Yeah, but it's the trend that scares me. 3-7 in last 10. Iirc they faded badly after a decent start last year. STL in recent past has a history of finishing strong. The Reds aren't going anywhere (assuming the Dusty factor doesn't kick in). Hope I am wrong, but it doesn't look good.

The Cards are beating up on Houston again. These are games they have to win to have any shot at catching Cincy. I know it's been said before, but what the hell is Houston going to do in the AL next year? I'm genuinely scared for them.

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. . . and Reds' fans know it. The Cards won again today and continue to strengthen their position in the NL Central -what else is new?

The Reds have to face Cole Hamels in Philly tonight. If Cincinnati loses this game, you know the team will thinking about what the Cards did last year. Not the position a team should be in when the World Champions come in for three tomorrow night.

Let's not forget everyone counted out the Cardinals about this time a year ago. 10 games back...The rest is history.

I wouldn't sweat it too much. You still have Votto in your back pocket.

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You're right, SHARK.

Weren't the Giants in similar position in 2010? I could've sworn they clinched the NL West on the final day of the regular season and went on to win their first World Series title in San Francisco.

I don't remember. . . but I do know that Cardinals have the pitching, the hitting and the experience to easily overtake the Reds and win the Central before the final day of the season.

Cardinal game was amazing last night. Latos was dealing and the wheels went sailing off. To say the Reds and their fans were stunned is an understatement.

After leading the Central this year and standing 16 games over .500, the Pirates are now just eight games over, nine games out of first and fourth in the wild card. I agree --- the trend is not good.

Atlanta has dropped 7 of 10 but are still up in the WC race.

The Cards continue to win and theReds get Votto back this weekend . . . . and possibly Billy Hamilton shortly.

J, are you doing the thing where you say you think your team will choke just to lower expectations in your own mind

like a student saying "oh man, I bombed that test" when they really did well?


Im only asking because I dont think the Cards have the juice to catch the Reds this year


Although run differential disagrees.

There may be some truth to that, but I truly believe the Cardinals have a very good chance to win the Central. They're six games back. If they cut two more off the lead soon, the race is on. Last weekend of the season has Cincinnati in St. Louis for 3.

They're not winning shit if Yadi is out for an extended period of time. He's their MVP.

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If last year hadn't occurred, I might believe you. The Cards can play just better without "their MVP" as the Reds have done the last six and half weeks.

It's still August and the Cards are only 7.5 games behind taking over the outright lead in the Central division. Compared to what happend last year . . . that's nothing.

The Cardinals are just too strong of a team (pitching, hitting, defense, manager) to not be right there on that final weekend of the season.

Here the TBS' Post Season commercial. I wonder if this will run a lot or whether they will be judicious and not over play it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... FUmmYO0Yro

Votto is still on the DL and Cards have activated Berkman.

Cards won last night and have gained another game on the Reds in the Central.

Someone better check on stoneroses.

Baltimore has caught the Yankees for the AL East lead.

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The young Rays are gaining momentum and should catch the old Yanks...be great if the yanks miss the postseason and very possible.

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It's only the third time a team has had a 10+ game lead and then lost sole position of first place.

At present, I have other far more significant issues that greatly concern me and occupy my thoughts.

I am, however, quite enjoying the public humiliation of Bozo Joe and The Satan Elf. My only hope is that this inglorious swan dive, or as I have called it - Death Spiral 2012, will result in the swift termination of Bozo Joe. Perhaps he can set a record for some other team for the amount of relief pitchers used in an inning. Perhaps he can change pitchers after each pitch. If over-managing is a virtue, Bozo Joe makes Mother Theresa look like a Bombay street harlot.

Incidentally, I noticed last night that Wallace Stevens of ESPN New York christened Bozo Joe as "Bizarro Joe." That was my name for him in the 2011 season. It is good to know that Wallace Stevens of ESPN New York reads the Chicago Sports Fan Message Board.

Praise the Risen Christ!

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I hope you are well with whatever is troubling you at the moment. Have a great day.

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That's a big old +1

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2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

Not wanting to be overly confident, but my sense is that the Cardinals are looking more like a team fighting for a wildcard. After what happened last year, I certainly won't go so far as to say that they can't overtake the Reds and win the Central title outright, but time is not on their side.

At this point, the Phillies and Brewers are closer to the Cards in the WC race (4 GB) than the Cards are to the Reds in the Central (10.5 GB)

Phillies and Brewers are only 3 games out of the wild card.

The Cardinals fell to 11.5 GB behind the Reds tonight and, unless they can string a number of wins together, their chances of winning the Central seem to be diminishing.

NSJ, please take a victory lap already...I can appreciate wanting to be cautiously optimistic but this damn thing is in the bag.

BALT wins again. Beating Tampa.

Impressive.

The Orioles & Yankees start the day tied for 1st in the AL East with the Rays 3 games back. The White Sox are only 1 game ahead of the Tigers in the AL Central. Down to the wire? We'll see...

Balt looks very good..and the Dodgers ain't getting in..what an awful move to take on those bad contracts and not even make the post season.

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Yeah, it's not looking too good for the Dodgers right now. With their loss late last night to the Cardinals in Los Angeles, the Dodgers start the night 7 1/2 games behind the Giants in the NL West and the Dodgers are now 2 full games behind St. Louis & Atlanta for the 2 Wildcard spots in the National League. The Braves return home to host the Nationals this weekend.

As for the Orioles, they won again yesterday in 14 over the Rays in Baltimore. The Yankees beat the Red Sox yet again in Boston by a final of 2-0. The Yanks & O's are not only tied for first in the AL East, but they're also tied for the last Wildcard spot in the American League starting play tonight. The O's are in Oakland this weekend to face the A's, while the Yankees host Tampa Bay in the Bronx. Should be very, very interesting.

They are 2 games behind STL for the 2nd wild card.
They are well behind ATL, in fact it's almost a fait accompli that the Braves will be one of the wild cards.

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