100 wins? No problem.

I wrote this a long time ago with the intention of posting it on an off day and kept forgetting.  So, here it is now, slightly revamped.  I am mostly posting it (even if it isn’t as applicable now), to hear your opinion about the question at the bottom.

My original point was to show why I thought the Cardinals were more than capable of winning 100 games this year for the 3rd straight year.  This is less than a hard feat to believe now than it was at the beginning of the year, with the Cards already having racked up 29 wins.  With 43 games left to the "halfway point" of All-Star break, all the Redbirds would have to do is play .500 ball (which they are currently playing way over) to win 21 and be at 50 games….halfway to 50.

Still, there are less games after the break than before, so the Cardinals would have to win the 2nd 50 in less games.  I still think this is not only possible, but pretty probable.

I read a lot of articles during Spring Training and even after the season started that declared there would be no way that the Cardinals would win 100 games again this year, as they did in 2005 and 2004.  Fellow blogger and Cardinals beat writer, Matthew Leach says it won’t happen and ESPN predicts it’s not likely.

So, in case already having 29 wins in only 44 games still hasn’t convinced some of you; here is the post I wrote the first week of the season.

Obviously, there are some big differences between this team and those of the past two years.  But, I don’t believe those differences translate into more losses.  So, these are my thoughts on why I believe the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals will be a 100 win club again this season.

In no particular order:

• Starters – A couple of gold glovers and a couple that will be before their career is over.  It’s like watching a highlight reel almos every time the Cardinals take the field.
• Depth – Of course everyone already knows the Cardinals starters are amazing, but what about the bench guys?  The depth of the Cardinals organization continutes to amaze me.  A team without depth will crumble after the All-Star break.  When you have guys like Luna, who can play multiple positions, get on base, hit homers and steal bases and doesn’t get the everyday start…..that says something about the guys who are starting.
• Returning Players- There’s been a lot of talk about the guys who are gone and the restructuring the outfield has gone through.  But, look at it this way.  The Cardinals had 6 All-Stars last year.  And all 6 are back.  6 guys who went through the ups and downs of last season and are ready to lead the new guys to a championship.
• Pujols – Enough said.  The guy ranks in the top 5 among active players in batting average, slugging and on base percentage.  Last year alone, he ranked 1 or 2 in all of those categories, plus runs, hits and total bases among players in the NL.  He hits homers like it’s nothing.  The guy’s a machine.
• Pitching/Rotation – Cards pitchers ranked number 1 in ERA and wins last year among NL teams.  And, while there has been a bullpen revamping, you’re essentially looking at the same starting rotation.  The exception is Ponson instead of Morris and from the stats so far this year, it doesn’t appear to matter.  (But, I still love Matty!)  We came in number 2 in saves, with Izzy bringing in the bulk of those with 39.

Of course the Cardinals have had all of these things before and you could even argue, they had more.  On paper the Cardinals have looked to have all the right pieces.  And, for two years straight they have had the best record in baseball, but the championship has somehow alluded them.

I would forfeit the 100 wins in a heartbeat if I could see a World Series championship brought to St. Louis.  But, I don’t think that’s necessary.  I think that we can easily see the Redbirds pull in another 100 wins and still win the World Series.  And, this is the year it can be done.

I think we finally have right combination of superstar power, determination, drive to win and aggressiveness that it takes to win it all.  But, as they say, "anything can happen in baseball," which is what makes the season so fun to watch.

But, enough of my opinion.  I’d like to hear if you agree or disagree and why.  And, mostly I want to hear what you think is the missing link (even after 100 wins) for the Cardinals to pull in the Championship?  Clearly, they are talented and are more than capable, but they have been both of these things the last two seasons.  What will it take?

Here’s to another 100 wins and the World Series,

Tiffany