Looking back on the last time the Cardinals finished under .500

World Series Hangover/The Death Of Josh Hancock

The season was already off to a rough start, as the Cardinals were playing an uninspiring brand of baseball on the heels of their 2006 title. But that was only the beginning of the team's woes. On April 29, tragedy struck when reliever Josh Hancock was killed in a car accident. Their game the next day against the Cubs was postponed and later rescheduled for a doubleheader on September 15.

From there, the Cardinals continued to struggle, ending the month of April with a poor record of 10-14. To honor Hancock's memory, the Cardinals added a black patch with the reliever's number 32 in the center on their left sleeve.

The Cardinals simply couldn't find consistency for most of the year, being unable to match their postseason magic from the previous year. Unlike this year, however, there were glimmers of hope. The team got hot in August and actually forced their way back into the conversation for an NL Central title. On September 7, they had Adam Wainwright on the mound to start a series against the Diamondbacks. They also came into that series a game over .500 and just one game back of first.

However, a three-game sweep began a nine-game skid that the Cardinals never recovered from, as they were ultimately eliminated on September 21 after falling to 71-82, securing their first losing season since 1999.

Pitching, Pitching, Pitching

At the trade deadline this year, we heard John Mozeliak use the phrase "Pitching, pitching, pitching," and with good reason. Like 2023, the pitching staff was a mess in 2007. As previously mentioned, the Cardinals really had to improvise to fill holes and even had to pick some pieces up off the scrap heap.

Troy Percival had been retired, but returned and ended up pitching quite well, posting a 1.80 ERA in 34 appearances. Contrary to this year, the Cardinals added pitching in the offseason, but it didn't work out.

Kip Wells joined the team and went 7-17 with a 5.70 ERA, even being moved to the bullpen at one point. Anthony Reyes had a bad year and didn't win a game until July after his heroic effort in Game 1 of the 2006 World Series against the Tigers. Other veteran pieces such as Ryan Franklin and Russ Springer worked out in the bullpen.

To bolster the rotation, St. Louis added Todd Wellemeyer and Mike Maroth. Wellemeyer would end up being a solid rotation piece for years to come. He started 11 games with the Cardinals that year and made 20 appearances, posting a 3.11 ERA. Maroth on the other hand was less than stellar. He appeared in 14 games, seven of which were starts, and compiled an ugly 10.06 ERA

The biggest move to strengthen the rotation was the trade for Joel Pinero, who also became a viable rotation piece. The Cardinals added him at the deadline in a trade with the Red Sox, who would succeed them as World champions. During his time in St. Louis that year, he started 11 games, going 6-4 with a 3.96 ERA.

Adam Wainwright was the team's best pitcher that year, and this was the first sign that he was going to become someone special. He had the best ERA out of all starters, posting a 3.70 mark. He also won a team-high 14 games.

The Return Of Rick Ankiel

The highlight of the year came in August when Rick Ankiel was called up to the Majors. Scott Spiezio had been placed on the restricted list due to substance abuse issues, and Ankiel was his replacement.

Out of nowhere, Ankiel began hitting bombs. He had made his MLB debut as an ace pitcher in 2000 before developing a bad habit of wildness in the postseason, which plagued him for several years and caused him to quit pitching. As a hitter, he was something else. That year, he hit .285 with 11 homers and 39 RBI in his first year back in the Majors since 2004.

Ankiel also helped provide a spark for the Cardinals, who were well out of contention to start August but found themselves back in the mix by the end of the month. But it wasn't enough to save the season.

Aftermath

At the end of the season, the Cardinals decided it was time to shake things up. Bill DeWitt fired then-GM Walt Jocketty and ultimately promoted Mozeliak to replace him.

St. Louis also said goodbye to some familiar faces. David Eckstein, who was the 2006 World Series MVP signed with the Blue Jays in free agency. In December, the Cardinals sent Jim Edmonds to the Padres in one of the most famous trades in recent memory. In that deal, the Cardinals got a young prospect who would one day become a hometown hero in David Freese.

Scott Rolen was also shipped off to the Blue Jays in exchange for Troy Glaus in a trade that shook the fanbase. In 2008, the Cardinals won 86 games but still missed the postseason, and wouldn't return until they won the NL Central with a 91-71 record in 2009.

This year, the Cardinals will also be saying goodbye to a familiar face, as Wainwright plays out the rest of his final season.