St. Louis Cardinals’ Mediocrity Continues

Jul 8, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha (52) falls to the ground after being hit by the ball during the seventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 8, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha (52) falls to the ground after being hit by the ball during the seventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The year of frustration continues for the St. Louis Cardinals, as they have dropped yet another winnable close game.

Once again, we are here talking about the St. Louis Cardinals‘ lack of execution, lack of an ability to shut the door, and lack of being able to take advantage of a fading Chicago Cubs team. Tonight didn’t feature the St. Louis Cardinals’ team that has bullied the under .500 teams like the Milwaukee Brewers or Cincinnati Reds.

Instead, tonight featured the St. Louis Cardinals’ club that played down to the level of their competition. A winnable game and a chance to gain some ground on the first-place Cubs slipped out of the St. Louis Cardinals’ hands tonight.

Not only that, the Cardinals also incurred three injuries that could be pretty key injuries if they are at all serious. These injuries were Matt Holliday (ankle), Michael Wacha (heel), and Trevor Rosenthal. Unlike a lot of my fellow fans, I won’t give up on this team until the 162nd game is played in this season. 

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This team has the potential to dig themselves out of this funk and become a true contender, but it will take a better approach to games like tonight. The team can’t be sending one of the best hitters in the league (Aledmys Diaz) to bunt with runners on and less than two outs.

This team can’t afford to drop another game before the upcoming all-star break with the Pirates starting to turn it on and the Cubs looking vulnerable. Depending on what this team does at the trade deadline a strong run is still possible, but it is safe to say that the mediocre play that beseeches them now has to go by the wayside sooner rather than later.

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The St. Louis Cardinals will attempt to even up the series with the Milwaukee Brewers and gain ground on either the Pittsburgh Pirates or the Chicago Cubs. Carlos Martinez will take on Chase Anderson tomorrow night, as the Cards look to finally reward Carlos Martinez for pitching as well as he has.