How the hell did that happen again?

Were the Tigers and Cardinals really in last year’s World Series??

Weird.

Firstly, I’ve got to chime in on this whole “Cardinals are the worst team ever to win the World Series” garbage. They’ve been in the playoffs for almost every season of the past decade including a World Series “appearance” vs. the Bosox in 2004 so I don’t buy this fluke business. They had a solid core with an amazing infield last year. The main reason for their brutal regular season record was due to losing Pujols and Carpenter for a month each, plus the usual revolving injury door for Rolen, Eckstein and Edmonds and then the loss of Mulder and Isringhaussen late in the year. Unlike previous post seasons (see no Carpenter the year they lost to Boston, no Larry Walker the year before when they bowed out to Houston) all of the stars finally aligned and they had everyone healthy for the playoffs (all credit to Wainwright who was lights out in replacing Izzy). Still shoud not have beaten the Mets or Tigers on paper, but that’s why they don’t just give the trophy out to the GM that seems to have the best team every year. You’ve gotta play the games.

I do like Brownie’s comments on the Cards winning despite LaRussa though. Although I’ve read his book Three nights in October (by the way, when am I getting that book back?) which paints him as a genius, I almost daily do not agree with his calls. Kind of like the Jays fans constantly wondering what’s going through Gibbons’ head, but LaRussa is just fortunate to have had enough success to be labeled a genius. I totally predict that he’s gone at the end of the year unless the Cards mount a huge comeback (luckilly this is still possible in the Brutal NL Central). First he lost Rolen by trying to play mind games in the playoffs, now the whole debaccle during the All-Star game with Pujols. He’s just lucky that Pujols is a class act. Try pulling that stunt with Rodriguez or Bonds. And the media would have totally backed Pujols had he slammed him for his ineptitude.

Could be an interesting off season for the Cards. Jocketty did absolutely nothing last summer except bringing back “Glue Factory” Edmonds, and the Kennedy pickup that’s been a total bust. It was as if they thought it was a fluke that they won last year, and it would pacify the Cards fans for another 25 years so lets just hope these young guys will develop and save our cash. The gamble failed horribly with the loss of their only legitimate starter in Carpenter who has been off since the first week and now it’s just a rotation of former closers and throw aways. Still, only 5 games under .500 isn’t too shabby compared to other teams that have spent a fortune.

Just glad we’re not in the AL East right now……….

Late last year as the Astros were coming on strong they had a pivotal series vs. St. Louis. Up by a run in I believe the 8th inning with two outs and a runner on 2nd Lance Berkman comes up to bat. He’s already hit a double and a homerun in the game. Every other manager in baseball, I mean EVERY OTHER MANAGER would have given him the intentional walk to first, especially since the game was in Houston where I beleive the outfield wall is 150 feet from home plate (don’t get me started on that ball park or the short porch in right field for Bonds in SF). Instead LaRussa decides to pitch to him. I still see that big smile and fist pump by Berkman as he trots around the bases celebrating his second homerun of the game which was the game winner and brought the Stros dangerously close.

It’s this “I’m bigger than the game” and “have to do something different to justify being here” attitude that frustrates me and I’m sure many Cards fans.