Bye Bye Birdies...

Well, Cardinal fans, it's been quite the season. There have been an oddly high number of rough patches we've gone through together. From the Carpenter downer to the Ankiel shocker to--GOD, do I need to go on or have you been living in a cave under the sea?--we've seen and heard it all. Who knows what all of the madness means. Is this the price you pay for winning the world series? I honestly don't know. But you can't deny those redbirds had every possible attack on their team morale and still managed to make it interesting until the final few weeks of the season.

But let's not pretend this last week's mounting losses didn't leave a bitter taste in our mouthes. I liken it to the feeling you get after losing a really close play-off game. Or maybe it's the feeling you get after the realization your season is over. Regardless, here's a toast to the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals. No matter what false hopes you had for this season or the disappointment that still lingers over their recent fall, you can't deny the knowledge that winning the World Series last year isn't still comforting (even in the slightest bit. Come on, don't by shy, let that hidden smile out. Bragging rights apply-even here).

When all is said and done, there will be only one team and one fan base that feels satisfied. It's all or nothing! Second place isn't comforting to anyone. Maybe in some weird twisted way, the unrelenting lack of luck has been God's way of breaking the news to us that we wouldn't win this year.

Wait, hear me out! We got our first sign opening day, when we learned Carpenter was hurt. And from then on out, the barrage of "signs" kept coming. And instead of leaving us in the dust in July, we were given the gift of opportunity to believe into September. Let's be honest, we were never going to win with this pitching staff, especially with Carp out. Besides, we can look forward to next year and the excitement of (hopefully) starting our season with the youngsters, and not Adam Kennedy, for example (I will never let that go).

I'm going to pull a Cubs line and say "there's always next year". Don't be shocked. I'm not ashamed to use it. Here's why: I believe that with all of my heart because the actual possibility and history are there. We came off a World Series win last year with 83 wins, for crying out loud. I think God has firmly established that every team but the Cubs is allowed to say that will full fledged certainty. And yes, I'm going out in style by insulting the team that handed our butts to us over the last few days. It's just that, geez, we won the World Series last year and they're still trying to break 99 years of agony. And if there's anything I'm looking forward to more than anything else, it's the excitement of possibly being able to chant "100 years! 100 years!" at a Cubs-Cards game next year. Hopefully in Wrigleyville, where they'll feel over-protective of their environment hell hole and over-come with frustration at the truth.

If you still don't feel better, just remember there are people starving in the world and you're still whining about a game. There, you should feel better. And if not? You need to move to Chicago and become a Cubs fan (couldn't help myself).

God bless and good night. I look forward to objectively, ahem, critiquing the remaining teams. Stay on the look out for Rams notes, too. It ain't pretty, but it needs to be done.

And a special Cardinals treat is in store! Their repeat hopes may have been dashed but their charisma in the locker room (hint hint) still lives. By the way, if you're still in love with the Cardinals after this season, consider yourself a true fan. Bravo. If you can't admire the way they attempted to win this (weak) division with all the death, injury and rehab that marred the players, you've got issues that run deeper than baseball.

And of course, GO CARDINALS!