acknowledged it is unlikely he will return to the Brewers in 2012; the franchise locked up Braun with a multi-year deal several years back and probably cannot afford two eight-figure contracts on the roster.
Pujols, who may be the Cardinals' most revered player since Stan Musial, has accomplished historic numbers in his first 10 seasons, but a contract offer by the Cardinals last spring fell far short of his expectations.
The received wisdom is that his career in a Cardinals' uniform is winding down to its final days.
The uncertain futures for Pujols and Fielder should not detract from a series which may lack big markets but, thanks to Midwestern cities that love their baseball, no shortage of passion.
HOW THEY MATCH-UP
OFFENCE
The St Louis Cardinals scored 41 more runs than the Milwaukee Brewers over the course of the regular season and were a slightly more patient team at the plate. Milwaukee hit for more power, and the duo of Braun, a potential NL MVP, and Prince Fielder, above, rate a slight edge over Albert Pujols, below, and Matt Holliday.
Edge: Milwaukee Brewers
STARTING ROTATION
Chris Carpenter was masterful in his Game 5 shutout of the Phillies, but the Cards starting rotation drops off after him. Milwaukee’s “Big Three” of Yovani Gallardo, Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum have unlimited potential.
Edge: Milwaukee Brewers
BULLPEN
John Axford’s numbers for Milwaukee look tough to beat, but he looked vulnerable in the NLCS, and Francisco Rodriguez is not the late-inning force he once was. Tony La Russa, the St Louis manager, has two closing options in Fernando Salas and Jason Motte and that back-end versatility should not be overlooked.
Edge: St Louis Cardinals
BENCH
Carlos Gomez offers speed and defence for Milwaukee and Craig Counsell has a wealth of play-off experience. Jon Jay and Ryan Theriot are quality role players for St Louis. Few managers get more out of a roster than La Russa.
Edge: St Louis Cardinals
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Tips for holiday homeowners
There are several factors for landlords to consider when preparing to establish a holiday home:
- Revenue potential of the unit: location, view and size
- Design: furnished or unfurnished. Is the design up to standard, while being catchy at the same time?
- Business model: will it be managed by a professional operator or directly by the owner, how often does the owner wants to use it for personal reasons?
- Quality of the operator: guest reviews, customer experience management, application of technology, average utilisation, scope of services rendered
Source: Adam Nowak, managing director of Ultimate Stay Vacation Homes Rental
UAE medallists at Asian Games 2023
Gold
Magomedomar Magomedomarov – Judo – Men’s +100kg
Khaled Al Shehi – Jiu-jitsu – Men’s -62kg
Faisal Al Ketbi – Jiu-jitsu – Men’s -85kg
Asma Al Hosani – Jiu-jitsu – Women’s -52kg
Shamma Al Kalbani – Jiu-jitsu – Women’s -63kg
Silver
Omar Al Marzooqi – Equestrian – Individual showjumping
Bishrelt Khorloodoi – Judo – Women’s -52kg
Khalid Al Blooshi – Jiu-jitsu – Men’s -62kg
Mohamed Al Suwaidi – Jiu-jitsu – Men’s -69kg
Balqees Abdulla – Jiu-jitsu – Women’s -48kg
Bronze
Hawraa Alajmi – Karate – Women’s kumite -50kg
Ahmed Al Mansoori – Cycling – Men’s omnium
Abdullah Al Marri – Equestrian – Individual showjumping
Team UAE – Equestrian – Team showjumping
Dzhafar Kostoev – Judo – Men’s -100kg
Narmandakh Bayanmunkh – Judo – Men’s -66kg
Grigorian Aram – Judo – Men’s -90kg
Mahdi Al Awlaqi – Jiu-jitsu – Men’s -77kg
Saeed Al Kubaisi – Jiu-jitsu – Men’s -85kg
Shamsa Al Ameri – Jiu-jitsu – Women’s -57kg
Top 10 most competitive economies
1. Singapore
2. Switzerland
3. Denmark
4. Ireland
5. Hong Kong
6. Sweden
7. UAE
8. Taiwan
9. Netherlands
10. Norway
Company Profile
Company name: Cargoz
Date started: January 2022
Founders: Premlal Pullisserry and Lijo Antony
Based: Dubai
Number of staff: 30
Investment stage: Seed
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.5L/100km
Price: from Dh285,000
On sale: from January 2022
UAE athletes heading to Paris 2024
Equestrian
Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi, Abdullah Al Marri, Omar Al Marzooqi, Salem Al Suwaidi, and Ali Al Karbi (four to be selected).
Judo
Men: Narmandakh Bayanmunkh (66kg), Nugzari Tatalashvili (81kg), Aram Grigorian (90kg), Dzhafar Kostoev (100kg), Magomedomar Magomedomarov (+100kg); women's Khorloodoi Bishrelt (52kg).
Cycling
Safia Al Sayegh (women's road race).
Swimming
Men: Yousef Rashid Al Matroushi (100m freestyle); women: Maha Abdullah Al Shehi (200m freestyle).
Athletics
Maryam Mohammed Al Farsi (women's 100 metres).
Kill
Director: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat
Starring: Lakshya, Tanya Maniktala, Ashish Vidyarthi, Harsh Chhaya, Raghav Juyal
Rating: 4.5/5
ROUTE TO TITLE
Round 1: Beat Leolia Jeanjean 6-1, 6-2
Round 2: Beat Naomi Osaka 7-6, 1-6, 7-5
Round 3: Beat Marie Bouzkova 6-4, 6-2
Round 4: Beat Anastasia Potapova 6-0, 6-0
Quarter-final: Beat Marketa Vondrousova 6-0, 6-2
Semi-final: Beat Coco Gauff 6-2, 6-4
Final: Beat Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-2
COMPANY PROFILE
Company: Eco Way
Started: December 2023
Founder: Ivan Kroshnyi
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Electric vehicles
Investors: Bootstrapped with undisclosed funding. Looking to raise funds from outside
Three ways to get a gratitude glow
By committing to at least one of these daily, you can bring more gratitude into your life, says Ong.
- During your morning skincare routine, name five things you are thankful for about yourself.
- As you finish your skincare routine, look yourself in the eye and speak an affirmation, such as: “I am grateful for every part of me, including my ability to take care of my skin.”
- In the evening, take some deep breaths, notice how your skin feels, and listen for what your skin is grateful for.
Results
Men's finals
45kg:Duc Le Hoang (VIE) beat Zolfi Amirhossein (IRI) points 29-28. 48kg: Naruephon Chittra (THA) beat Joseph Vanlalhruaia (IND) TKO round 2.
51kg: Sakchai Chamchit (THA) beat Salam Al Suwaid (IRQ) TKO round 1. 54kg: Veerasak Senanue (THA) beat Huynh Hoang Phi (VIE) 30-25.
57kg: Almaz Sarsembekov (KAZ) beat Tak Chuen Suen (MAC) RSC round 3. 60kg: Yerkanat Ospan (KAZ) beat Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) 30-27.
63.5kg: Abil Galiyev (KAZ) beat Nouredine Samir (UAE) 29-28. 67kg: Narin Wonglakhon (THA) beat Mohammed Mardi (UAE) 29-28.
71kg: Amine El Moatassime (UAE) w/o Shaker Al Tekreeti (IRQ). 75kg: Youssef Abboud (LBN) w/o Ayoob Saki (IRI).
81kg: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Khaled Tarraf (LBN) 29-28. 86kg: Ali Takaloo (IRI) beat Emil Umayev (KAZ) 30-27.
91kg: Hamid Reza Kordabadi (IRI) beat Mohamad Osaily (LBN) RSC round 1. 91-plus kg: Mohammadrezapoor Shirmohammad (IRI) beat Abdulla Hasan (IRQ) 30-27.
Women's finals
45kg: Somruethai Siripathum (THA) beat Ha Huu Huynh (VIE) 30-27. 48kg: Thanawan Thongduang (THA) beat Colleen Saddi (PHI) 30-27.
51kg: Wansawang Srila Or (THA) beat Thuy Phuong Trieu (VIE) 29-28. 54kg: Ruchira Wongsriwo (THA) beat Zeinab Khatoun (LBN) 30-26.
57kg: Sara Idriss (LBN) beat Zahra Nasiri Bargh (IRI) 30-27. 60kg: Kaewrudee Kamtakrapoom (THA) beat Sedigheh Hajivand (IRI) TKO round 2.
63.5kg: Nadiya Moghaddam (IRI) w/o Reem Al Issa (JOR).
The specs: 2018 Renault Megane
Price, base / as tested Dh52,900 / Dh59,200
Engine 1.6L in-line four-cylinder
Transmission Continuously variable transmission
Power 115hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 156Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.6L / 100km
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: SmartCrowd
Started: 2018
Founder: Siddiq Farid and Musfique Ahmed
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech / PropTech
Initial investment: $650,000
Current number of staff: 35
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Various institutional investors and notable angel investors (500 MENA, Shurooq, Mada, Seedstar, Tricap)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now