Prakash Kumar

It is eminent that Cards will not make to the fall classic not even the playoffs. They have been thoroughly outplayed in the division losing crucial games to lowly Cubs, Astros, Pirates everybody – just that they have been awesome against the division leaders Reds.

 

Sounds a strange paradox but yes it is – Cards have done extremely well against teams with winning records and playoff contenders – just that they have forgotten to win against those teams which are having horror seasons of their existence or may be it is just bad luck that all these teams turn hot the moment Cards are their opponent.

 

Just a month back Cards were a full game ahead of Reds and had just swept them at Cinci. One must have been kidding at that stage to predict what followed. Games against Nats, Pirates, Brewers, Cubs, Astros to follow. These are the ball clubs which has nailed Cards playoff chances. Card finds full seven games behind leaders with 19 left to play and unsurmountable lead by all means considering they play red hot teams in the last few days. Their misery is compounded that they have no games left with leader to have any miraculous escape.

 

Pitching had been the strength with Cy Young contender Adam Wainwright alongside ace Chris Carpenter and rookie Jamie Garcia could do no wrong then and could do nothing right now. Wainwright has lost 5 of his 6 starts giving a lot of runs in initial innings to put a lot of pressure on the batting lineup at the onset. Bats have been blow hot – blow cold for the Cards whole of this year barring exception of legend Pujols who leads NL in homeruns and still can make it to triple crown – and MVP but guess the contribution of Joey Votto to Cinci with comparable numbers make him far more valuable for the MVP recognition. Matt Holliday for the big cost he carries has somewhat justifies his existence at Busch Stadium but clutch hits have been missing even from his big bat.

 

For rest of the junta the season was good and bad at times. Yadier was red hot and Rasmus was just about the best hitter in the lineup before the all-star break. They are far cry of those lofty standards. Author has serious reservation against Brendan Ryan and Skip Schumacher. They have been all but – out of form for the entire season. It is often said – class is permanent and form is temporary – it appears they have totally lost it all year. 150 odd games and you just cannot be hitting 0.200 as in the case of Ryan. Skip has done much better than him – but as the league gets more competitive, his numbers needs to be lot better and both have hardly got any clutch hits.

 

Felipe Lopez promised a lot and delivered nothing. The appearance he shows appears that he is carrying an injury. Stavinhona chased everything – throw him 3 balls and get a strikeout in return. Rest of the pinch hitters hardly have a day to remember day in the entire season- Randy Winn and co just did not delivered when it mattered the most.

 

Injury will happen but bench needs to be strong and Cards have come short even in this league. When Ludwick was injured – we seem to lose in bunches. Now when in critical time Pujols has gone to bench for injury – it is game set mismatch for Cards. They picked Feliz and traded Ludwick – arguably the best clutch hitter this season for Cards till the time he was here. Author believes that the mid seasons trades did not went well for Cards – they sent Ludwick to Padres and got Feliz and they never got a hitter who would have made the difference and punished the below 0.500 teams. Kyle Lohse, Suppan and Hawksworth tried their heart out but this season when pitching has notched up a bit in terms of standards – they came only second best most of the time and collection winning percentage was awful. Closers and bull pen did a decent job and Franklin, Motte and co can be excused by and large and there was not a lot of meltdown in the 9^th innings.

 

Tony has to take the ownership of this messed up Card lines up which he chop and move at will and this season he would have tried everything but nothing worked. Pitcher spot at 8^th and 9^th. Lopez starting and also playing 6^th or 7^th. Ditto for Skippy and Ryan – all efforts in vain. It was because, these players were out of form the entire season. Somehow Tony and Cards management could not get the lucrative deal to bring a winner to town.

 

Some optimist might not like this portray of state of affairs and some LaRussa loyals might be eager for him to continue beyond the season miscarriage which the author doubts – but the way Cards have ran bases like tired horses whole season – we better get fresh legs. It is very depressing to see a club with McGwire as the hitting coach and Pujols in line up struggling whole year to catch up once the opponent scores first.

 

Not everything is lost for Cards fan- this is just a season and who knows “miracles” might still happen – but fans would be better off preparing for Blues seasons and Rams season who needs their support esp. the way Rams have started after their awful last few seasons.

 

The stauchest of Cards supporters like me do firmly believe that Reds deserved to be in playoff more than the Cards and as of now the way Cards are playing – they might slip to 3^rd in the division behind Astros.