That team had stumbled through September, crawling into the playoffs at 83-79. It was widely accepted by most baseball observers that the Padres would certainly put them out in the division series. But the Cardinals had different ideas, defeating San Diego in four games (best of five).
Now the team with the best record in the National League lurked in the NLCS. Surely the 2006 Mets' juggernaut would quickly quell the St. Louis uprising. And it appeared headed exactly that way when Tom Glavine and two relievers shut the Cards out in game one, then held a 6-4 lead in game two after six innings at Shea. Then Scott Spiezio tripled in two to tie it at 6 in the top of the seventh. Billy Wagner got rocked in the top of the ninth by a So Taguchi home run, then the Cards tacked on two more and we had a brand new series heading to St. Louis.
It wasn't easy and it wasn't always pretty following that rousing win. But ultimately the Cardinals would shock all observers and again bitterly disappoint the Met faithful by again winning at Shea in game seven, thanks to a Yadier Molina two-run shot in the top of the ninth.
Now the overachievers packed their bags and headed to Detroit, where the red hot Tigers had waited close to a week for the NL to play out. These Tigers had won seven straight games over the Yankees and Athletics following an opening ALDS loss in the Bronx.
Cards in 5 games. Wow! Where did that come from?
Observers like myself in Motown are still trying to figure that out. Just like the faithful at Shea are reeling from that NLCS loss. Since these two series, the Mets and Tigers have been arguably the biggest underachievers in baseball. And not even very arguably. Go ahead. Present your argument as to a bigger underachiever than either of these two clubs since that postseason. Make my day. Do you feel lucky punk? Well do ya?
Pundits and prognosticators expected lofty achievements from both in 2007 and 2008. Granted, the Tigers have showed a pulse in the just concluded home stand.
But c'mon. A pulse? This team was picked by Sports Illustrated to take all the marbles this year. Even with the excellent three series just concluded, the Tigers are still five under .500 (32-37) after reeling off eight wins in nine contests. Don't bother doing the math (particularly if you are in the "D") to see what the Tigers record was before this awakening.
Chin up though Tigers fans. This story is to be continued. The "strongest division in baseball" is now arguably the weakest (along with the other "strongest division in baseball", the sorry NL West). So now the Tigers are only six games out of first place in this upside down world of "Baseball '08".
Enough about them. We are focusing on the Cardinals. Given up for dead before the 2006 post season. Given up for dead before the '07 season. Not even on the radar screen during this spring.
Now the Cardinals are flying high at 42-29 and trail the Cubs by 3.5 games in the "weakest division in baseball"; err, now better known as the strongest division in baseball. And although the Cubs have played outstanding baseball all year, they have to be at least peeking over their shoulders at St. Louis. You know how battles always wind up between these two. The "little brother" (Cubs) always get a butt whipping from big brother (Cardinals).
Who knows though? That was the way it always was with that other huge rivalry involving big and little brother until the Red Sox changed everything in 2004. And at first glance, one is compelled to believe that Tony LaRussa has this team cobbled together with chicken wire and duct tape. Big breakthroughs in 2004 (Red Sox) and 2005 (White Sox). Could the Cubbies possibly make it 1-100 and win it all this year?
Tony LaRussa
Remember something that is very important here. Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds weren't the biggest guns for the Cards in that Met series in 2006. Yadier Molina and So Taguchi were. They still have Yadier. They also have a fundamentally excellent team. The Cardinals have excellent defense. The team lead MLB in assists, indicative of good range. It ranks 7th in fielding percentage with only 37 in 71 games. They are not in the AL with the Tigers but compare for a moment. Detroit has 93 fewer assists and ten more errors. Not to mention half the club playing out of position. At shortstop the Cardinals have Adam Kennedy with outstanding range. The Tigers have former Cardinal standout Edgar Renteria. Renteria had great range. Only that was in 1998, not 2008 where he has become somewhat of a statue at the position. Back to the Cardinals division, the Cubs have OK defense but not as solid overall as the Cardinals.
St. Louis is very resilient. After the Phillies handed them a shellacking for the ages Saturday (20-2), the Cardinals responded with a come from behind 7-6 win Sunday. They may be hurting for a while with "Phat" Albert Pujols out. Yet if they can tread water for the approximate three weeks before he returns, I have a feeling that they'll be all right. They could use a productive Chris Duncan, who was just recalled from AAA Memphis to pick up the slack for Albert. Career farmhand Ryan Ludwick has been phenomenal all year and makes the meat of the order quite formidable. Can he keep it up? Troy Glaus was not hitting for any power until ripping 6 home runs in this month alone. Rick Ankiel is hitting for power, if not average.
Ludwick Pujols Glaus Ankiel Duncan
Pitching? Jason Isringhausen is a key. He believes that he was tipping his pitches (the curve particularly) and that he will be back to his old self soon. That would be a good thing as Ryan Franklin has cooled following an excellent stint as the closer. Adam Wainwright is the real deal as a starter, and Todd Wellemeyer looked good in May (NL Pitcher of the Month) but has been getting lit up lately (started the 20-2 debacle). The team has gotten more than it could have hoped from career journeymen Braden Looper and Kyle Lohse. Continued overachievement here is a key. and the team could really use a good "bridge" guy to get to the closer in the 7th and 8th innings.
Adam Todd Ryan
Summing it up, there are holes as there are on every team in baseball but this team is a bonafide contender as Tony LaRussa has worked magic with what appeared to be a team that would not get very far.
Fans in the Gateway City have something worth rooting for. Down the road we will see how much they will miss former GM Walt Jocketty, who now toils for the division rival Reds.
