Reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated

Screw "You gotta Believe!".

The Cardinals' mantra for the post-season should be "Reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated."

Never mind that Mark Twain probably/actually said "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated". It's all the same. "Demise", "death", "termination", "failure", "suckiness"...Pick one. You used it. It all added up to "loss", either way.

Suddenly, 83 wins, two 8 game losing streaks and one 7 game losing streak seem part of the master plan. What do the baseball experts always say? Just get into the post-season and anything can happen. The Cardinals are on the verge of "anything can happen" and playing the Mets in the NLCS. And it's nice not caring what the experts are saying. Being an underdog gives us that advantage.

What is this sensation Cardinal nation is feeling? Hope? Happiness? We don't know what to do with ourselves except cheer. We know it could all end in 4 games. But we've also had the realization that it doesn't have to end, regardless of what everyone around us is saying. Regardless of what we remind ourselves in uninspired reality checks.

As you've probably realized, Mark Twain is famous for many-a-quote. It was Twain who said "All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure." The Cardinals are obliged to take that information in heavy doses as it proves true, elongating whatever life they have left. Everyone expects them to lose as they play the role of underdog with a poetic enthusiam worthy enough to make Shakespeare cry.

I'd like to see how far the Cardinals' ignorance and confidence can take them. I'd also like to try out a new name on them.

I like the sound of "winners". It has a nice ring to it.