It is no secret that the Cardinals are a well run organization. For years the Redbirds have pulled themselves out of ruts and kept themselves in contention. It should have come as no surprise when that tradition happened once again in 2016. The Cubs were the National League darlings coming into this season, and rightfully so. The Pirates were a cheeky pick to go the distance as well. But here we are again in the middle of the MLB calendar, watching St. Louis assert themselves in the NL Central. Left for dead early on, the Cardinals have begun a season resurrection that leaves them in the driver’s seat of the second wild card and within striking distance of the first place Cubs.
This is what the Cardinals do. They are mind-numbingly consistent season in and season out. As a result, there is never a sense of panic when a rough patch hits, or feelings of overconfidence when they inevitably turn things around. The Cardinals went on a similar run in the middle of the first half. They got to seven games over .500 on the back of three consecutive series wins over the Giants, Reds, and Pirates. However, that stretch was followed by an equally unimpressive one that left them hovering just above even heading into the All-Star Break.
The Cardinals were a proverbial MASH unit in the first half. Somehow though, they kept themselves afloat as they always seem to do. Manager Mike Matheny has worked a master class in man management which has allowed his stars ample time to shake off the cobwebs in their heads. Now that work is paying off coming out of the break.
The Cardinals’ starters haven’t missed a single start this season. But they almost wished they would have with the way a couple of them pitched up to now. Carlos Martinez held down the fort while money men ahead of him struggled. Nevertheless, Adam Wainwright once again looks like the perennial Cy Young candidate he is. The right hander has a 0.93 ERA and a 27/5 K/BB ratio in July. All four of his starts have seen him strike out at least five opposing batters. He only had four such games through May. Mike Leake, who signed for 5 years, $80 million in the winter, hasn’t walked a batter in July and is coming off two dominant victories, both with double digit K’s.
But while Wainwright and Leake’s turnarounds have been significantly helpful, the back end of the bullpen’s revamping has helped as well. Trevor Rosenthal’s nearly 2.00 WHIP no longer cut the mustard and he was replaced as closer by Seung Hwan Oh. Oh hasn’t blown a save in July. The move has also allowed other players, such as Tyler Lyons, to get chances in high leverage situations. Having versatility in the pen is crucial for success in the waning months of the MLB season.
St. Louis’ true calling card during this resurrection though has been late game offense. The Cardinals have almost hit as many home runs as they did all of last year, and many of those are coming in big spots. Even through more injuries, the Cardinals continue to snag victory from the jaws of defeat. One of those injuries, that to All-Star Matt Carpenter, has opened the door for their most potent late game slugger. Jedd Gyorko was a homer hitting Ghost of Christmas Past against his former club the Padres. Gyorko hit four home runs and drove in eight in a four game sweep. He also picked up Oh with a game tying home run off LA’s Kenley Jansen Friday night, a game the Cards would win in 16 innings on a Matt Adams blast.
It feels strange to quote one hit wonder Chumbawumba, but their hit “Tubthumping” is a perfect anthem for the 2016 St. Louis Cardinals. They get knocked out. They get up again. You’re never going to keep them down. The Cardinals keep finding ways to fill in the gaps. Those who were creating gaps before are now rounding into form. We were foolish to write them off early on. We all should have known better to write off a club with the extended pedigree of the St. Louis Cardinals.