This is so flawed an argument everyone is having. Only the Cardinals can win 83 games and win a World Series. We aren't, nor have we ever been that kind of lucky. It has very little to do with luck, and much more to do with the playoffs being a crap shoot. You also don't have Carpenter or Pujols or Wainwright or Rolen. Part of the reason playoffs are a crapshoot is because of luck. Also, we have guys comparable or better than every person you listed but Pujols. While we dont have a Pujols, we have better 1-8 than that Cards team did when completely healthy, and hitting like they have throughout their career. You don't have a pitcher as good as Carpenter. No, Harden is not. And Zambrano isn't close (right now). And your 1-8 is barely better, if they are at all. You really need to look at Carlos Zambranos stats and put them up against Chris Carpenters best year and tell me hes not close.