By Bernie Miklasz, St. Louis Post-Dispatch –
ST. LOUIS — The Cardinals flew to Atlanta late Wednesday night in preparation for their entry into the 2012 National League playoffs. Well, we’re pretty sure it’s the playoffs. Or is it the playoff? Will there be a logo, and bunting? (Don’t get excited, Mike Matheny. Not THAT kind of bunting.)
Since this isn’t an NL Division Series or NL Championship Series, will a true Atlanta baseball dignitary throw out the ceremonial first pitch, or does the honor go to Terry Forster?
After a long regular season that set a franchise record for medical costs, the Cardinals finally made it to the wild-card game, the play-in game, the game that has baseball purists more irritated than Lance Berkman’s knees.
Whatever you want to call Friday’s bake-off, I believe these three things to be true: (1) the Cardinals are happy to be a part of it; (2) the Cardinals deserve it; (3) the Cardinals have no reason to apologize for accepting the invitation.
If you don’t like the advent of the second wild-card team and the expanded playoffs, then buy NHL season tickets or send an angry email to baseball commissioner Bud Selig. There’s no logical reason to disparage the Cardinals for taking advantage of MLB’s generous open-door policy.
Five teams from each league will get a chance to take their best shot. The Cardinals and Braves get only one shot; the loser goes home. This is the new postseason format. The Cardinals didn’t devise the new rules, but they will abide by them.
The playoff-entry visa was available to all the other NL teams, and the Dodgers, Brewers, Pirates, Phillies and Diamondbacks didn’t grind out enough wins to claim it.
The Cardinals survived, in large part, because they were tougher and more resilient than the rest, and got in by winning 12 of their final 16 games. It’s no coincidence. Making the playoffs isn’t a perk for Cardinals; it’s an obligation.
“Absolutely,” said Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter, the ace of the 2006 and 2011 World Series champions. “This organization has had a long run of exciting baseball, good baseball, and teams that always have a chance to play in the postseason. It doesn’t always work out, but for the most part we get a chance to play October baseball.
“That’s what this game is all about, and you have to uphold that. It’s expected by this organization, it’s expected by this ballclub, and it’s is expected by the fans. And you can’t want it any other way.”
Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. and partners purchased the team before the 1996 season. This is the 17th season of the DeWitt era, and the Cardinals have reached the postseason 10 times. That includes nine postseasons in the last 13 years.
Since 1996, only the New York Yankees have won more postseason games (94) than the Cardinals (50.) The Cardinals have added three NL pennants and two World Series trophies to their esteemed collection of baseball heirlooms.
The 2012 Cardinals aren’t stragglers or Ne’er-do-wells. In defeating the Reds 1-0 Wednesday, the Cardinals finished 88-74, a winning percentage of .543.
It’s difficult to repeat as champion, and in St. Louis we’ve seen a few defending champs stumble.
I took a look at how the last nine Cardinal teams fared the year after the franchise won the NL pennant or World Series.
The post-title aftermath included five losing records: 1965, 1983, 1986, 1988 and 2007. The 1968 and 2005 Cardinals had great seasons, and the 1969 Cardinals (87-75) were more than solid.
Of the last nine STL teams that walked in the footsteps of a pennant-winner, the 2012 Cardinals finished with the third-best record.
This is a proud and good team that overcame unusual circumstances and an extensive list of injuries and setbacks to make it to Atlanta for the wild-card special. And I admire them for it.
Take a look at this file:
Future Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa retired.
Matheny was hired as the new manager. He’d never managed at the professional level, or coached at the big-league level.
Albert Pujols left as a free agent. Enough said.
Pitching coach Dave Duncan unofficially retired.
Berkman, who had 31 homers and 94 RBIs a year ago, was limited to 81 at-bats in a season ruined by knee problems.
Chris Carpenter (shoulder) made only three regular-season starts. Starting pitcher Jaime Garcia (shoulder) was gone for two-plus months. Reliever Kyle McClellan (elbow) last pitched on May 17. Starter Jake Westbrook (oblique) is on the DL now.
A prolific run producer, Allen Craig, had two stays on the disabled list, as did second baseman Skip Schumaker. Starting center fielder Jon Jay (shoulder) missed five weeks. Matt Carpenter missed three weeks in May-June.
Starting shortstop Rafael Furcal (elbow) was lost for the remainder of the season on Aug. 30.
Carlos Beltran had 20 homers and 65 RBIs before the All-Star break and slumped after the break.
Rookies made around 800 plate appearances and pitched nearly 200 innings.
I’m sure I forgot to include a few things on this list.
The Cardinals never forgot who they were. They never forgot that they represent a standard of excellence, and have a responsibility to honor the tradition of a crown-jewel franchise.
“It shows the character of the guys that are in this clubhouse that played and competed when we had so many injuries and things going wrong,” Carpenter said. “You kept grinding, you kept doing what you had to do. And we’re here. Now we have an opportunity to push it to the next level.”
I asked Carpenter if the Cardinals planned to apologize for being the No. 2 wild card.
And how did Carpenter react?
I’ll put it this way: my new name is Nyjer Morgan.