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.
- B/R Ticket Guide
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.
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8 months ago
2006 postseason. That's all I've got to say.
8 months ago
Sounds awfully confident coming from a fan who's team has two good starters, an unproven closer, and ZERO championships in the last century. The Cubs are the most talented team in the NL yet can't win a playoff game.
Why should Cardinals fans wake up right now? We're in first place, and got looked over all off-season. Maybe you should stop hating?
8 months ago
I am only "hating" because the fans are acting like they already have it won, and it's only May. Yeah, the Cubs didn't win a playoff game last year, but that has nothing to do with this year's team, which is improved from last year.
And if you think the Cubs only have 2 good starters, that still tromps the Cardinals one good starter.
All I'm saying is, all cards fans are acting ignorant about baseball right now.
from 8 months ago
Why are you generalizing? Do you know all the Cardinals fans? Who are you referring to? Someone at your school or something? I don't know one Cards fan, myself included who thinks this team has the division wrapped up, but we do deserve to celebrate a good start.
Why is it ignorant to think this team is good? They're playing well, winning games, solid statistically, and in first place. It doesn't make sense to rip a fan base because we have been happy about our team winning.
8 months ago
Wow. I can't believe this article was allowed on the wonderful pages of BR. I completely agree with Peter here. Hating is an understatement, I'm sorry we beat you guys in the series over the weekend. We have the second best record in the ML, should we apologize for our early season success? No. We have the best manager and player in the game, and we're playing very well right now. End of story.
8 months ago
Fellas, it's one thing to play well... It's another thing to be an ignorant fan. And I am referring to an unbelievable amount of cardinals fans, including ones I know, and ones I don't know. I personally went to 2 of the 3 games over the weekend, and I literally had numerous cardinals fans getting in my face bashing the Cubs and talking about how great the Cardinals are. They have looked good so far, but the season is so long, and eventually it will catch up to them. your comment of "i'm sorry we beat you over the weekend" is exactly what I'm talking about... bragging over an unbelievably low sample size of games. To honestly think that Lohse, Looper, Wellmeyer, and Pinero are gonna carry this team to the playoffs is insane... that is part of the ignorant talk i'm speaking of. Mulder isn't good anymore, and Carpenter, lucky to be back by July, can't possibly be the Carpenter of old, atleast not this season.
I do agree that Pujols is perhaps the best player in baseball, and Larussa is one of the best managers.. thats the main reason your team is doing this well so far... but your comments and bragging and oblivious talk about the cardinals and the cubs will catch up to you, and I will be the first to say I told you so.
from 8 months ago
I know I for one have never "bragged" or anything else. I responded when you insulted a group of fans I'm in. That sucks that people were in your face at the ballpark, but write about that, not a whole group of people.
I still don't know why you're getting angry at Cards fans for "bragging". It's sports. What are we supposed to do?
Cubs fans talk smack and haven't won it all in 100 years, and nobody gets mad at that. I'm just opposed to you generalizing about a fan base as opposed to reflecting on your personal experiences.
8 months ago
brewer fans were riding high after a 24-10 start last year (*sigh*) and finished second...everyone needs to relax...except brewer fans...read my latest article if you wanna hear about this (self-promotion is great)
8 months ago
Tell me if this is true or not: Phillies fans are harsh fans.
Everybody knows that in Philly, they boo you and are harsh on you if you don't perform, no matter what you've done for them in the past. That doesn't mean that every single Phillies fan is harsh, but it is a general statement on them as a whole.
That is exactly what this article does to Cardinals fans... I have a ton of friends that are Cardinals fans, and I have been to Cardinals games a lot, and as a whole, they are ignorant and oblivious.
Rivalries and bragging are what make sports fun, yes. But this kind of bragging where you rip into another team and brag about how great your overachieving team is, that's where I draw the line.
8 months ago
I know that you are not really trying to down play what the Cardinals are doing? I am a huge Cardnials fan, and yes I was not very optomistic about these season, but they are suprising me. But that does not mean that they are not better than the experts thought. You state that we have only played 2 teams with winning records, that is not true. We played 3 teams if you count the Brewers, when at the time we played them they had a winning record and are at .500 now. We have only beat them 3 out of 5. Then the Cubbies who we just took 2 out of 3, and Houston the same. So the top contenders in the Central we have won each series. And the Cubbies have a losing record against teams over .500. But who has the Cubs and the Brewers played, pretty much the same teams, so your argument of who the Cardnials has played does not hold water. But look at the National League there only a hand full of teams with really winning records, and a slew in the East that is one game over .500. I can not help that the other teams in the National league are winning enough games to be considered a winning team. But the Cubbies have Arizona coming up, so lets see how they do against another division leader since they have a losing record against other divison leaders like the CARDINALS. Yes it is early, and yes it is a long season. But is is for every team so lets just see if the Cubbies live up to their name, Cubs Useless By September.
8 months ago
Tyler-
You're saying that having winning records against your division rivals doesn't count for anything, even though those are the teams you play the majority of your games? It's not the Cardinals fault what division they play in, so I'm tired of people knocking that against them.
You also stated that the Cardinals play an overwhelming number of games at home (again, you knock this against them yet they have no control over this). They just won a couple road games against the Rockies (the hottest team in the NL down the stretch last year).
Also, it sounds like you're insinuating that Pujols is the only reason the Cardinals are where they are. Obviously, being an MVP there's an innate responsibility to make the players around you better but, there has to be potential talent there in the first place to exploit. Also, if you just look at the game yesterday against the Rockies you had 6 different players besides Pujols who got an RBI and 4 different players besides Pujols who had at least 2 hits. Sounds like a TEAM effort to me.
Yes, it's only roughly been a month into the season. However, as far as the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry goes, what exactly are you upset about? When a team gets a win against a long time divisional rival why wouldn't they cheer? Why wouldn't they brag? As fans, bragging rights go a long way.
8 months ago
Is your definition of "ignorance" having pride in the home team and respect for the opposing team?
My definition is more along the lines of throwing 15 balls back onto the field when the other team hits a home run. I think Marty Brennaman said it best when comparing Cubs fans vs Cardinals fans. Here it is in case you forgot:
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-080417-marty-brennaman-chicago-cubs-reds,1,6962881.mp3file
8 months ago
I have never downplayed having a good record against your division, and I have never downplayed Albert Pujols. And I even agree that St. Louis is a great baseball town with great fans.
But like I have said all along, it hasn't been friendly bragging by Cardinals fans that I've been exposed to. It's been over the top, bash the Cubs, and boast about how great the Cards are and how they are going to make everyone look stupid... and I'm saying, put things in perspective a little bit, and realize it's a long season.
Like I said, in August of last year, the Cardinals got hot winning like 17 of 24 games, and cutting the division lead to 1.5 games... At that point, every dang Cardinal fan I knew was talkin so much smack about how the Cubs true colors would show, they would choke, and the Cards would cruise into the playoffs. At that point, I said, "no way, the Cards aren't very good... they just got hot." Sure enough, they ended up 7 games behind the CUBS for the division... This is your warning... it will happen again in 2008.
8 months ago
In 2006 they had the worst regular season record of any World Series winner, so I don't see any reason they can't get a wild card spot this year and still go on to do the same.
Sure the Cubs and Brewers have just as much talent, and I agree, it should be interesting to watch 3 teams fight for 2 or less spots. You can't criticize the cards for what they've done so far, they've produced every time they had the opportunity.
Guess you'll just have to wait til July to write this article, maybe then you'll have some evidence that the Cardinals aren't the best team in the NL Central. (That's coming from a Twins fan, nonetheless.)
8 months ago
No, the cubs and brewers dont have "just" as much talent... they have way more talent.
in case you didn't notice, i have praised the cardinals and their management for a great start that nobody expected... but that i definitely believe it wont last and that cardinal fans should quit being so dang cocky with an average team.
The West and East are both better than the Central, so don't count on the wild card coming out of the central... this isn't 2006 anymore.
And your comment about waiting until July to write this article is exactly my point... good sportswriters and good sports analysts make good predictions before things happen.. that's why they are called predictions... and I, unlike the Cardinals fans, am not talking about the here and now but rather what I think will happen this season... in baseball, you can't get too high on the highs and too low on the lows, and the cards fans are definitely getting too high on their less than stellar baseball team.
from 8 months ago
The bottom line is when you are putting more effort in disparaging other teams and their fans than effort into analyzing and rallying around your team, there is a major malfunction in your own "fandom" and analysis. Which is what you've done.
from 8 months ago
Agreed. This is almost comical though. You keep claiming the Cubs are so talented, yet there is no evidence to that in the standings thus far. But then again I guess Cubs fans are always talking about what will (or they hope will) happen
8 months ago
the cubs are on pace to win 91 games and haven't even played well yet.. i would say they are talented enough.. everybody and their mom thinks the cubs are one of the elite teams in the league.
8 months ago
I agree with Tyler Smith! The Cubs have a rich baseball tradition and have won more World Series than any other National League team! They also have a winning record in World Series play over the New York Yankees! Their home town is a fantastic baseball city! They are off to a good start and have a surplus of pitching! They have a fabulous Manager who has won world series in both the American and National Leagues! Oh, wait a minute! --I'm talking about the Cardinals!! --Never mind....
8 months ago
BREAKING NEWS! How 'Bout Those C.U.B.S. (Completely Useless By September)?!!!
"Jon Lieber became only the second pitcher in Chicago Cubs history to give up four homers in an inning, and Votto connected three times in all as the Cincinnati Reds powered their way to a 9-0 victory Wednesday."
--Now, we will have to change their name to "C.U.B.M" (Completely Useless By May)....
from 8 months ago
and the cards blew a 3 run lead in the 8th inning... a loss is a loss.. but i don't expect you to understand that. you care more about makin fun of the cubs than you do your own team..
but keep talkin buddy... it will be more fun for me in the end.
8 months ago
tyler
the cubs have had 34 games to start playing well even after spring training so when is this great talent going to come from?
and cubs fans are some of the worst in history, they are not smart enough to give up after 100 years and they throw trash on their hallowed wrigley field when they continue to play bad.
cubs fans need to finally get a clue and stop thowing trash at their players.
8 months ago
did you not just read what i just wrote? the cubs are on pace for 91 wins, which would be more wins than any National League team had last season... you guys are acting like they have a terrible record or something... there's your first clue, ignorant fans.
completely useless by May? the cubs are a half game out of the playoffs.... yeah, that's real useless huh.
and let's bring about the past and how the cardinals have more world titles.. yeah, that's great, and it's obvious the cards have had a better history.... but i'm talkin about the here and now... and the cubs beat the cards last year, they will beat them this year, and they also have a brighter future.. so i'll take it.
if you are going to talk about this article and this topic, don't bring up other retarded arguments that aren't relevant..
and oh yeah, quit thinking the cards will make the playoffs in 2008, because i assure you they won't.
from 8 months ago
I fail to see how using an argument from the past (last year) serves to discredit another argument from the past (the Cardinals World titles). You also made the argument that Cardinals fans shouldn't be getting their hopes up because it's only May. Yet you say the Cubs are on pace for 91 wins AND it's only in May.
I always know that when the Cubs and Cardinals hook up for a 3 or 4 game set that it will be a battle, it always has been. I can't speak for anyone else but personally I know the Cubs will probably be there in the end. Also, I don't know how you're so sure that the Cardinals won't make the playoffs. I'd hate to beat a dead horse but, that's what everyone said in 2006. If you're going to make a prediction like that you'll need more than "the Cubs beat the Cardinals last year in the regular season" argument.
8 months ago
I must admit that it must be tough to be a Cubs fan. Wow, your Grandfather probably hadn't been born when they won their last championship! The Cards will be back in the playoffs--if not this year, it will be soon! Why, you may ask? Because (along with good pitching, hitting and management)they have tradition and fan pressure/support on their side! That is why even teams like the Yankees and the Dodgers can never be counted out. They, like the Cardinals, are expected to be in the post season! The opposite is true of the Cubs-- they are expected never to win another World Series! A very wise friend who believes in the cosmos and the order of the universe told me once that, if the Cubs ever won another World Series, it would probably knock the universe (and life as we know it) out of kilter! Do we want that? --Of course not!!! So, let's let the Cubs just be the Cubs!
8 months ago
Derek,
All I need is the rosters that the Cubs and Cardinals have. That should be enough said right there. The Cards are just not a very good baseball team. I'm not saying the Cubs have a GREAT baseball team, but they do have a very good one, and one that will put them back in the playoffs. And I'm not just hating on the Cardinals because I'm a Cubs fan... I'm giving my opinion on what I think will happen, and am advising that Cardinals fans quit talkin smack about their crappy baseball team just because they got off to one good month start.
And Michael,
THank you for contributing nothing to this conversation by talking about the cosmos and other bull crap like that.. It is people like you that made me write this article in the first place.... Ignorant fans who are oblivious to what is really going on= most cardinal fans.
And by the way guys, the Cubs just beat the crap out of the best team in baseball twice, and have Big Z going for the sweep tomorrow... your whopping 1 game lead sure is lookin great right now... you guys should probably talk more smack, i mean it is already May 10th you know.
8 months ago
I must say... not NEAR as much smack talk from Cardinals fans on this article in recent days... why? because the cards have actually had to play some games away from their home park and haven't been doing well... meanwhile, rival chicago sweeps the best team in baseball in impressive fashion, without even starting Zambrano.
Let me know when you all realize how dumb your comments have been, and how true my article really is about all of you being ignorant baseball fans who don't see the big picture and only think your team is the best one because you like them.
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