Cardinal Rule

If you think everything is going the Cardinals way, you’re right.

Since the All Star break the Red Birds are 20-11, including a 16-4 stretch the past 20 games, and have also won nine of 10 during the past two weeks.

The tipping point came July 24 with the acquisition of Matt Holliday, which has since powered St. Louis to a major league best 17-7 record since his arrival.

On August 7th the Cards took sole possession of the NL Central lead and have yet to look back at the second place Cubs.

Chances are, the Cubs won’t be in the rear view mirror come September, either.

We know better than to think this has all simply been a product of luck for the Cards.

Instead, they were quick to deal for the versatile Mark DeRosa, signed Julio Lugo to shore up the shortstop position and also made the aforementioned trade for Holliday.

Phat Albert, the best player in baseball, is the first player to reach 100 RBI this season. The starting staff, which now includes John Smoltz, has pitched a major league high 15 games without issuing a single walk, and closer Ryan Franklin leads the NL with 31 saves.

It’s possible, of course, that St. Louis could hit a late-season slide, perhaps even allowing Chicago to wiggle within a few games of the division lead.

But given the overall performance of this club during the stretch run, it’s becoming more clear with each passing day that while the Cards play postseason baseball, the Cubs will be gone fishing.