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St. Louis Cardinals: This team stinks and it starts from the head

Dr. Michael D. Miles
Dr. Michael D. Miles

Redbird Rants

Sep 26, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina (4) looks on after Cincinnati Reds left fielder Adam Duvall (23) hits a solo home run off of starting pitcher Jaime Garcia (not pictured) during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Top five.  St. Louis Cardinals trail the nothing-to-lose Reds by the score of 14-1.  This team stinks.

I’ve tried to stay positive and tried to find areas to celebrate.  Tonight, however, I just cannot.  This year’s St. Louis Cardinals stink.  I almost want to say “suck” but that doesn’t quite feel fair considering the proximity to the wild card spot.

But wait… the proximity?!  Am I the only one who feels the obscene insult that lays in that statement?  Surely I am not the only one who can watch these games and see just how badly the Cardinals stink– or suck!

I am afraid that we will finish this close to the wild card, and, if you want my honest opinion, that is the best that we deserve.  This team should count their lucky stars that they are even that close to the wild card.

And how is it that such a stinky team can sit so close to the post season you might ask?  The other teams that they are quote-unquote chasing, the Giants and the Mets, have had their fair share of sucking too.

If it weren’t for the recent lackluster performance of the Giants, the recent lackluster performance of the St. Louis Cardinals would have the birds out of this season already.  The Birds have OTHERS to thank for their fortune and themselves to thank for their misfortune.

Let’s take a quick look at the pitiful showings of late… Shall we start with Jaime Garcia tonight (or recently)?  Does it even matter?  I am not surprised by his pitiful showing, shame to say.

Should we jump to Michael Wacha?  Again, are we surprised?  Maybe we are surprised by the sucking-but-maybe-injured Matt Carpenter?  Marp has gone 6-for-30 in his last six games.  That is a miserable .200/.200/.233 slash. But he is injured…

Sure, this team relied on the long ball and we were amazed.  Jedd Gyorko leads the team with twenty-seven this season.  But wait!  Brandon Moss has twenty-seven dingers to his credit too.  Pump the breaks though, as Gyorko is sitting .238/.301/.479 and Moss is stitting .227/.302/.490.  See a trend?

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Let’s face it, the time has come to vacate Busch Stadium as is evident from tonight’s audience count.  It is time for Mozeliak and Mike Matheny to come to a realization of what they have or don’t have.  2016 is done.  Time to move on.

But wait… why say the fish stinks from the head?  Aside from the colloquialism, this team seems dead from the top down.  Matheny needs to assert his leadership.  In Chicago he didn’t because he is afraid of being ejected and, to make matters worse, he hasn’t been ejected once this season.

And what about Mozeliak?  How many deals didn’t he make this season?  Even worse, how many players did Mo send away only to watch them flourish elsewhere?  I cannot bring myself to count them.

Next: Home Cookin'

Tomorrow- in true fashion this season- the St. Louis Cardinals will probably explode for two-to-three games worth of smash-and-grab wins.  I will turn into a fan again.  You will turn into a fan again and then the repeat will happen and our hopes will go down the drain.

Dr. Michael D. Miles

Dr. Michael D. Miles

Michael joined Fansided and Redbirds Rants in 2016 and is beyond excited to write about his favorite sport and team organization: baseball and the St. Louis Cardinals (Memphis Redbirds)! Michael also works as an elementary math coach for Shelby County Schools in Memphis, TN where he started in January 2017. He holds a BFA in theatre performance from Arkansas State University (2002), a Master’s of Science in Education from Mercy College (2004), and a Doctor of Education in Leadership from Arkansas State University (2010). After years of performing as an actor in community theatres and regional theatres, Michael became a teacher in NYC teaching public school. A six-year teaching career lead to a five-year college administration career before he finally settled into gratifying work in the nonprofit sector. Having founded a nonprofit from the ground up and having assisted other nonprofits grow and expand, Michael longed for the opportunity to return to his love of education and teaching. Now, adding a co-editing gig with Redbirds Rants is an even greate