As the Philadelphia Phillies near a World Series berth and the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Rays continue a truly epic ALCS, let’s take a moment to ponder the Cardinals’ future in the NL Central.
One teams’ season ended on a pitifully feeble swing by a player that had a pitiful National League Division Series and his team put forth one of the most pitiful efforts in postseason history.
The player is Alfonso Soriano and the team is the Chicago Cubs.
Make that 101 years, folks.
The best team in the National League n at least the one with the best record n put on a show that would disgrace a Khoury League team.
Cubbie Mike left me a voice mail right before the playoffs started. He sounded confident, yet not cocky. But he also seemed assured that the Cubs would at least reach the NLCS.
Nope. Didn’t happen.
But I’m not kicking Mike or the Cubs while they are down. Cuz they are waaayyyy down, right now.
Instead, let’s be honest with ourselves, fellow St. Cardinals fans.
The Cubs made the playoffs. The Milwaukee Brewers made the playoffs. The Houston Astros were third in the NL Central.
Want more?
Six teams in the National League finished with a better record than the Cardinals and a seventh team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, stands a solid chance of advancing to the World Series.
My point is that the Redbirds have a lot of work to do this offseason. Yes, the team acknowledged that Chris Carpenter’s career is in jeopardy. That’s why Kyle Loshe was signed a day before the season ended.
Oh, by the way. Loshe reportedly took a physical the same day he signed the new contract. I wonder if he passed? Just kidding. Kinda.
And Dave Duncan signing to return is also a positive move. Although I think both he and manager Tony La Russa will be moving elsewhere after the 2009 season.
Speaking of 2009, it’s clear that the Cardinals are far from the class of their division, let alone the National League.
As far as winning another World Series is concerned, the Cardinals are far, far away from the crown.
When watching the Red Sox, Rays, Los Angeles Angels n and even the Chicago White Sox n you see teams that are better than the Cardinals in every category. They hit better, pitch better, have better bullpens, have more depth and n this is a big one n generally seem to have more youthful glee than the Redbirds.
That spark might come from Colby Rasmus n if he is even a Cardinal by next spring. The Cards don’t have the youth of the game’s best teams. It’s a problem.
The Cardinals do have the NL Most Valuable Player, in my humble estimation, in Albert Pujols. I also wonder about the “outpatient elbow surgery” and why didn’t he just get the darn thing fixed once and for all.
The team has been riding Pujols for a decade now, and he needs help. Pujols needs not just help in the lineup, but on the mound, as well.
Forget the 10 games over .500. Remember the 11 1/2 games out of first place.
And remember that the team that beat the Cards 11 1/2 games couldn’t win a single game against the upstart Dodgers. And those same Dodgers were being dominated by the Phillies in the NLCS at press time.
It’s easy to laugh at the Cubs and their 100th failure to win a World Series in 100 chances. But right now, what are the chances of the Cardinals winning the World Series?
I’d say about 100-to-1.
