Exit Interviews- Red Bird Blues, Their Version of 2011

(This is a reprint from Richard the Third)

Four years ago, a St. Louis Cardinals team that needed an epic Atlanta collapse to get into the post-season beat a 102 win Phillies team that had dominated baseball all season. That team went on to win the World Series, their second in the new millennium. They were young, a grinder team that never let you off the hook. They had good at-bats every time up, solid starting pitching, and a really good bullpen. Their pinch-hitters were a nightmare for opponents. They were a tough team to beat. It seemed like they were destined for more titles when they ended the Nationals season in 2012 and had a 3-1 lead on the San Francisco Giants, but they fell apart. Then the 2013 version got run over by the team of destiny, the Boston Red Sox, in the World Series. The 2014 teams lost, again to San Francisco, and time seemed to be slipping away.

The 2015 St. Louis Cardinals had the best record in baseball, won 100 games, and won the best division in baseball. It’s hard to not call that kind of season a success, but today I’m sure it doesn’t feel like one to the Cards. For the fourth straight year they will come up short in the post-season, this time to a young, upstart team not unlike their 2011 version. This team happened to be their in-division arch-rivals from Chicago, and the Cardinals just couldn’t seem to keep up. The pitching wasn’t quite there (after game one) and losing Molina killed them down the stretch. For the first time in several years, there are reasons to doubt the Cardinals will be the kings of the central anymore, moving forward.

While the Cubs have an envious amount of young talent, the mighty Cardinals system is down a little bit from two and three years ago. Yes, they are still supplying the Piscotty’s of the world, who are pretty damn good, but they aren’t supplying boatloads of premium talent like they were. While they won 100, the Pirates won 98 and the Cubs 97, and both are younger teams. The Cardinals may be facing a reality where they aren’t the favorites anymore, sometime soon.

To be fair, this may have been an anomaly based on a few bad timed injuries. I’m sure Adam Wainwright will have something to say on whether or not the Cards are good next year. Even so, for the first time in a half decade plus, there are questions to ask in St. Louis.