September Dreams

Well, here we are, the first week in September and the Cardinals are one game out of first place in the N.L. Central with a record of 68 wins and 67 losses. They have had a hectic year to say the least, LaRussa’s spring training D.U.I., countless injuries, and the death of reliever Josh Hancock.

The team will play 27 games over the next 26 days to finish the season. That is a tough grind especially as they are relying on the elderly, bullpen arms of Troy Percival, Russ Springer and Jason Isringhausen. However, five of those remaining games are agaist the first-place Cubs and three are against the second place Milwaukee Brewers so, they can control their own destiny.

Tonight, against the Pirates, Mark Mulder, returning from shoulder surgery, will start his first game of the season. If he has anything it will be a big plus. Consider this, the Cards have a record of 10 wins and 34 losses in games that were started by Kip Wells or Anthony Reyes. In games started by other pitchers they are 58 and 33.

Every time I hear anyone talking about last years’ World Series winning team, they are described as “sub-par” or the phrase, “the Cardinals backed in to it”, is used. Wouldn’t it just be a giant kick in the ass if the Cards “backed In to” another World Series title? If that happens Tony LaRussa will have reached legend status. Has any other manager/coach led two “sub-par” teams to back-to-back championships before?

And, think about Rick Ankiel; Hollywood should be drooling about this guy. ESPN is referring to him as “The Natural” or “Roy Hobbs” in his daily highlights. Picture this; As a 21-year-old pitcher, the kid tears up the league with serious heat and a knee-buckling curveball only to melt down in the playoffs and set a record for wild pitches. The wildness doesn’t go away and after numerous injuries and comeback attempts, he gives up pitching and decides to be an outfielder. Nobody thinks he has a chance but, the team keeps him on in the low minors out of loyalty. The years pass by and he develops the skills of an every day ballplayer until, the day he makes his triumphant return sparking the battered team and taking them to the World Series.

As the diffused light of August passes and the evenings grow cooler, what could be better than being in the hunt, in a pennant race? What could be better than September dreams?