catch the Brewers.

"Given that we could be seeing Mozeliak running low on payroll, and La Russa running low on time, it's a good idea for the Cardinals to catch the Brewers while they still can."

I appreciate Bernie for recalling the details of our disappointments:

"The Cardinals were contenders in 2007, 2008 and 2010, only to lose form. And that's one of the central questions and issues: why have there been so many late-season fades in recent years?
In 2007 the Cardinals were one game out on Sept. 6, lost nine in a row, and finished seven games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs.
In 2008, the Cardinals were four games out on Sept. 9, lost seven in a row, and finished 11.5 games in back of the Cubs.
In 2010, the Cardinals led the division by one game on Aug. 13. They lost 13 of the next 17 and were pushed into second place by Cincinnati.
One theory is that La Russa's hard-driving style can wear a team out. TLR pushes, which serves his team well during stretches of adversity. The Cardinals' competitive fire is worthy of respect — unless the flame burns out."

But if that were it, why didn't the teams from 2000-2006 fade also?  My recollection is that they did, but that their fades occurred in latest September and October, with the starting pitchers having little or no gas left in the tank.


Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/bernie-miklasz/article_7a21a226-d483-544f-91fb-97be6a3d5fa7.html#ixzz1V27HSHoa