It was when Tony LaRussa had effectively "managed" the St. Louis Cardinals out of any chance in the playoff race that this blog had a correct article on how LOUSY a job LaRussa had done as manager--seeming to be bored with actually building a cnnsistently winning team in faovr of "genius" quirkks that have produced basically a .500 team since 2006. This article appeared in this blog, plus a follow up, when the Cardinals were ending August about 10.5 games behind Milwaukee. They were just as farbehind Atlanta in the "wild card" race.
Obviously, LaRussa reads this blog. It has beenlike he has a burr in his ass since the article appeared. The Cardinals had little chance--realy NO reasonable chance. However, the Cardinals, AFTER this blog's article goosed LaRussa by saying that the genius had no clothes, suddenlyl became a better team than the .500 team they had essentially been. They won 8 of 9 against Milwaukee and Atlanta--sweeping Atlanta when they HAD to do it. Now they have just won 3 out of 4 against Philadelphia--the BEST teamin all of baseball. Again, the Cardinals HAD to do it. In the meantime, LaRussa (bored again?) stumbled agaisnt Cincinatti (losing the series AT HOME) and Pittsburg (losing 1 of 3, but a game they really needed). In fact, it was LaRussa's FAILURE againt the LESSER teams in the Central Division that put the Caridnals in the hole from which they still may not recover.
However, as of tonight, the Cardinals can (for now) be declared a CONTENDER for a National League playoff spot. This is the ONLY time that can have been said in the whole month of September. Yep. The Cardinals have been legitimate conntenders for ONE DAY in the whole month of September, but that day is today. Notice how this blog was PROVED right about the job LaRussa had done. Obviously, if the Cardinals can play like this against GOOD temams (failing, still, mainly against bad ones), LaRussa had the TALENT to never let Milwaukee get away from him in the Central Division (again, maybe the weakest division oin baseball). The fact that LaRussa has been able to win over the past 2 weeks shows that there was NO reason he could not win before with this same talent. No, the Cardinals have NOT done better when people were not injured than they have when people have been injured. Thhe only difference seems to be FOCUS--plus a lot of luck, including a faltering Atlanta team.
The Cardinals are now 2.5 games behind Atlanta with about 10 games to play. That is stil an UPHILL battle, showing how mujch of a hole Larussa put the Cardinals in going into September. The Cardinals are now going into six HOME games againt pretty bad teams (Mets and Cubs). The Cardinals neeed to win ALL SIX games. They MUST win 5 out of six (barring an Atlanta meltdown). Notice that LaRussa's team has been BAD at home--especiallly against BAD teams in August and September. This is yet another test for LaRussa, since FOCUS is all that matters here (along with that LUCK).
The opportunity seems to be there, as Atlanta falters (losing in the 9th tonight, as the Cardinals barely hold on with a suspect bullpen that has failed in key situations all year). This is really a TEST for LaRussa as to whether he has really lost it (as this blog asserted he has, makng this blog responsible for his attempt to prove that SOB--me--wrong). Six games at home, against teams with nothing to play for. It should be a position that sets up for a final Cardinal push to put real pressure on a fading Atlanta team. LaRussa, I am watching you. I will NOT give you a pass for failing again in this made-to-orde situation. What have you done for the Cardinals lately?
P.S. No proofreading or spell checking (bad eyesight). LaRusssa, by the way, has the distinct advantage that almost the entire Cardinal team seems to be scheduled to be free agents at the end of the season--including Albert Pujos, who is also trying to hit .300 and drive in 100 runs for the 11th straight time. With this kind of incentives, against teams with hardly any incentives, LaRussa has no excuse. The Cardinals have no excuse. I know that the Cardinals can't seem to do that well against either the Metsor the Cubs. But that is SUPERSTITUTION. The Cardinals should have every advangage--psychological and otherwise--to win the next six games. And they end the season against a trulyl BAD Houston team, which also has proved to be no pushover for the Cardinals, but which should not be able to stop a playoff run. It would be a true miracle, by the way, for the Cardinals to win the division. Milwaukee seems home free. But there was the Cardinal "miracle" in 1964. Milwaukee COULD lose 10 in a row, unlikely as that seems to happen. More likely Atlanta, and the Cardinals are closer to Atlanta anyway.
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