How Long Can You Hold Your Breath?

Good morning, Viva El Birdos!

That is a type of days the place I’ve time to jot down one thing for my Saturday submit however I’m combating what to jot down.

There are a number of issues I’m concerned with. Sem Robberse’s season in AAA. Some actual scouting on Tink Therefore. Digging deeper into the rotation, which feels prefer it could be heading in a daunting course. Alec Burleson.

These are all Wednesday matters. Analysis matters. Multi-day, multi-hour commitments.

I don’t have that sort of time immediately. I’ve a couple of moments earlier than heading to lunch. Tomorrow, I’ve to assist host a convention up in St. Louis; there’s some prep work I’ve to do for that quickly. I’ve conferences this afternoon. I’m busy however not busy sufficient to flake out and offer you all an open thread. I simply can’t offer you a lot by way of actual content material.

So, what do I write about?

Perhaps essentially the most attention-grabbing factor I may give you is a rundown of my present perspective towards the Cardinals.

They only received two of three on the street in opposition to the Angels. The Angels are fairly horrible, in order that’s not a really spectacular feat. Besides, for this Cardinals workforce, it sort of was. After a prolonged stretch of stumbling and bumbling, it feels noteworthy that this workforce went out to LA, received their offense going somewhat, and received a couple of video games.

Whereas there, we received to see the Cardinals play the sort of video games that we anticipated from all of them season. Coming into the season, most of us had fairly robust belief within the offense. This workforce ought to hit. It nonetheless ought to hit. We had some authentic questions concerning the rotation. This workforce was, by design, oriented round getting innings from the rotation however not rather more. Put it collectively, and all of us imagined a fair proportion of 10-5 or 7-6 wins from the 2024 Cardinals. And quite a lot of 7-2 losses. That’s what we noticed.

The Angels sequence was not spectacular nevertheless it was regular. Regular, for this workforce, is a welcome change! “As anticipated” can be refreshing contemplating how unusual issues have been up to now. And it might make a distinction going ahead.

Regular 2024 Cardinals baseball for the following 4 and a half months could be sufficient to assist this membership climb again to .500. I’m nonetheless not keen to speak playoffs, but when the workforce is at .500 by, say, the All-Star break, there’s at all times some hope that one thing surprising and good might occur late within the season.

Plus, there’s the commerce deadline. This workforce has some unspent low season capital and will make an acquisition or two to push .500 right into a Wild Card look. They only must get there first and that’s not straightforward process.

Perhaps you may really feel what I imply about my present perspective towards the Cardinals.

Are the Cardinals good?

Are they unhealthy?

Are they neither?

Am I excited to observe? Ought to I simply surrender?

Proper now, I’m simply holding my breath. I’m ready to see which method this falls. As a result of the following few weeks may determine this workforce’s future and the Angels sequence has me extra optimistic than I’ve been.

It’s silly, I do know. Profitable two of three video games in fairly ugly vogue in opposition to one of many worst groups in baseball shouldn’t encourage any confidence. But it surely has.

Why? The reply ought to be apparent, shouldn’t it?

I would like the Cardinals to win. I need to write about how good they’re. I need to discuss the excellent news. I need to watch a workforce that wins. I need to make the playoffs. I need to discover success within the playoffs.

And although I haven’t predicted any of these issues to occur with this roster, I nonetheless need it. I’ll nonetheless take it. I could be real looking and considerably subjective. And I can at all times hope I’m flawed.

Baseball is meant to be enjoyable. It’s not presupposed to be painful. When even a glimmer of enjoyable is on the market, I’ll attain out for it.

So, I’m holding my breath. Afraid to get overly crucial. Afraid to get overly optimistic. Ready for the Cardinals to make it clear which method this factor goes to go.

And we should always discover out fairly quickly.

Let’s speak schedule.

The Cardinals have already performed one sport since I began scripting this. Friday evening in opposition to the Purple Sox. They both received or misplaced. You all, me too, are both waking up with somewhat bit extra optimism or somewhat bit extra pessimism.

Both method, there are nonetheless two video games remaining on this sequence. Two extra video games that may be wins or losses. They want the wins.

After the Sox, the NL East theme continues with the Baltimore Orioles. Their birds are significantly better than our birds. The Orioles are 27-14 and enjoying good baseball. Not less than the Cardinals get them at house.

Then the Cubs are available in for a significant three-game set earlier than the membership leaves city once more on a difficult street journey.

That makes this homestand crucial. 9 house video games. 3 in opposition to a division foe. 3 in opposition to one of many higher groups within the sport. 3 in opposition to a .500 membership.

If the Cardinals someway handle to go 6-3 through the homestand – that’s taking two sequence and shedding the opposite – the Cardinals can be 24-28 heading into a protracted street journey in opposition to the Reds, Phillies, and Houston.

That’s nonetheless not nice. That’s nonetheless fairly unhealthy. However it’s higher. There’s no fast turnaround right here, however every week of fine baseball would put them able to extra manageably climb again towards expectations. The Cardinals would solely must play 4 video games over .500 for his or her subsequent 44 video games to be at .500 on the All-Star break.

That’s doable. 24-20 is only a .545 profitable proportion. Hardly distinctive.

But it surely begins with profitable at house. And it most likely wants to start out now or the trail will solely get tougher for them.

So, I maintain my breath. How lengthy can I do it? Not for much longer!

The 2024 Cardinals can’t save their season over the following few weeks. They might tank it fully, although. Let’s hope it’s the previous.

Glad Saturday, Viva El Birdos. Go Cardinals.