A Look Back... (Part One)

Seven and a half months ago, on February the 14th, 2011, the St. Louis Cardinals began their Spring Training. The weather, as it always is in Florida, was perfect. Anticipation for the upcoming season ran high, for the fans and the players alike. Unfortunately, life has a habit of dosing out some cold, hard reality. Before the Cardinals had played their first game, even of the preseason, dark news came. Adam Wainwright, the Cardinals superstar starting pitcher, had blown out his elbow. His only opportunity to ever pitch again was to undergo the dreaded Tommy John surgery, which would keep him on the sidelines for 12-18 months. Even then, pundits declared the Cardinals out of contention, even to the point of trading away their next best pitcher, Chris Carpenter, before the regular season began. The Cardinals, in typical Tony La Russa fashion, simply asked the next man in line to step up.

We fast forward to June the 19th. The Cardinals, despite the dire projections, were neck and neck with the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central standings. The Cardinals led the Kansas City Royal by a score of 3-2 in the 6th inning. Wilson Betimeit grounded a routine ball up the middle. Pete Kozma ranged to his right, gobbled the ball up, and made a low throw to first. When Albert Pujols reached back to snag the ball, his glove hand collided with Betimeit, attempting to beat the throw. Pujols' wrist was wrenched back, and he fell to the ground, grimacing with pain.

Hampered by injuries, the Cardinals drifted to a 15-13 record in August. In the meanwhile, the Brewers surged to a 21-7 mark, best in the majors, and all but sealed the Central Division. Not to be completely outdone, the Braves posted a 17-9 record in that month. On August the 25th, the Cardinals sat 10.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the Wild Card. Then something, be it an act of God or not, clicked. From that point on the Cardinals have won 21 of 30 games, playing the best baseball in the majors. Simultaneously, the Braves have spiraled to a 10-19 record. That lead, 10.5 on August 25th, vanished to 0 last night.