The Cardinals have to be feeling a lot like General George Custer right now.
They flew into the 2007 season with the highest of expectations. Fresh off their playoff heroics and the most unlikely World Series Championship in team history, the birds boasted a formidable lineup at season’s beginning. Albert would be Albert. Rolen and Edmonds had passed their prime, but both would still hit .270 average and bat in 80 runs. Eckstein would hit .300 and continue his clutch ways. The starting rotation, however, was suspect. Chris Carpenter would win fifteen to twenty games, and Wainwright would be a solid number two starter. Looper, Reyes, and Wells were question marks, but each had showed ability to win at the big-league level.
Opening night was fraught with pomp and pageantry. Fans cheered as the team rode around the warning track in convertibles, and members of the 1967 and 1982 Championship teams were on hand to celebrate with forty thousand plus raucous fans. Actor Billy Bob Thorton emceed the ceremony as the franchise’s tenth World Championship banner was hoisted above the stadium. The expectations were high; the enthusiasm was palpable.
Then the baseball began, and reality quickly hit.
The Cardinals dropped three straight to the visiting Mets and lost four of their first five. After a rash of injuries, (Chris Carpenter, Braden Looper, David Eckstein, Jim Edmonds and Yadier Molina have all spent time on the DL), abysmal starting pitching, (Reyes 0-10, Wells 4-13), and lack of any prolonged winning streak, the NL Central favorites find themselves six games under .500. But since the their division lacks the depth of, say, the AL East, they remain only eight games behind first place Milwaukee.
Opening night was fraught with pomp and pageantry. Fans cheered as the team rode around the warning track in convertibles, and members of the 1967 and 1982 Championship teams were on hand to celebrate with forty thousand plus raucous fans. Actor Billy Bob Thorton emceed the ceremony as the franchise’s tenth World Championship banner was hoisted above the stadium. The expectations were high; the enthusiasm was palpable.
Then the baseball began, and reality quickly hit.
The Cardinals dropped three straight to the visiting Mets and lost four of their first five. After a rash of injuries, (Chris Carpenter, Braden Looper, David Eckstein, Jim Edmonds and Yadier Molina have all spent time on the DL), abysmal starting pitching, (Reyes 0-10, Wells 4-13), and lack of any prolonged winning streak, the NL Central favorites find themselves six games under .500. But since the their division lacks the depth of, say, the AL East, they remain only eight games behind first place Milwaukee.
And tonight the Brew Crew come to town.
The redbirds have failed time after time this year to get back in the race. With the trade deadline looming and the Brewers threatening, tonight is their last stand.
The redbirds have failed time after time this year to get back in the race. With the trade deadline looming and the Brewers threatening, tonight is their last stand.
Aforementioned problems notwithstanding, this team has one last chance to put themselves in a position to make the playoffs. If they sweep the series against Milwaukee and Chicago—currently two games out—goes 2-2, the Cardinals will pull within four games of first. Unlikely it is, but impossible it is not.
I’ve counted out the Cardinals time and time again this season, and I’m sure I’ll do it again if they blow it with the Brewers. Will the Cardinals win the World Series in 2007? Before you answer, how likely was it in 2006?
I’ve counted out the Cardinals time and time again this season, and I’m sure I’ll do it again if they blow it with the Brewers. Will the Cardinals win the World Series in 2007? Before you answer, how likely was it in 2006?
2 comments:
Cards fans...wait until next year!
sweeeeeeeeeeeeeep.Here come el birdos..
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