Don't get too excited. It's one game. But yes, the team certainly has carried over its confidence from last year, and if they start out well (unlike the last two years) they will be very competitive into the playoffs. \ A better regular season leading to a better seed will definitely help their chances.
Amazingly Pujols got the clutch first baseman award. Wow, are they saying the best hitter in the game who's good no matter what situation is also good during RISP?
The best moment of that season was Sammy's diving catch at Pittsburgh with the bases loaded to preserve a 1-0 win. Worst moment was a few weeks later with that no-name Mets player hitting that homer.
This is just so weird. The Cardinals just weren't that good this year. If they can win the World Series, why can't the Cubs win it once in 100 years? It seems to me that in a century, the Cubs could have just, maybe you know, "accidently" have won the World Series one year. And now Eckstein wins a Corvette Z06 that he can't see over the steering wheel.