Sure, the standings say the Cardinals are only 6 games out of first place, and in the thick of the wild card race, but they are rebuilding this year.
Proof? In last night’s game against the Phillies, there were the following match-ups:
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Top of the eighth, mand on first,one out, Cardinals up by one: All Star Chase Utley vs. Jaime Garcia
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Same innning, man on first, two out: former MVP Ryan Howard vs. Jaime Garcia
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Bottom of the ninth, runners on first and third, Cardinals down by one run: All-Star closer Brad Lidge vs. Cesar Izturis
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Same inning, bases loaded, one out: Lidge vs. Nick Stavinoha
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Same inning, bases loaded, two out: Lidge vs. Joe Mather
Suffice it to say, the Phillies will take those match-ups.
The Cardinals were simply not built to compete at this level this year. Some guys have played over their heads, and catapulted them to a strong record. But real contenders don’t send rookies (and these are real rookies, not phenoms) into the game to face All Stars with the game on the line.
This problem is also not helped by the Cardinals being managed by someone who burns through his players chasing the platoon advantage. Stavinoha was in the game because he had pinch hit for starting center fielder Skip Schumaker in the previous inning. Schumaker is an established major leaguer at this point, but he’s left handed, and Tony LaRussa will not be on the wrong side of a lefty-lefty matchup in the late innings.
LaRussa’s theory is that if they’re good enough to be on the roster, they’re good enough to play. Which is true. But a contending team should have something better than AAAA players in the final innings of a tight game with another playoff contender in August.
