Redbirds are Stinking it Up

This year's version of the St. Louis Cardinals is an enigma. They win when they have to against relatively good teams, but then when they play the lower division outfits, they stink up the place.

The team has lost four in a row now and really aren't playing very good defense and at times just lack hustle. This squad should have been 5 - 10 games out in front of the rest of the division by now but instead are 4.5 behind the Cincinnati Reds at the start of play today. Granted the Cards have been beaten up by injuries all year and have lost their 4 & 5 starters. They've also lost games at third base and in the outfield due to injuries.

But, as hurt as the team has been this year, they still have more raw talent than anyone else in the NL Central. My thought is something is missing from this squad. And my guess is there is a divisiveness or dissension on the team. If that's the case it's manager Tony LaRussa's job to figure out how to make everyone play nice together. But, the bottom line is the Birds are not winning like they should be and now are in serious danger of missing the playoffs. I may be wrong, but this club doesn't look like it has any fight in it and it is just going through the motions.

Better Late....

This is about a week old but congratulations to Whitey Herzog on his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. Herzog was gracious and humorous in his acceptance speech and gave thanks to his mentor the late Casey Stengel. Stengel managed Herzog with the Yankees and Herzog said he thought he had been treated so well because Stengel thought he was the grandson of Casey's former teammate Buck Herzog.

In addition to Herzog, Andre Dawson of the Expos and Cubs and National League umpire Doug Harvey were also inducted last Sunday afternoon. The writers and broadcast wings also got new members with Bill Madden and Jon Miller of ESPN joining their respective groups.

Herzog managed the St. Louis Cardinals during the 80s when the team won the 1982 World Series and league championships in 1985 and 1987. I spent many enjoyable days and nights at the old Busch Stadium watching the Cardinals play "Whitey Ball". Those teams were always fun to watch and won a lot of games. So, here's to you Whitey Herzog!