Thursday, August 27, 2009

The Hunt for Red October

Over the past month or so, National League baseball talk has revolved around three stories...Did Torre's Dodgers peak too early? Part in parcel with that, we can't get enough of Jim Tracy's Purple Reign in Colorado. The biggest story around these parts since July however, has been the defending champions. From the moment the Phillies acquired one Clifton Phifer Lee, they've been bathing in anointing oils. "Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels is an unbeatable 1-2 punch!" "No one can shut down this lineup!" "Joe Blanton has 1.12 ERA in night games played in cities with a Republican Senator!" Those points? Completely justified. Cliff Lee has continued the trend of AL to NL dominance, Cole Hamels is still basking in the glow of his superhuman '08 postseason, The back end of the rotation has been excellent and the lineup is the best outside of the Bronx. But the Phillies are not without their warts...While Cole Hamels' postseason was indeed Beckett-esque, his regular season has been more Pavano than anything. 7-8, 4.52 ERA doesn't exactly scream "unbeatable." J-Roll has also been performing well below his expected level...but those two "warts" are the kind on your finger...No big deal, not too embarrassing...manageable warts if you will. But there is one oozy, unsightly wart on this Phillies team...the kind of wart that you have to tell a significant other about before the relationship gets "too serious." The baseball VD that I'm referring to is, of course, Brad Lidge. The reason that the Phillies ended their championship drought in '08 could very well be the reason they begin another one this year. More frightening than his 7+ ERA is the apparent apathy taken towards the constant 9th inning dropping of the pants.

But this blog is not about the Philadelphia Phillies. Its not about the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Colorado Rockies, the San Francisco Giants or the Florida Marlins. Its about the team that I feel has an equal, if not BETTER, chance than any of those clubs to rep the Senior Circuit in the Fall Classic. This blog is about the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cards have quietly climbed to 74-54, putting them within striking distance of the NL's best record. They have quietly built a 9 game cushion on the disappointing Cubbies, which is currently the largest lead in all of baseball. They quietly went out and made a trade that has been just as helpful as the Phils' for Lee. Matt Holliday's star was dwindling in the cellar of the AL West until John Mozeliak made a surprising trade and brought him to The Gateway City. Holliday's response to the move...blistering. Hitting at .386 clip with 6 HRs and 28 RBIs, he has provided the offensive help so richly desired by Albert Pujols. And what of Albert? The very best player in baseball has not disappointed this season. Many have said that El Hombre as reached the hallowed world of "Could Be Every Year MVP", but with the way he's hit this year, that "could" is becoming a "will" as it pertains to 2009. The Cards also have a ton of talent up and down their lineup...Ankiel, Ludwick, DeRosa, Rasmus and Molina might not look like Murderer's Row, but combined with the aforementioned Big Two, its a lineup that can win on any given night.

We know the Cards can hit. We also know that the Phillies can hit better. As good as the St. Louis lineup is, the Phillies lineup could outslug them 9 times out of 10. The Dodgers post a similar lineup that many would argue is just as good as St. Louis'. But say it with me now folks...Pitching Wins Championships. Time and time again, that adage is repeated. The question than becomes...who has the best pitching in the National League? We've heard all about the one-two punch of Lee and Hamels, the young guns Billingsley and Kershaw out in Hollywood, and Lincecum and Cain (Li'l Curt and Randy) in San Fran. I submit for your approval the numbers a one-two punch just as good as the Giants' (in my opinion, the best of the Big Three).

15-7, 2.50 ERA. 14-3, 2.16 ERA.

Those are Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter's numbers respectively. Better than Lee/Hamels, better than Billingsley/Kershaw, and just as good as Lincecum/Cain. The much maligned Joel Pinero, who entered the season as a laughable number 3 starter, has emerged as the best "3rd option" in the National League. In fact, the Pride of Rio Piedras has had better pillar to post numbers than Cole Hamels! The Cards 'pen has also been better than the rest. Ryan Franklin has been the best closer in the National League and winner of the '09 Graeme Lloyd Beauty Pageant Trever Miller has been unreal, what with his sub 1 WHIP and miniscule ERA and I swear, if John Smoltz can continue his shocking success, Dave Duncan should be placed on the MLB's "Banned Substances" list.

The team I am most reminded of when I see this Cards squad is the Diamondbacks of '01. Two Cy Young candidates at the front end, a MVP performer in the lineup, good complimentary players, and a solid bullpen. Except that this Cardinal team is BETTER in 5 crucial spots. Better star. Better lineup. Better pen. Better back of the rotation. Better manager. Its incredible to think that about this unassuming Cards team that many wrote off before the year, but it is, in my opinion, true. And I'm on the radio. So it must be.

Best player in baseball? Check. Red hot sidekick? Check. Good complimentary players? Check. A pair of Cy Young worthy aces? Check. Good back-end rotation help? Check. Lights out pen? Check. Experienced (and Hall of Fame bound) skipper? Check. Looking over my shopping list, it seems that perhaps there is a National League squad set to make this a Red October. But its not the one you thought it was. But keep talking repeat, keep talking Torre vs Girardi, keep talking about the incredible story of the Rockies. The Cardinals would want it that way. They'd prefer to ascend to the top of the league the same way they've been climbing all year. Quietly.