As the debate on the vacant lot outside Busch Stadium continues to rage, let’s talk about the holes on the diamond inside the ballpark.
This is just a Devil’s Advocate kind of column, and its premise is that everything that can go wrong will. So let’s get to it.
There is no reason to believe David Eckstein will be his old self when he returns from his lengthy stay on the Dl with a pull oblique muscle. His arm was already limited and a tender muscle will not help the situation.
There’s no reason to believe that Chris Duncan will continue to rock the National League once the postseason begins. He also remains a game-losing error waiting to happen while playing the outfield.
There’s no reason to believe Juan Encarnacion’s second-half resurgence will continue in the playoffs. His spotty defense is also lurking in Cardinal Nation’s rear-view mirror.
Albert Pujols could well win the MVP Award, but if take away the first six weeks of the season, what do you have?
There’s no reason to believe that Jim Edmonds will return this season. Do you really want him out there in the postseason, anyway?
There’s no reason to believe that Scott Rolen’s post All-Star Game doldrums will end. His shoulder is hurting, his bat is slow and he had boggled a number of ground balls this season.
There’s no reason to believe that Ronnie Belliard will lose weight and gain some pop on his mostly dormant bat.
There’s no reason to believe Preston Wilson will avoid crucial strikeouts in the playoffs and he too is an outfield liability.
There’s no reason to believe the catching duo of Jadier Molina and Gary Bennett will bring anything to the lineup once the pressure of postseason mounts.
There’s no reason to believe that Aaron Miles should have been on this team from the get-go let alone in the starting lineup of a playoff game.
There’s no reason to believe So Taguchi will snap out of season-long funk and remember how to play outfield, hit and the number of outs in an inning.
There’s no reason to believe that Anthony Reyes’ tired arm will be rested and ready for the playoffs. Nor is there reason to believe that manager Tony La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan have not messed with the young man’s head.
There’s no reason to believe Jason Isringhausen’s hip will be ready by Oct. 1 and – quite frankly – who believes he was hurt in the first place?
There’s no reason to believe that Jeff Weaver and Jason Marquis will not give up five or more runs in their respective first postseason starts.
There’s no reason to believe that Braden Looper will be the Looper of three seasons past, not the closer who was shelled like an oyster in 2004 and 2005.
Lastly, there’s no reason to believe that La Russa will somehow misuse Adam Wainwright or Jeff Suppan – two reliable pitchers – in a playoff series once the staff starts falling apart.
So, it seems there is no reason to believe in the Cardinals. But this is what will make this team dangerous in the postseason. For the first time since the 1996 campaign, this team is supposed to lose before it reaches the World Series. That in itself is enough to make you believe.
Just ask the Florida Marlins.
