Sports Spew: Cards-Cubs and BCS Blunders
Posted Monday, May 5, 2008 @ 12:49 am
You must understand my pessimism going into the weekend series against the ever-irritating Chicago "It's gonna happen" Cubs. Not so much because of the choking number of predictions of the Cubs' first World Series crown in a hundred years (of which it is my solemn duty to be quite skeptical, being a Cardinals fan and all), but because the Cardinals were an abysmal 19-32 against them over the last three seasons. Even in 2005, when the Cardinals won 100 games, they struggled against a vastly inferior Cubs team that finished 21 games back. However, at the end of a hard-fought Sunday night affair in which Jason Isringhausen shockingly did not blow the save, I was pleasantly surprised to see the Cards take two of three from those pesky, yet lovable north-siders. And since I'm not playing softball this summer, I can go ahead and send my VHS copy of Tom Emanski's Defensive Drills to Alfonso Soriano, who seems to be in much more dire need than me.
Also, since I'm sure this woeful National League match-up was much too inferior and low-brow for many fans of Sunday Night Baseball, ESPN is offering a consolation presentation of Monday Night Baseball tonight, featuring a true marquee match-up between Boston and Detroit. Because the American League is all that matters. Trust them.
Anyway, with series victories against projected National League powers such as the Rockies (even though they aren't doing so well), Brewers, and Cubs, as well as completing the best April in franchise history, it's starting to look like baseball personalities around the country are finally treating the Cardinals less like gum stuck on their shoes and more like serious contenders. As recently as last week, the MLB Power Rankings on foxsports.com had the Cardinals 14th out of 30, and three sub .500 teams were ahead of them! They have since moved up to ninth, which is a little more reasonable. Now, I trust the credibility of power rankings about as far as I can throw their authors across the street, and I know the Cards have played a lot of home games and haven't faced the hardest schedule around, but it's good to finally see some deserved respect sent St. Louis way. If they can keep things up through Memorial Day, I'll be chugging the Cardinals Kool-Aid gallon by sugary gallon.
Although, my brother points out that July is shaping up to be a staggering month, featuring high profile and dangerous opponents such as the Mets, Cubs, Phillies, Brewers, Mets again, and then the Braves. And if that just wasn't intimidating enough, the Cardinals play 13 games against the Cubs and Diamondbacks in what could be another September to remember. I don't see them running away with this thing in the first place, so if they're still in it by September, it's certainly not gonna be easy, but it should be an exciting time, if nothing else.
Let's not put our pants on two legs at a time, though. It's still only been a month.
In other news, BCS officials shocked nobody when on Wednesday they rejected a plan for a college football playoff. This move was to ensure that Ohio State is still able to face ten creampuff losers every year so they can continue to skate into the BCS title game and reap all of the benefits that go along with reaching the BCS title game—all the benefits except winning, anyway.
As I've previously mentioned, I'm not too big on college football, but if they were to switch to a playoff, I could get into it. Say what you will about the current format making the regular season more meaningful and exciting—all of these pointless bowl games at the end ruin it for me because, ultimately, only two teams get a chance at the national championship. If there are four or eight really good teams, above and beyond everybody else, I want all of those teams to have the right and opportunity to be crowned national champions. I don't like the idea of a computer or a smoky room full of angry old codgers just deciding who's best and throwing them in the title game. It just doesn't feel right.
Yeah, I know that there is a ton of money and politics and tradition in college football and that things will never change. A man can dream, though. A man can dream.
(All the baseball stats in this entry were courtesy of baseball-reference.com)
Permalink |
Browse comments
Cards vs. Astros—High Heat, Hammer Bros. and Heartbreak
Posted Monday, April 28, 2008 @ 01:05 am
It all started with a rain delay.
I figured the storm would pass in a couple of minutes and Cardinals baseball would commence in short order.
Read more >> |
Browse comments
On the Clock
Posted Monday, April 21, 2008 @ 12:25 am
"The Miami Dolphins are on the clock.
Read more >> |
Browse comments
Very Superstitious
Posted Monday, April 14, 2008 @ 12:06 am
Yesterday I wore my Cardinals 2006 World Series Champions shirt for the first time this season.
Read more >> |
Browse comments
![[SeMissourian.com]](/images/nameplate.gif)
