Albert Pujols and a Fanbase in Fear…

It seems Cardinals Nation is “a Twitter” with rabid and frantic pleas to sign Albert Pujols as soon as – and “as long as” – possible. I won’t bother trying to catch you up on all the details (but visit the sites/links at the end of this post for all you can stomach), but it essentially comes down to this:  If Albert is not convinced the Cardinals front office/ownership is committed to winning as much as he is…he walks. At least, that seems to be the general consensus.

I agree.

So…this post is, quite simply, a list of the things I will burn in my schizophrenic rage when/if the news breaks that Albert Pujols has joined the ranks of another squad. Enjoy:

1. My “Lucky” Cardinals T-Shirt
I bought this raggedy shirt from Busch II “back in the day.” Somehow – don’t ask me how – I found myself at Busch Stadium without a traditional red shirt to wear before a game. So, I sauntered into the Team Store, found a simple yet sharp Cardinals shirt on the center rack, checked the price tag…and promptly bought the first shirt on the clearance rack that fit me instead. It was $16. The one I put back was $50…for a t-shirt, people. Anywho…it’s faded red with the single, solitary Cardinal sitting on a yellow bat smack-dab in the center. I like it…but it will burn.

2. My Scott Rolen Jersey
I have a confession to make. It’s my fault Scott Rolen left. No, really…it is. You see, I never buy team jerseys. They are WAY too expensive – especially when the player leaves within a season or two of your purchase and you have to do it all over again. I flat-out refuse to drop $175 on a shirt. No way. But one day, I got “lucky.” While wandering through Wal-Mart before class, I found a clearance rack of cheaply-designed Cardinals jerseys. They were solid red button-ups with a white “Cardinals” printed across the front and a blue stripe down each side. Pujols, Carpenter, and Rolen were left…at $15 each. I promptly grabbed Rolen’s (I’m not really a “pitcher” person…and everyone has Pujols, right?) and walked proudly out of the store (after paying of course). I wore it for 3 months before he was traded. Be thankful I did not buy Pujols’ jersey. Nevertheless, I like my Scott Rolen jersey. But it willburn. NOTE: I’m pretty sure I did the same thing to Steve Bono of the Chiefs “back in the day”…but don’t tell him.

3. My Colby Rasmus Bobblehead
One of the best things about having a minor league team within driving distance is the freebies. My wife and I are constantly checking the promotion nights at the Springfield Cardinals stadium (Hammond’s Field) and buying tickets accordingly. T-Shirt night? We’re there. Bobblehead night? Gotta’ have it. I mean, it’s a smorgasbord of free Cardinals merchandise! You don’t pass that up, man. Well…one night last season the team gave away Colby Rasmus bobbleheads. I told my wife, “I gotta’ have it!” So, we made the drive, got there early, stood in line…and got me my bobblehead! It was a great night. And I love my bobblehead. But it will burn.

4. All of My Beloved “Freebies” from the Springfield Cardinals
In one night – and one night only – my wife and I walked away from Hammond’s Field with a bobblehead, four Cardinals t-shirts (including 2 blue 1982 jersey replica t-shirts), two hats, and some kind of bracelet/ruler thingy we got for doing the milk-shake chuggin’ contest on top of the dugout in the first inning (I won, of course…whupped my trash-talkin’ wife’s butt!). All of it…and all of the other freebies I’ve collected…will burn.

There’s more that will burn, of course…I’ve been a Cardinals fan for quite a while and have plenty to choose from…but that’s all I’ll reveal for now. I will, however, tell you about a few items I will NOT be burning:  My Ozzie Smith autographed ball, Ozzie’s Topps rookie card, my Adam Wainwright autographed ball, and my full set of the 2006 World Series Championship DVDs. I’ll keep all of that stuff…because it is a reminder of when I loved and respected the St. Louis Cardinals.

But the other stuff…it will burn.

If Albert Pujols is not a Cardinal in 2012…I may stop watching baseball all together. In fact…I will. Honestly, how could it be any different? If this team does not do everything in their power to re-sign the game’s best player…especially one so beloved by the St. Louis fanbase…how could I – nay, ALL of us! – how could we NOT revolt against the man that orchestrated the downfall of the greatest baseball franchise on Earth…Mr. Bill DeWitt-Idiot?!?!

Okay…that’s enough. Hopefully the rain will hold off enough to get this game in tonight…and we’ll see if the team does ANYTHING to quell the fear running through Cardinals Nation over the next few weeks. In the meantime, here’s those links I promised you.

GO CARDS!

A great piece by Will Leitch of deadspin.com:
http://deadspin.com/5291272/how-the-cardinals-could-lose-albert-pujols

St. Louis Post-Dispatch writers weigh-in:
http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/round-two/round-two/2009/06/will-albert-be-a-cardinal-in-2012/

Brian Burwell’s usual “you’re not helping at all, Brian” approach:
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/columnists.nsf/bryanburwell/story/AC51EFAC911211D2862575D7000E773A?OpenDocument

And finally…the man who seems to have started it all…the internet “mad-bomber-what-bombs-at-midnight” when it comes to St. Louis Cardinals outrage…Mr. Bernie Miklasz’s plea to Cardinals’ ownership:
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/columnists.nsf/berniemiklasz/story/DBD78F6E69FA9BAE862575D600116C98?OpenDocument

Top 10 Reasons to be Optimistic…

Spring Training games are finally underway…what better way to start the Baseball Blogging Season than by injecting a little flamboyant hope into the denizens of Cardinals Nation? So…here they are…the Cards ‘N Stuff “Top 10 Reasons to be Optimistic” about your 2009 St. Louis Cardinals.

(I considered going in order of least to greatest…but the OCD in me doesn’t like having the number 10 on top…too top-heavy. So deal…)

1.  Chris Carpenter   I’ve heard some chatter about the Cardinals counting too much on Carpenter’s health. I disagree – strongly. The Cardinals can’t go out and sign anyone capable of filling a mid-rotation spot just to watch him sit on the bench if Carp is healthy. And if he’s not healthy? K-Mac, anyone? And if someone else goes down? Well…that’s why we have Thompson, Boggs, etc. Don’t worry…we’ll make it through. For now, just revel in the glorious anticipation of watching a healthy Chris Carpenter flingin’ it old style from the mound.

2.  Adam Wainwright   The Wagon Maker makes the rotation go ’round. Waino is now the heart of this pitching staff – dependable, healthy, and capable. The guy knows how to compete, and despite his fluke finger injury last year, you can count on him to run out their every fifth day. He’s a pitcher any team - any team – would love to have right now.  The mere presence of a pitcher of his caliber is reason enough to be optimistic.

3.  Our Starting Rotation   Okay…I know it’s kind of cheating to use Carp and Waino as 1 and 2 and then make the overall rotation number 3…but it’s warranted. Think about it – Carp and Waino are self-explanatory…but the rest of our rotation looks like this:  Lohse, Wellemeyer, and Pin-head (I refuse to call him anything else until he pulls his head out of his posterior). In ‘08, Lohse should have been an All-Star (’nuff said). Wellemeyer won a Pitcher of the Month award and was one of the best in baseball when he was healthy. And Pin-head? Well…I really think he’ll be better than last year…but even if he’s not, Tony won’t let him flounder there. He’ll make a move fairly soon. J.P is on a very short leash. Overall, our rotation certainly makes me optimistic.

4.  Kahlil Greene   A significant upgrade to the lineup at SS, Greene has the potential to be a huge hit (pardon the pun) this year. Expect him to hit closer to his 27 homer season than his dismal 10 homer performance of last year. Sure, he won’t be a .300 hitter, but he’s going to fill a large hole in the order.

5.  Not-So-Holey Lineup   Again…cheating. With the addition of Greene at SS and the departure of Kennedy at second, we have the potential to conceivably fill every hole in our lineup this season. Schumaker has a very real shot to stick at second base, and that improves this lineup in more ways than one. First, Skip upgrades our second-base position by about 20 BA points and 7 home runs. Second, by fitting Skip into the lineup at second, we get to upgrade his previously held starting outfield spot with either a power upgrade (Duncan) or 5-tool player upgrade (Rasmus). Third, simply by moving Skip to second, we’ve not only upgraded an outfield spot AND a 2B spot – we’ve upgraded the bench. By not being forced to add a so-so hitting second baseman to our lineup, we get to add a clear offensive threat in Mather/Rasmus/Duncan/Unknown to our roster. Our bench can go back to being an asset as opposed to a liability – like in 2004. That’s right…I just compared this lineup to the 2004 offensive powerhouse. Think about it…put a lineup together that includes Skip at second base and hitting in the lead-off spot. Where’s the hole? That was the one thing that was so effective about our ‘04 lineup – there was no hole in the order.

6.  3rd Base Depth   This is something we lacked last season. When Glaus couldn’t go…we might as well put a sheet of plywood up next to the third base bag and take an automatic out at the plate. Now, however, not only do we have Freese, Mather, and one or two other viable options, but we even have the ability to spell Glaus every once in a while to keep him strong. I think he got winded last year and had a few stretches where he was either just worn out or just a bit outta whack. Without a viable backup, he couldn’t really take a day off. This year is different. Having a good backup will make Glaus and the team better.

7.  No Sheets/Sabathia   Last season, I could’ve thrown my head against a brick wall more than once at the prospect of facing a rotation like the Brewers in a short series. This year, we have the upper hand. With Carp, Waino, Lohse, and Wellemeyer facing a Sheets/Sabathia-less Brew-Crew…I gotta’ say I feel good about our chances in the division.

8.  Albert’s Elbow   While he didn’t have the major surgery we all fear, he did have a minor surgery to hopefully relieve some of the pain he’s decided to play through. He should be even more impactful to the lineup this year than he was last year…especially since the guys behind him are a bit more established in the eyes of MLB pitchers.

9.  One More Year   Last year, we all wondered how Ank would hold up serving a full season in an MLB outfield; we had no clue what Luddy was capable of doing; and Dunc was a non-factor at the plate and a distracting topic in the fan base. THIS year, however, things are different. Ank is healthy and ready to build on the success he had last season. Dunc is healthy for the first time in two years and ready to reclaim the raw power we all know he has stowed away in that large frame. And Luddy…he’s finally put it all together as an everyday player…the first quality everyday player we’ve had in right field since Larry Walker (who had to be spelled here and there due to age and wear and tear). What a difference a year makes…

10.  They’re STILL the Cubs   ‘Nuff said.

GO CARDS!!!

Bird Watching: Beautiful Beginnings

I’m back! After a very chaotic, fast-paced, blurred weekend of wedding jitters and river rage, your faithful blogger-extraordinaire has returned from his hiatus to bring you the latest and greatest in St. Louis Cardinals blog-tastic commentary. I can’t say I’m recharged, but I can say I’m no longer alone…and in the end, “there can be only one.” But enough about me, let’s get to it with the much anticipated return of Bird Watching!

I just don’t get it. I really don’t. In an effort to keep up with the discussion and interest trends among Cardinals fans, I routinely surf the well-known forums and/or websites of Cardinals Nation. And it amazes me just how negative the so-called “best fans in baseball” can be when it comes to their team. Enough already. Seriously. It’s old, it’s been done, and you’re just flat-out pissin’ me off. It’s hard work constantly battling the tide of pessimism that surrounds this team.

The Cardinals were picked to finish dead last in a 90-loss season. Instead, this scrappy and lovable team has managed to piece together a 45-33 (.577 winning %) season up to this point. In case you haven’t noticed, that’s second in the National League, 12 games over five hundred, and good enough to lead the Wild Card race while playing in what has become possibly one of the most competitive divisions in baseball. Enough already!

In one hour, I’ve waded through stories and discussions about Mulder’s ineffectiveness, Duncan’s inability at the plate, and even Ankiel’s inconsistent and lower-than-desired batting average (seriously?). Fans love to hop on Izzy when he’s struggling and Duncan when he’s breathing. For goodness sake, fans…it even took a call-out by Tony La Russa to hopefully wake-up St. Louis fans and “get them to the polls” to cast Cardinals all-star votes. Ridiculous. When a team’s manager has to remind the game’s so-called best fans to show up and be counted, it is simply ridiculous.

Even attendance is down. I almost couldn’t believe it when I heard that Busch Stadium had finally failed to sell-out a game. Why??!!! Because it’s a little cold? Because ”Handsome” Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen had left to join sub-par teams with unrealistic expectations? Because Eckstein and his 20 + errors “accidentally” followed? Hell, for a good part of last year Cardinals fans were screaming for a youth movement – “Call up Ankiel!” and “Play the young guys!” and “Jimmy should retire!” were all heard reverberating off the red brick walls of new Busch Stadium well into January.

All of that happens (in a manner of speaking), and what do Cardinals fans do? Do they approve, yell encouragement, or ecstatically show up for games giddy with anticipation? No. They stop buying tickets. They start blog entries bitching about how TLR didn’t pinch-hit for Ankiel against a lefty. They buy into the anti-hype of the national media and just flat out stop supporting their team.

Few and far between are the voices of optimism and support – I don’t mean blind optimism born of wishful thinking and a failure to accept reality – I mean realistic optimism grown from the recognition that this team may have holes, but it has a hell of a lot of potential as well, and the future is now. 

I attended my first ever Opening Day this year. I paid just short of $100 per ticket to sit in the center field bleachers of Busch Stadium in the rain. You know why? Could you possibly understand what could make me do such a thing?

Anticipation. Giddy, ecstatic, wondrous anticipation.

I love this team. They play with fire; they play with heart; and they play with potential and hope for the future. Remember this time, Cardinals fans. It won’t last long. In a few short years, gone will be the Hall of Fame Manager who currently ranks third on the All-time wins list, one of only 2 MLB Managers to win a World Series in both the AL and NL. In a few short years, gone will be the invigorating hope for improvement and energy as our now-young players become once-young players; as our future stars become current stars mere seasons away from declining talent and ability.  

Remember those seasons when Rolen and Edmonds were at the top of their game? We’ll get there…and then it will be over…and oh how we’ll long for what we have right here and now…the beginning of the future and yet another Cardinals youth movement. Soon, the acrobatic plays of Rick Ankiel and bull-headed toughness of Yadier Molina will be replaced by limping veterans and concussion-plagued former all-stars. When the next Chris Duncan emerges, will we saddle him with the burden of ridicule the same way we have with the Jr. Dunc? Will we ravenously jump on a young, promising career and beat it into submission until all that is left is a guilt-ridden, fan-fearing shell of a player desperate to simply contribute something to his team who still looks to him for strength - all because we are jealous – jealous that a guy like Dunc MIGHT have gotten a little edge by accidentally being the coach’s son?

Give it a rest, fans. Go to the games. Encourage the team. Appreciate this time we have right now…the dawn of the next Cardinals era populated by young stars and hungry players. Because with every dawn comes a horizon, and when we reach that horizon sometime in the next 5 or 6 years, all that’s left is the impending sunset and the end to a beautiful day.

Let us hope that the next day is half as exhilarating as the one we find ourselves waking up to right here and now.

Go Cards!!!

BIRD SEEDS

AP-Less Cards Grow Into Their Own  With Pujols on the DL and a series sweep by the – GAH! – Kansas City Royals, the Cards came back in style and won 3 of their last 4 in hostile, American League environments against intimidating lineups. Amazing. Our offense is finally starting to figure it out…just imagine what we can do when AP returns now that we’ve seemingly cut the Albert Pujols umbilical cord.

Looper Makes Me Loopy  Braden Looper has been flat-out excellent. In a flurry of injuries, Looper has anchored the starting rotation and battled his way to his ninth win of the season. There are few pitchers I actually trust to take the mound, but Looper has now become one of them. Hopefully the All-Star break only serves as a rejuvenation period and not an unwelcome interruption.

Brendan Ryan Gettin’ it Done  I think Ryan has finally traded in his Kool Aid for Gatorade. He’s playing with the big boys and swinging a solid stick. Ryan is going to be a key factor in the coming weeks with Izturis out and the inconsistent Kennedy getting more and more playing time. Let’s hope he can continue his energetic ways.

Rumor Mills Suck  I just read a post by someone on the Post Dispatch forums asking if they thought it was possible for Oquendo to move to the Reds’ organization and become Walt’s new Manager. It got me thinking…isn’t Dave Duncan’s contract up this year? And didn’t Tony sign with St. Louis before knowing where and how Walt would land? Isn’t it possible that Tony could ask out of his contract after this season to take his winning road show (and Duncan Sr.) to Cincinnati with the Reds? *shudder*

Wedding Day Jubilation  June 21st was a magical day for me…Kim Vines became Kim Reynolds in a wonderfully simple and chaotic ceremony. I couldn’t be happier. Just to show you all what kind of woman I married, she surprised me with a groom’s cake shaped like a baseball and sporting a Cardinals mini-helmet AND two St. Louis Cardinals garters! What a woman…and how did I repay her? By flipping her, cooler and all, into the river during a post-wedding float trip. Sorry, babe!