Baseball. America’s pastime. Every year at the end of October the biggest week in baseball rolls around. The World Series. All spring and summer, teams across the nation fight  for the top spot in their League to prove that they can have a chance to compete in the Fall Classic. Millions of fans worldwide tune into every game. Each game is discussed and dissected around water coolers in work environments, at schools, and over dinner tables.

However, men aren’t the only ones to discuss this important event. Women do, too. I happen to be very passionate about baseball, and this is my favorite time of year. Ever since my favorite MLB team, the Arizona Diamondbacks, competed against the New York Yankees in the 2001 Fall Classic, I have sat down and watched every World Series game on TV no matter who was playing.

This year I was rooting for the St. Louis Cardinals. They are from the National League; the same league of my Diamondbacks.  In all honesty, since my team wasn’t playing, I didn’t mind what the outcome is as long as there is seven games and things stay exciting.

Game One irritated me to no end. The mistakes and errors on behalf of the St. Louis Cardinals were rookie Little League mistakes. The shortstop, Pete Cozma, had two errors in back-to-back innings. The first error was not catching a ball flipped to him by the second baseman. It was a potential double play but Cozma dropped the ball. The cause of this error was the simple fact that he was trying to throw the ball before it even reached his glove. His mind was more focused on the throw he was about to make rather than the catch he was supposed to make first.

This error caused a controversial call by the second base umpire because it appeared that Cozma caught the ball and dropped it on the throw. However after a umpire conference and much shouting on part of both teams’ managers, the call was reversed and the runner was called safe.

Another error was after a routine ground ball bounced off Cozma’s glove at shortstop. Again, he was more focused on throwing the ball he didn’t have.

Cozma’s errors were compounded by a Little League mistake on part of the catcher and pitcher. Boston’s Steve Drew’s only hit in the first four games was an infield fly in between the pitcher’s mound and home plate. The pitcher, Adam Wainwright, and the catcher, Yadier Molina both went for the soaring baseball but the pitcher appeared to wave off Molina, who despite the fundamental rule that the pitcher is always the last to field a ball, backed off. Wainwright then backed off as well and they both watched it drop to the ground.

Technically it was a fielder’s choice and they chose to be stupid and let the runner reach the base. Pardon me but that was a play that a kid could have made and shouldn’t be dropped in a Major League game, let alone in one of the biggest games in the Major Leagues.

These rookie mistakes cost the Cardinals the game and, in the long run, the World Series. Mistakes can’t be avoided. We are all human, after all. But the mistakes made in game one shouldn’t have been made because these men have been playing baseball for too many years to be making such fundamental mistakes.

Although the Cardinals managed to win the next two games, their performance in all six games was a disappointment to baseball fans everywhere. It left me wondering how they managed to get there in the first place and, if they were even going to put up a fight, if there was a better team out there to challenge the Boston Red Sox.

The Cardinals gave the impression that they didn’t even want to be in the tournament with their attitude and effort.

Boston, however, showed up to play each game and that effort was rewarded with the trophy adorned with 30 flags, one for each MLB team.

The National League needs to redeem itself and bring its most competitive team to the table next year so we can put up more a fight.

I would love for that team to be the Diamondbacks, but more than that, I would love a great tournament.

Hopefully, next year, the battle for the top spot in baseball will be more satisfactory.