Cards on the decline?

It’s mid-August and the baseball season is in the stretch run. The July 31 trade deadline came and went with a handful of teams making moves to improve their chances of making the cut for the second season – the MLB playoffs. Among the teams making deadline moves was the St. Louis Cardinals, and the team was more aggressive that is its typical bent. Management is playing with a win-now attitude. As they should.

Two major moves were made. First was the Rasmus trade where they finally sent Colby and his dad packing to Toronto in exchange for some lefty bullpen help (much needed by the way), a veteran starter and a utility outfielder. Then Cards General Manager John Mozeliak went out and filled the teams last glaring hole – a steady fielding shortstop that could bat leadoff: Rafael Furcal.

Question is … is the team any better off than they were before the trades? That remains to be seen throughout the remainder of the year, I guess. But so far, the results seem to be about the same. We win a few, lose a few and still to barely be scraping by. Regardless of what you think of the deals made and whether it was smart or not, one fact cannot be refuted … ownership and the manager are playing for right now. With Pujols contract situation still unresolved and LaRussa only managing on a year-to-year basis, it is obvious the team is playing for this year’s playoffs and gambling with the future. I’m all for going for it, but the risks taken should be measured and smart. I’m just not sure.

The Cards currently stand in second place in the National League Central, six games behind the Brewers and six games behind Atlanta in the wildcard race. T­heir record is 65-57; a .533 winning percentage. If they keep playing at that pace, that would equate to a record of 86-76. Even in the weak NL Central, that is just not going to be good enough.

With football heating up and the regular season (Go Rams and Chiefs!) just around the corner, it’s only a matter of time before St. Louis’ beloved baseball team fades into the summer landscape. It just may not be in the Cards this year …

Until next time, thanks for reading.

Steve