This Year’s Version of the 2011 Cardinals Is…Not Who You Think
And the last known survivor, stalks his prey in the night ~ Survivor – Eye of the Tiger
The St. Louis Cardinals proved against the Washington Nationals that last year was no fluke; that they have the resolve to laugh off being down to their last strike with no problem. Players like David Freese keep the magic alive and seem to be made for these moments, but it is still surprising since the Birds lost arguably their three most important members. I won’t waste time talking about how Tony La Russa, Dave Duncan and Albert (I’m reading this from home) Pujols left the team. The point is, this year’s team definitely has a different make-up than the 2011 version. In fact, there is a team left in the Playoffs that more closely resembles last year’s champs.
Consider this: in 2011, the Cardinals were underwhelming and left for dead before coming together and passing Atlanta for a spot. They developed a strong rotation, bullpen and line-up that became a cohesive unit, led by a bulldog pitcher (Chris Carpenter), the best hitter in the game at time (Pujols) and a Hall-of-Fame manager (Tony La Russa). They seemingly played their best baseball in late September and into the Playoffs.
In 2012, the Detroit Tigers were prohibitive favorites to win the AL Central, but struggled early and trailed the White Sox most of the season. The team surged late due mostly to developing a strong rotation, a suitable(ish) bullpen and strong line-up, bolstered by newbie Prince Fielder. Now, they are playing their best baseball of the season on the shoulders of bulldog Justin Verlander, current best player in baseball Miguel Cabrera and Hall of Fame manager Jim Leyland. They haven’t shown the magic that St. Louis showed last year, but they also haven’t had to yet.
And remember, the Cardinals didn’t show their penchant for heroics until the World Series. If they make it back this year, it could be a re-match of their 2006 Series win over the Detroit Tigers. So, will I be betting on the Tigers to win if that happens, since they’re this year’s version of the Cardiac Cards? After watching the Cards snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against the Nationals, absolutely not.
SongBirds on the Bat 
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