Even my wife has decided that trying to watch the rest of this month’s games are difficult at best. The Cardinals were given every opportunity to make the Central a race as the Reds were floundering to open September. Now the best thing to hope for is a second place finish…really?
St. Louis can celebrate more individual milestones the next week and a half, but the truth is all of the NL awards should be passed on to teams that try (see Rockies, Colorado). Last year most everyone who follows the Birds on the Bat were shocked with the first round playoff defeat but that certainly doesn’t look bad now. The thing that makes it even harder to swallow as the Cardinals do their best Memphis impersonation is how do you plug so many holes in so little time?
While the PH8 team is doing its best to stay positive, the alcohol numbs the pain of 2010 only so much. It doesn’t help, however, when the big league club appears on the edge of dysfunction nearly all of the time. This particular rant of mine mainly has to do with one Twitter post that pretty much sums it all for MO and Co.
PitchersHit8thI wonder if Schumaker will feel relieved returning to the outfield next year?
I listened to the pre-game yesterday evening and was happy to hear Mike asking tough questions to the GM. Then I started thinking about all the frustrations felt most of this spring and summer and how the answers always seemed to avoid this franchise. My goal was to start looking at the most recent trades this week, but it hit me while watching yet another deflating loss to Pittsburgh.
Nothing that has been done the past two seasons can make up for what is sure to be a disappointing winter…
You want an example, you say? Take a look at PH8’s Twitter subject and the response he was given. Skip Schumaker has done everything asked of him since his ‘promotion’ to full-time starter at 2B but is doomed to be either demoted or dealt before Spring Training. It doesn’t matter that injuries have derailed his offensive season or even that his contract is guaranteed for next year. It is all but written in permanent marker that St. Louis needs to upgrade the defense and Skip loses by default.
Is there a spot on the roster for the TLR favorite? I guess that depends on how you build your OF roster matrix. If the Cardinals want to compete in 2011, it may be time to trade Schumaker and a few more of his friends. While that sounds easy, remember that Kyle Lohse takes up a spot no matter what given his contract. That leaves little room for error on the pitching staff especially since another Penny-like experiment should be expected.
And that leaves very few options for players like Skip who are already under the gun. It will all be fascinating to watch for sure but just how many players will need name tags to introduce themselves down in Jupiter in just over five months…my over/under starts at seven. What say you loyal readers?
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