I have kept my optimistic view of the Cardinals all along this season. When in conversations I have steered the conversation to "remember 2006". In that year the Cards were unable to string anything together all season of any significance. They limped, actually backed into the playoffs, then caught fire.
I believed the "remember 2006" mantra until last night. This team is flat. And the flatness is killing their spirit (as best as I can see from my seat at Busch or in front of my TV at home). There is almost nothing I would like to see less than the bases loaded for this team. I just know that means that the rally is over. They can't get a big hit when they need it. They are the kings of meaningless hits and homers. Pujols has been padding his stats of late. Raising his average from the uncharacteristically low sub-.300 spot to over .315 in just over a week has looked great, but it has not led to any wins. The Cardinals have lost 5 in a row to the Cubs, Brewers and Giants. Then you look at AB with runners in scoring position and every time there is a groundball to short. Maybe it scores a run, many times it is a double play. The rally killer.
I tried to drink the Kool Aid earlier this season. I saw the need for a Duncan-esqe starting pitcher and knew the financial reasoning behind trading Ludwick. But that was all with the understanding that there was something else up their sleeves. A proven hitter they were close to trading for that would fill this void in the lineup. Now I am to believe that that hitter is Pedro Feliz? The Cardinals have a line up of 7-8-9 hitters along with two boppers. One of which can't seem to produce in the clean-up spot. Can you seriously win a championship with this band of .250 hitters; Lopez, Ryan, Feliz & Molina. Last year 3 of them were closer to .300 hitters. Why did they all go south at once? Why can't Holliday hit in the clutch anymore. In my opinion it all points to one person, Mr. Mark McGwire.
Let's face it, the team is seriously under performing at the plate and typically the hitting coach is to blame for that. For some reason, McGwire is off-limits this year. I know he is "Tony's Boy" and I am glad that LaRussa wanted to give him a chance. After all, McGwire did seem to show over his career that he had learned how to hit. Though he was a HR guy, he did have his .290 seasons and knew the strike zone like no one else at the time. What he didn't know, what is still obvious, is that he does not know situational hitting. He seems to be teaching his hitters his approach which worked often for a large man bulked up on steroids. It doesn't work for smaller guys like Lopez and Ryan. They ground out to short.
It's time for McGwire to go. Now, before the season is up. It was the wrong move for the club. Swallow your pride, make the right decision and move on. Mike "Enough" Aldrete is waiting in the wings as an assistant let him take over the reigns for the remainder of the season and then find a hitting coach that better melds with this teams size and ability.
But, since we know that is not going to happen, here is my plan B. Shuffle the lineup to a formula that has worked before, bat Holliday before Pujols. My lineup for the remainder of the season looks like this (or at least until my faith is restored and they score a bat for this lineup).
Jay
Feliz
Holliday
Pujols
Rasmus
Molina
Lopez
Schumaker/Ryan
Pitcher
Jay has speed, Feliz needs a boost, perfect guys to hit 1-2 before the big guys. Holliday jump started his season in front of Pujols, no one else can carry the weight of cleanup - that's your 3-4. Rasmus is the only guy left who can protect Pujols, by default he is #5. Molina can hit when he taking the ball to the opposite field, then Lopez' bat moves into a run producing spot at 6-7. Put your light hitting middle infielder before the pitcher.
PLAY BALL!
