Is there a single facet of this team that has proven to be reliable throughout the course of this season? I realize 162 games is a long time, and it is very hard to remain consistent throughout, but I have seen very little consistency at any point this year.
Our ace pitcher can’t be relied upon anymore. Maybe that’s a bit extreme, but his last 3 starts have been absolutely nothing to write home about, and as the ace, when given a lead, you must protect it.
Obviously, our bullpen can’t be relied upon. I’ve never put a ton of stock in Jason Isringhausen because he makes me pull my hair out every time he gets a save.
Our offense had chances to put the game away tonight, and didn’t. They put some runs on the board tonight, but I think I would hear little argument after saying the Cardinals have been less than impressive at the plate this year, especially recently.
Our defense has been ok - but I can remember games, namely against the Cubs, where our defense cough Scott Rolen cough has blown a game for us.
Is there any relief in sight? Mark Mulder, possibly, could give this team a kick start. On the other hand, it’s been documented that the team chemistry within the clubhouse sucks, and albeit an intangible, I believe it’s a very important part of a team’s success.
Except for Pujols’ heroics earlier in the season, I’ve really disliked this team as a whole, period. I don’t know what it is, but there just isn’t a whole lot to get excited about. I want them to get to the playoffs, but I don’t think I’ll be as heartbroken as I may have been a year or two ago if they fail to get there.
It was a necessary rant for me, my apologies.
PS: The Walk-Off HR was absolutely murdered… at least it wasn’t a cheap bandbox home run that we see so often in Cincinatti.
Entries (RSS)
August 10th, 2006 at 11:37 am
[…] – Cards Deck. Yep. These guys just aren’t likeable. The hostility is palpable in the stands toward guys like Weaver and Izzy and Marquis and Encarnacion. There’s a coolness born of frustration with players like Yady and Jimmy and Rolen. We want to like them and trust them and believe in them like we did in the last couple years. Albert is still Albert, though there’s something changed about that, too. He’s getting the McGwire flash bulb treatment, and is sort of getting that treatment from the CFBs, too: the game doesn’t matter if Albert jacks one. There’s part of me that liked it more when he was still Our Underappreciated Little Secret. But these are the 2006 Cardinals. They have winning streaks and losing streaks. They are sensational one day and terrible the next, and they baffle their fans and themselves by swerving to these extremes. We are never quite sure what to make of these Cardinals, except to conclude that something has changed, something is missing, something isn’t right. […]