Albert Pujols called time in the eighth inning of what would prove Prince Fielder's final at-bat in the Brewers' final game of 2011, giving the fans at Miller Park a few more moments to say goodbye. At least, that's what the standing ovation felt like.

While the Redbirds certainly reveled in their postgame celebration, they know they're meeting a tough opponent in the Texas Rangers, who are appearing in the Fall Classic for a second straight year.

The time has come to move past the assumption, a mistaken one all along, that the Cardinals were already content. This is not — and never was — a team satisfied by merely playing in October. Their history indicates otherwise.

It is time once again to acknowledge, appreciate and applaud the managerial greatness of Tony La Russa.

Third baseman David Freese, who hit a three-run homer in the first inning of the Cardinals' 12-6 win against the Brewers in Game 6 on Sunday, was named the NLCS MVP.

Whether you saw this coming or not, the Cards and Rangers will meet on the game's greatest and grandest stage Wednesday at Busch Stadium, when Game 1 of the 107th World Series gets under way.

As Cardinals owner William DeWitt Jr., general manager John Mozeliak and manager Tony La Russa were presented with the Warren C. Giles Trophy for winning the National League Championship Series on Sunday, there seemed to be one thing they could all agree on — 2011 was one of the strangest seasons they've been a part of.

The record-setting, MVP-winning power surge by Nelson Cruz in the American League Championship Series is really a demonstration of just how deep and dangerous the Rangers' lineup can be.

Shaun Marcum's disastrous one-inning start transformed Game 6 of the National League Championship Series at Miller Park into a Cardinals hitting clinic. An early barrage of runs sent the Brewers to a season-ending 12-6 loss and sent St. Louis on to the World Series.

With a 12-6 rout of the rival Brewers at Miller Park, St. Louis completed a six-game dismissal of Milwaukee in the National League Championship Series on Sunday night and advanced to the World Series to face the Texas Rangers.

On the night the 2010 World Series ended, with Texas on the short end of a five-game series against the San Francisco Giants, Rangers general manager Jon Daniels ambled through the home clubhouse in Rangers Ballpark and was struck by how quickly his players appeared to have turned the page.

The Brewers' potential for a big fifth inning was partially snuffed out by a controversial call at first base.

Shaun Marcum's shot at redemption lasted 27 pitches. Brewers manager Ron Roenicke, just hours after expressing confidence in a pitcher who had not finished five innings in any of his past three outings, turned to reliever Chris Narveson after Marcum left his club in a four-run first-inning hole.

Prince Fielder went 3-for-6 with two home runs, three RBIs and no strikeouts in Games 1 and 2 of the National League Championship Series at Miller Park. He went 1-for-10 with no RBIs and four strikeouts in three games after the series shifted to Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

Despite the heavy workload the Cardinals' bullpen has shouldered thus far in the National League Championship Series, the relief corps won't be getting any extra bodies in Games 6.

The Nationals and representatives for right-hander Chien-Ming Wang continue to talk about a contract extension, but they are not close to a deal, according to a baseball source.

The Cubs and Red Sox continued negotiations this weekend, but the clubs have not yet agreed upon compensation for the Boston GM.