ST . LOUIS — They are members of the same division . They're perennial playoff teams . And they're meeting for the second year in a row with a trip to the World Series at stake .
Clearly , this isn't Middle America's version of Yankees-Red Sox . In fact , it's not even close to being the best rivalry in the National League Central — that distinction belongs to the Cardinals-Cubs .
"That's at a different level because of the fans ," Eckstein said . "I don't know that you'll find a Cardinals fan who says he hates the Astros more than the Cubs ."
They're back for the first National League Championship Series rematch in 13 years , which begins with Game 1 tonight at soon-to-be-demolished Busch Stadium ( a new stadium , set to open in 2006 , is rising next door ) .
"It's a classic from a baseball standpoint ," Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa said . "Maybe you don't get as much passion from the fans during Cardinals-Astros as you do for Cardinals-Cubs . But we're building a pretty good passion base for our fans and for each other because we play so much ."
Both have deep starting rotations . Both have dominating closers . Both have versatile offenses that can go long or manufacture runs when the situation calls for it . And both are making a habit of playing in October .
St . Louis has six playoff appearances over the past decade , reaching the NLCS four times and the World Series a year ago with a seven-game victory over the Astros — a memorable series that was overshadowed by Boston's comeback victory against the Yankees in the ALCS .
The Cardinals stayed alive when Jim Edmonds hit a gamewinning home run in the 12 th inning of Game 6 . St . Louis closed out the series by beating Roger Clemens in Game 7 .
Houston is making its sixth playoff appearance in nine years and looking to reach the World Series for the first time . The Astros made a breakthrough last year by escaping the opening round , beating perennial nemesis Atlanta . They knocked off the Braves again this year , advancing with an 18-inning victory Sunday — the major leagues' longest postseason game .
Now , even after meeting 16 times during the regular season and preparing for Astros-Cardinals II , both sides say it's impossible to drum up the sort of hatred that signifies a truly passionate rivalry .
The Cardinals followed up last year's NL pennant — the franchise's 16 th — by going 11-5 against the Astros this season on the way to 100 victories and a runaway victory in the Central Division .
"It's not really going to be a rivalry until we start beating the Cardinals a couple of times ," Astros Manager Phil Garner said . "When they go home mad , then it will be a rivalry . Right now , it's kind of one-sided ."
But he acknowledges the parallels between the teams , right down to the makeovers both underwent since their first meeting in the NLCS , changes brought on by frail health and monetary decisions .
"We do the little things ," said first-year Cardinal Mark Grudzielanek , who wasn't around for last season's power display . "I've never seen so many squeezes in my life ."
The 2004 Astros also featured a prolific offense , built around Carlos Beltran , Jeff Kent and the remaining "Killer B's" — Lance Berkman , Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell .
But Beltran and Kent were lost in free agency , Berkman had to come back from an off-season knee injury and Bagwell is only a shell of the once-fearsome slugger , limited to pinch-hitting after shoulder surgery . Morgan Ensberg was the only Houston hitter to reach 100 RBI .
OK , so Astros-Cardinals doesn't qualify as a rivalry in the classic sense — there's just not enough trash-talking . Maybe , though , these teams are coming up with their own definition .
This is cache, read story here