And the hated Cardinals lurk . . .

[Texasflood]

. . .only six-games out of first. In the euphoria of the Cubs run, everybody has seemingly dismissed the Cardinals. No chance you say, weak starting pitching, the Cubs just took two out of three on this trip from them while their ace Chris Carpenter is done for the year after Tommy John surgury.

 

Many similar aguments were made about them last year, and we know what happened. While the Cubs and Brewers flip-flop the Phillies and Mets this week, St. Louis goes to Pittsburgh and Washington, essentially playing two last place teams. I just checked the schedule, St. Louis has six left against the Brewers and seven against the Cubs left. Like it or not, they are not buried and will have a huge say about who wins this division.

 

It will be interesting seven days from now to see what the Central looks like. Let's see how the Cubs fare during these next seven games.

[SouthSideRyan]

IIRC, the Cards have a much more difficult schedule the rest of the way than the Cubs and Brewers. Though I don't know how much of that has to do with them playing the Cubs and Brewers so much while we're playing them.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

If 83 wins is enough to win the division again, the Cardinals might sneak in there.

 

Otherwise, they are toast.

[GhostRunner]

I had similar thoughts about the Cardinals after today's game, but I'd give more blame to Milwaukee's bullpen than credit to St. Louis' offense regarding their taking 3 of 4.

 

St. Louis will likely catch fire and go on a tear at some point (Pujols can carry them for a week or two), but I'm not convinced that they can outlast the Cubs or Brewers for two months.

[Mizzou]

The Cardinals may have suddenly become buyers in the past two days. They're not good, but if they add a couple pieces before the deadline, you never know.

 

Should be interesting to see what happens with them.

[Lockes Eye Scar]

sorry, but the Cardinals do not have what it takes. ask any of the Cardinal fans on this board.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

The Cardinals are done. 31 of their last 60 games are against teams that are .500 or better right now. To compare, the Brewers have 20 of their last 56 against .500+ teams, and we have 17 of our last 59. More than half of their rotation is composed of some combination of Kip Wells, Mike Maroth, Anthony Reyes, Brad Thompson, and Todd Wellemeyer; and the rest of the rotation is Adam Wainwright and Braden Looper. Pujols and Duncan are the only regulars that have hit this year. And they've been lucky, outperforming their Expected W-L by 5 games prior to today's shenanigans.

 

I know the reputation the Cardinals have brings a lot of people pause, but they are finished this year, and quite possibly til 2009 if Carpenter, Edmonds, and Rolen continue to serve as contractual sandbags.

[Keener98]

I had similar thoughts about the Cardinals after today's game, but I'd give more blame to Milwaukee's bullpen than credit to St. Louis' offense regarding their taking 3 of 4.

 

St. Louis will likely catch fire and go on a tear at some point (Pujols can carry them for a week or two), but I'm not convinced that they can outlast the Cubs or Brewers for two months.

 

Id give more blame to the fact that Milw sucks away from home. They are below .500 since their 24-10 start, they are still living off their hot streak to start the year.

[cubfan1955]

St. Louis wil do no better than 3-3 through Pitt and Wash. Maybe worse.

[SouthSideRyan]

The Cardinals are done. 31 of their last 60 games are against teams that are .500 or better right now. To compare, the Brewers have 20 of their last 56 against .500+ teams, and we have 17 of our last 59. More than half of their rotation is composed of some combination of Kip Wells, Mike Maroth, Anthony Reyes, Brad Thompson, and Todd Wellemeyer; and the rest of the rotation is Adam Wainwright and Braden Looper. Pujols and Duncan are the only regulars that have hit this year. And they've been lucky, outperforming their Expected W-L by 5 games prior to today's shenanigans.

 

I know the reputation the Cardinals have brings a lot of people pause, but they are finished this year, and quite possibly til 2009 if Carpenter, Edmonds, and Rolen continue to serve as contractual sandbags.

 

So basically what I thought. The difference in games against teams over 500 are games against Cubs/Brewers. I don't think the Cards are better than us or the Brewers, but considering the only difference in schedules are games against their direct competition, the schedules shouldn't be the reason to discount them.

 

No pitching whatsoever, that's a reason.

[illiniguy]

St. Louis wil do no better than 3-3 through Pitt and Wash. Maybe worse.

I doubt that, they just took three of four from the Brewers with Reyes, Wells, Maroth, and Thompson going for them. They will be players.

[shnsajax]

A week ago people thought the Yankees had a shot, but had quickly laid off of that. Until they reach .500 I don't consider them much of a threat, especially when you rs vs ra. They have given up the 3rd most runs in the NL, and I think that will prevent them from going on any real streak.

[Mizzou]

A week ago people thought the Yankees had a shot, but had quickly laid off of that. Until they reach .500 I don't consider them much of a threat, especially when you rs vs ra. They have given up the 3rd most runs in the NL, and I think that will prevent them from going on any real streak.

The Yankees are only four out in the Wild Card race... they're definitely still alive. I wouldn't be surprised if they made a serious run at the division title either.

[cubfan1955]

St. Louis wil do no better than 3-3 through Pitt and Wash. Maybe worse.

I doubt that, they just took three of four from the Brewers with Reyes, Wells, Maroth, and Thompson going for them. They will be players.

I'd be more impressed had they done it at Miller Park. The Brewers are a different team on the road.

[radarluv1]

it seems their pen, which is their biggest strength, has thrown alot of innings. looper has never thrown this many. i'd expect their pen to start giving up more runs.

[shnsajax]

A week ago people thought the Yankees had a shot, but had quickly laid off of that. Until they reach .500 I don't consider them much of a threat, especially when you rs vs ra. They have given up the 3rd most runs in the NL, and I think that will prevent them from going on any real streak.

The Yankees are only four out in the Wild Card race... they're definitely still alive. I wouldn't be surprised if they made a serious run at the division title either.

 

I missed that, but I still think Indians and Tigers will hold them off.

[illiniguy]

A week ago people thought the Yankees had a shot, but had quickly laid off of that. Until they reach .500 I don't consider them much of a threat, especially when you rs vs ra. They have given up the 3rd most runs in the NL, and I think that will prevent them from going on any real streak.

They don't apply to normal logic. They are the Cardinals, they always get lucky. They will pry end up getting Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis for Skip Shumacker.

[RynoRules]

They still freak me out, notwithstanding TT's post.

[radarluv1]

cub fans cant win when the cards play the brewers. if the crew had taken 3/4, we'd be in alot worse shape.

[NCCubFan]

To me this weekend says more about the Brewers than the Cardinals. Had the Cardinals also won the Cubs series I might think differently.

[Peoriaman]

The Cards may finish second if the Brewers spirit is broken. The Cubs will win this division by 5+ games. Cards starting pitching sucks and their good pen will wilt under all the innings, as somebody already mentioned.

[TruffleShuffle]

The Cards may finish second if the Brewers spirit is broken. The Cubs will win this division by 5+ games. Cards starting pitching sucks and their good pen will wilt under all the innings, as somebody already mentioned.

 

I don't think the Brewers' spirit is broken. They're a good team on paper, they're just not playing very well right now. I don't think the Cubs are going to run away with the division unless they continue to win at a .700 clip.

[inari]

I'm worried about the Cardinals just about all the time, but they don't concern me one bit this year. Their pythagW-L is a measly 43-58. There's no way they get far enough above that to be a serious concern.

[A New Era]

They are without their ace. They are a weak team. They can win some games, but they will remain comfortably below the division leader the rest of the way.

[TruffleShuffle]

i won't stop worrying about the cards until they're mathematically eliminated.