"Easy Redbird Fans... It's May."

Let's be honest.  The St. Louis Cardinals are shocking the world right now with their impressive 20-12 record and first place standing in the NL Central.  Most of the experts had this team as low as fifth in the division, and the highest rank they were getting was third.  So far, pitching coach Dave Duncan has done what he does best, which is turning mediocre starting pitchers into good starting pitchers.  And one of the better managers in the history of the game, Tony LaRussa, is getting the most out of his players.

 But as the saying goes, "baseball is a marathon and not a sprint", I can't help but feel disgusted at how Cardinals fans are acting in the early going.  They have played 21 games at home, compared to 11 games on the road.  They have only played 2 teams with winning records, yet they are acting as if the Cardinals are guaranteed to be up top all season long.  I hate to break it to ya Cardinals fans, but that just isn't gonna happen.  In fact, the Cardinals will be lucky to even finish third in this improved NL Central division.

 I know, I know, you all keep reminding me that eventually you will get Mark Mulder and Chris Carpenter back.  First of all, Mulder can't even get anybody out in the minor leagues right now, and hasn't got anyone out at the major league level since 2005.  As much ridicule as I got as a Cubs fan for thinking Wood and Prior would quit getting hurt, I now take pride in letting all of you know that Mulder, like his ex-teammate Barry Zito, is done.  

 And if you honestly expect Carpenter to be the Carpenter of old after missing almost two years with an injury, you have another thing coming.

But the bottom line here, is that the Cardinals are nowhere near as talented as the Cubs and Brewers.  They had a hot stretch like this one in August of last year and Cardinals fans were freaking out, before the team came back to earth and started losing.  Expect the same to happen this season.  Their hot streak right now is amplified because it's the beginning of the season.  That's it.

Cardinal fans have really surprised me so far this season.  For a so called baseball town, they seem to me to be the most ignorant fans in sports.  When it's only May 5th, and your team isn't very good, and you are bragging about their hot start and how good Ryan Ludwick and Todd Wellmeyer are, you have a problem.

But hey, it's only going to make the Cubs second straight division title that much more sweet come the end of September.