All We Want For Christmas Is…

After enduring the disappointment of a miserable end-of-season collapse by the Cardinals back in August/September, St. Louis fans were very much looking forward to the holiday season and all of the happiness that comes with it. While this time of year is generally about giving rather than receiving, Cards fans are well-deserving of some nice baseball gifts.

Once the World Series came to an end and the 2010 regular season awards were distributed, fans began working hard on their wish lists for the 2011 season. With Christmas finally upon us, it is time to reveal what exactly St. Louis fans are hoping for. Of course, many of these things cannot be found under a tree today. It remains to be seen exactly which wishes will come true, but by the end of next year, we will know for sure if we got what we wanted.

So, whether everything pans out or not, check out this quick list of what many Cardinals fans want after the jump.

1. A new manager

We all know that Tony La Russa catches heat year in and year out for a variety of reasons, and with all the controversy surrounding his management during the 2010 campaign, the majority of fans think it’s time for him to go. From batting the pitcher eighth and removing key players in the late innings to not necessarily giving young players much of a chance, La Russa has quickly lost the approval of the fans and possibly the players. Last year’s season didn’t really do much to help that either. While I wouldn’t really mind if he stays or leaves, it is hard to argue against 1318 wins and a World Series Title.

2. A healthy David Freese

Let’s face it: Third base was an absolute disaster for the Cardinals last season. As soon as David Freese went to the disabled list, third base immediately became one of the team’s weakest areas. Felipe Lopez took over and was quickly exposed on many occasions. His defense (Or lack thereof) was extremely costly in key situations, and he wasn’t that much better with the bat. This led to a last resort trade for veteran Pedro Feliz, who, while better than Lopez, is no David Freese. In his limited time, Freese showed flashes of brilliance offensively and defensively. St. Louis is hoping that his ankles can hold up after surgery and that he can be reliable at the hot corner because much of the team’s success next year will depend on it.

3. A Cy Young winner

I know, I know. We got our Cy Young winner in 2005 with Chris Carpenter. But, other than him, St. Louis hasn’t had a Cy Young winning pitcher since Bob Gibson in 1970. Adam Wainwright has finished in the top three in NL Cy Young voting each of the last two years, but he hasn’t won it. Pitching is something that the Cardinals really take pride in, and it is essentially the framework for their overall success. With Wainwright, Carpenter, and Garcia, St. Louis has three legitimate candidates for the award, and it would be nice to see one of them win it. If this happens, it only reinforces the fact that the Cards have one of baseball’s best pitching staffs.

4. Wins against bad teams

Throughout the 2010 season, the Cardinals were unexplainably bad against bad teams. The Cards finished with a below .500 record against the Brewers, Cubs, and Astros, but they managed to go 12-6 against the Reds, who ended up winning the division. Their success against great teams and struggles against horrible teams was simply odd. You’re supposed to win games against teams that are clearly worse than you, and Cards fans want that to be the case in 2011 because it will go a long way to help the team win the NL Central.

5. A World Series Title

This is the obvious one. St. Louis did win it just four years ago, but every team wants to win it all every year. Obviously, Cards fans want to take the division crown back from Cincinnati first, but with the upgrades that John Mozeliak has made this off-season, the expectations must be high. If the Cards play up to their potential and just play consistent baseball in every phase of the game, I see no reason why they can’t be a legitimate World Series contender.

It should be interesting to see if these wishes come true somewhere down the road for the Redbirds. Feel free to comment with any other wishes that you have for the team moving forward.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays!