After the Cardinals 5-3 victory last night over division rival Cubs, the Cardinals are 20-12 ahead of those Cubs by 1 1/2 games and are one of only two teams to have 20 wins (Arizona Diamondbacks). I'll have to say I was surprised at how well the Cards are playing right now, but I think they can keep it up because as Tony La Russa has said only Albert Pujols and Troy Glaus ( I would say Yadier Molina) have guaranteed everyday spots in the lineup. This makes every player hungry and competitive because not only are they playing to win the game each day they are playing for a spot in the lineup. As long as the pitching keeps up (which is a big if, I think), this team will be a force to be reckoned with this season...from Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post Dispatch...
"The Cardinals keep hearing that they can't do this, they can't do that. They can't be a contender, they can't win a division, they can't make the playoffs.
The Cardinals were cast as a 69-93 shell of a team that represented the Pittsburgh Pirates' best chance to finally get out of last place in the NL Central.
This was supposed to be the kind of team that Tony La Russa couldn't manage. It isn't loaded with power and superstars, and it had no ready-made identity as it departed spring training. The Cardinals were pieces of clay, ready to be molded and shaped. And since when does La Russa specialize in projects?
But all the Cardinals continue to do is keep playing ball. They grind out victories. They don't lose focus. They play smartly most of the time. They prove it all night. They keep moving forward, winning series, passing tests and checking off boxes.
Sunday night at Busch Stadium, the Cardinals spotted the Chicago Cubs a 2-0 lead, then rallied for a 5-3 win and a series triumph, taking two of three from their rivals in the teams' first encounter of the season. The victory closed a tidy 6-3 home stand against division mates.
The first-place Cardinals (20-12) joined Arizona as the only NL teams to have posted at least 20 wins. Last season, the Cardinals didn't achieve their 20th victory until May 25.
Todd Wellemeyer, who wasn't sharp, gave the Cardinals five dogged innings and allowed only two runs. The Cubs could have cracked the game open, but Wellemeyer's competitiveness pushed him through his problems with form.
The revived second baseman Adam Kennedy had two hits and drove in two runs. Albert Pujols put his team into the lead with a two-run double. Cesar Izturis had two hits and scored twice. And four Cardinals relievers combined to hold the Cubs to one run over the final four innings, with closer Jason Isringhausen throwing 93 mph heat to retire the Cubs in order in the ninth.
On Saturday, less than 24 hours after Friday night's blown save, Izzy announced that he was hitting the reset button on his season and starting over. He even got a buzz cut for a new look. And then he went out and buzzed the Cubs with an authoritative 12-pitch save against the first three hitters in the Cubs batting order.
"That tells you all you need to know about Jason Isringhausen," La Russa said. "That's why he's our closer. He's a very, very tough guy."
I know it was the first weekend in May. The Cardinals have 130 games remaining. But they had to make a statement against the Cubs. Last season the Cubs slapped them around, winning 11 of 16 games overall, and seven of nine at Busch Stadium.
The teams have reversed roles. The Cubs are the clear favorite. They've spent $500 million over the last two years in the quest to speed up the process of winning a championship. The Cardinals have, to an extent, downsized as they put more of an emphasis on developing younger, or ascendant, players.
If the scrappy, resourceful Cardinals dare to overcome the odds and contend, they'll also have to overcome the Cubs. They can't afford to get shoved around again, and it was vital to establish credibility this weekend. But between now and October, the Cardinals must do this repeatedly. This was just the first skirmish, and the Cubs have many built-in advantages.
Since the game was televised by ESPN, which largely sets the parameters of the sports culture and provides talking points for radio talk show hosts around the nation, I wonder if this ESPN cameo will lead to a reassessment of La Russa's team.
TLR doesn't seem to care.
"I keep saying it, but I just want us to be one of those teams that's really tough to play against," he said.
I don't think La Russa has to worry about that.
"We just have to keep doing what we're doing," Pujols said. "And that's keep winning series."
The one-day-at-a-time mantra isn't clever. But it's who they are. The Cardinals are their manager's team, and toughness won't be an issue."
