Panic, Concern, and Patience

Don’t you just love hearing the word panic one week into the 2011 MLB season? After the Cardinals’ lackluster 2-4 start to the regular season, I’ve heard that word tossed around several times, which I have to admit isn’t all that surprising to me. It’s typical for some of the media and fan base to jump the gun on the panic button, but with Adam Wainwright out for the season and Albert Pujols stuck in a rare slump, the panic is at least somewhat justifiable.

Everyone has their opinions as to the current state of the St. Louis Cardinals, but at such an early stage of the season, it’s hard to argue that six games is a large enough sample size to get a true sense of where this team is headed. There are of course positive and negative aspects of this situation, so I guess some of it depends on whether you’re a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty kind of person. After the jump, I’ll assess whether panic, concern, or patience is the best way to approach St. Louis’ performance to this point.

As soon as the 2011 schedule was released back in September, you knew that the Cards had an opportunity to open things up on a high note. It wasn’t unrealistic to expect a 6-0 start, and anything short of four wins would be an underachievement. San Diego is an average team at best without Adrian Gonzalez, and the Pirates, well, they’re still the Pirates. Not to mention, the Redbirds were playing in front of their home fans at Busch Stadium. However, instead of St. Louis coming away with two ideal sweeps, they were nearly swept in back-to-back series’. Make what you want of it, but at the very least, there are some questions about this ballclub that must be answered sooner rather than later.

First of all, where the hell is the offense? The Cards have posted a mere 15 runs in six games, and they have yet to score more than three runs in a single contest. Wasn’t this the problem last year? Just to put this poor start into perspective, St. Louis ranks 28^th in runs (15), 22^nd in batting average (.231), and 28^th in slugging (.297). Albert Pujols (.182/.240/.318) has not even looked like the best player on the team let alone the best player in all of baseball. He has just 4 hits in 22 at-bats, and as ridiculous as it sounds, he has actually been hurting the team’s production for the most part. Ryan Theriot, David Freese, and Yadier Molina all carry sub-.200 batting averages as well, so it’s clear that right now, this team just can’t get good wood on the ball. It’s that simple. There is no question that the offense will need to pick things up, but you can’t say that they haven’t been consistent.

Other than a few mental lapses here and there, the defense has held up just fine. Now that brings us to pitching. Could we honestly ask for anything more? Jake Westbrook was roughed up in his outing, but apart from him and maybe Ryan Franklin, pitching has been the team’s strength so far. Jaime Garcia single-handedly got the Redbirds in the win column with a complete game shutout, and Chris Carpenter has a 2.08 ERA with 10 strikeouts after two games. Kyle McClellan was solid in his first career start, and the relief trio of Tallet, Batista, and Miller has yet to give up a run. Now if only they could get a little run support.

While the Cardinals do find themselves three games back of the 5-1 Cincinnati Reds, I wouldn’t by any stretch of the imagination say that their backs are against the wall. Yes, they have dug themselves a hole and will have their work cut out for them if they plan on ascending to the top of the NL Central, but it would be overreacting to panic right now. I hate to use this because it’s cliché, but it is a long season. There are 156 games to go, and anything can happen between now and then. If this slump continues into the summer, then it is reasonable to panic. Until that time, St. Louis fans must take a deep breath. Look at it this way; it could be a whole lot worse. The supposedly built-to-win powerhouse Boston Red Sox are winless after six games, and they have perhaps more talent than any other team in baseball. Red Sox nation has good reason to panic. Cardinal nation not so much.

With that said, there is nothing wrong with some legitimate concern. The Cards are now headed on a 10-game Western road trip beginning in San Francisco with a three game series against the 2010 champs. Facing the Giants isn’t exactly a great way to jumpstart your offense, but it will be critical for the Cards to stand up to the challenge. Losing more ground will only make the road tougher later in the year.

The Cardinals have what it takes to win, so it’s just a matter of putting it all together and clicking on all cylinders. As for when that might happen, only time will tell. That’s why we as fans must remain patient. It’s far too early to give up hope on a team with this kind of talent. As much as it pains me to say this, maybe we should all take a step back and take in what Tony La Russa had to say before the team’s day off. Why? Because his comments are right on the money.

"Look at the calendar, for one thing. It’s the first week of the season. I don’t understand this. You’re going to tell me that Yadier (Molina) doesn’t drive in big runs? You’re going to tell me Albert (Pujols) can’t hit? You’re going to tell me the second baseman (Skip Schumaker) and shortstop (Ryan Theriot) haven’t hit? David Freese, you don’t think he’s going to hit? You think Matt (Holliday) is going to hit? You think Colby (Rasmus) is going to hit? You think (Lance) Berkman is going to hit? The answer is no to all those things?"

Well said Tony. Well said.