St. Louis Cardinals: Five reasons why 2017 was tough to watch

Every season has its ups and downs. There seemed to be more downs for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2017.

Of course, after giving five reasons why this season was a fun ride to see for the St. Louis Cardinals, I must give why this season was a tough watch. Prepare yourself for a trip of sadness and despair. Get the tissues ready.

#5 – Key players suffering injuries

Before the regular season was able to get underway, right-hander Alex Reyes underwent Tommy John surgery and delivered a big blow to the rotation. Throughout the season it seemed as if every single starter went down with an injury.

Eventually all members of the starting outfield on Opening Day, Randal Grichuk, Dexter Fowler, and Stephen Piscotty, suffered injuries. The infield suffered a similar fate, as Jedd Gyorko, Kolten Wong, Matt Carpenter, and towards the final stretch Yadier Molina, all suffered injuries.

The mantra of “next man up” was seemingly an every week occurrence for the 2017 St. Louis Cardinals. Some benefits were exploited, such as the rise of starting pitcher Luke Weaver and shortstop Paul DeJong, but injuries prevented a consistent lineup, and that might have had something to do with the team’s inconsistency.

#4 – Mike Matheny’s managerial struggles

First off, I am a Mike Matheny supporter (please do not come to my apartment with torches and pitchforks). Even though I believe Matheny should remain at the helm for the foreseeable future, he does have a tendency to make some…well…odd decisions.

Putting previous decisions aside, such as Michael Wacha‘s 2014 NLCS appearance, this season we saw a few questionable decisions from the former catcher. During the final series against the Chicago Cubs, Tyler Lyons was in the game about to face Jason “Young Core Supporter” Heyward.

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In this match up, a clear advantage is given to Lyons given Heyward entered that game with a career .231 average vs left-handed pitching.

Instead, Matheny took out Lyons and opted for right-hander John Brebbia. Heyward hit a home run off of Brebbia.

While the Cardinals would still win the game, that decision cost the team three runs. Six seasons in, Matheny is still having problems managing his bullpen. However, maybe 2018 will be a different story.

#3 – First half mediocrity and end of season collapse

In its entirety, the 2017 was filled with mediocrity for the St. Louis Cardinals. Basically, it was like Jeff Fisher was the manager of the Cardinals this past season. At some points, it looked as if the team would finally take the next step, but then a fall off would happen.

Surging in the second half, the Cardinals played solid baseball for the most part. Unfortunately, when wins mattered most, the team failed to do their job. Down five games in the NL Central, and the potential to claim the second wild card spot with three series remaining, the Cardinals went 3-7.

All of those games were against NL Central opponents. Which coincidentally brings us to reason number two.

#2 – NL Central woes

No team was a sure victory for the Cardinals as far as the NL Central was concerned. The lone team the Birds were over .500 against was the Pittsburgh Pirates, going 11-8 against them. In those ten games of sadness, four of those were at home against the first place Chicago Cubs. During that four game series, the Cards would score twelve runs, eight coming in one game.

As a whole, the Cardinals had a record of 34-42 against the Central, with fourteen of those losses against the Cubs. Success against your division is crucial to getting into the playoffs, and seeing the team struggle against teams they usually beat more than they lose against was tough to see.

#1 – Chicago Cubs celebrating at Busch Stadium

Seeing your rival celebrate on your home field is bad enough. Getting a glimpse of your rival throwing up a W flag and taking pictures? Now that is where bad turns into ugly.

Out of all the outcomes, it is fitting the Cubs clinched in St. Louis. An entire season summed up in one game. And to follow that up, the Cardinals lost to a Cubs squad that looked like it belonged in double-A. I was at that game, and it looked just as sad in real life as it surely did on television.

Next: Five reasons to keep Mike Matheny

In 2018 the St. Louis Cardinals need to let their rival celebrating on their home field fuel them. That way, there can more articles on why the 2018 season was good than bad.