While 91 wins is a great season, losing in the wild card round of the playoffs makes that a secondary achievement. While you know someone has to lose, a team that is as stacked as the Cardinals is a complete surprise when they get swept under the rug. Not taking anything away from the Dodgers, but that was hardly the best effort that the St. Louis Cardinals put out all season.

The Cardinals are a team that is built for success. They have some of the best talent in baseball and match up well against every team that they will play. Being considered the favorite for the division is pretty much automatic; however, the division is not what this team has in mind.

The starting rotation is extremely impressive as any of their top 4 starters would probably be an Ace or number two on any team. How many rotations can claim that they have four pitchers that have won at least 15 games in a single season? While some of these pitchers are crafty veterans, there is also the likes of Wainwright, who is in his prime.

The talent continues into the bullpen where Ryan Franklin takes center stage. This is another product of the Seattle farm system that was once stocked like a brook in the middle of trout season. After struggling as a starter, he found his role in the bullpen and has excelled to what everyone knew he could be.

He is a perfect example of someone needed a change of scenery as the moment that he went to St. Louis, something just started to click for him. The second part of 2008 was incredible and he carried that right into 2009 and put up some of the best numbers in the league. He is still relatively young and the Cardinals can turn the ball over to him in good faith.

If you are talking about offense in St. Louis you have to be talking about Pujols. Here is a ballplayer that has lit up the league from day one and is actually averaging just over 40 home runs for each of his 9 seasons in the majors. He will surely surpass the 400 mark in the second half of this season and there are plenty more to hit after that.

It is not as though St. Louis fans need a reason to get to the ballpark, but they definitely have one. The starting rotation will probably win close to 80 games by themselves and if the bullpen can hold the games close when they get the ball, St. Louis can easily win close to 100 games this season. Get your gear and get your tickets St. Louis fans because October and November baseball is in your future.

Written by Jake Kohler, article sponsored by TicketSeating.com. TicketSeating.com sells St. Louis Cardinals Tickets, MLB Tickets, Sports Tickets and more to your favorite events around the world.

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While most sports fans believed that Mark McGwire used steroids during his playing days, those suspicions were confirmed when the former Cardinals first baseman recently admitted to his illicit use of the performance enhancing drugs.

What may have been more interesting is the fact that McGwire claims to have used these drugs not simply as a means of getting ahead. McGwire says he took steroids because he believed that they would help him heal from injuries more quickly.

This seems very believable when you look at the career path that McGwire followed. Through 1989, his playing time had been seriously hampered due to injury, and many felt that he would otherwise be the best home run hitter in baseball if not for his injury issues.

What followed in the years to come was exactly what one would expect. He was healthier through the majority of the remainder of his career, and his offensive production was exceptional.

No year was more indicative of his steroid use than 1998 was. This is a year that you very likely remember, as he belted 70 home runs for the St. Louis Cardinals, breaking the single season home record previously held by Roger Maris.

It was a matter of a few seasons before people realized that there had to be some means of artificial help creating seasons once thought to be impossible for older players like McGwire, Barry Bonds, and many others. There had to be steroids involved.

Baseball fans almost feel foolish to have believed that everything was done legitimately. After seeing decades in which players struggled to top 50 home runs, 60 and 70 were suddenly being done nearly every year. This couldn’t have been more obvious.

Despite this all, one has to wonder if McGwire should be chided or praised for his recent admissions. While his numbers will certainly hold very little credence, he was a brave man to do what far too players have been willing to do up until now.

Check out more of this writer’s writing about the wood bar stools and wooden step stool.

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The Brewers mainly have nothing remaining to vie for this season, and have currently been reduced to being the ‘spoiler’ franchise.

Thus, why shouldn’t they have some fun when they come up with a chance to emerge victorious in a game as the month of September is upon us?

The St. Louis Cardinals (chiefly boss Tony LaRussa) have never been a fan of Milwaukee’s ‘post-game celebrations following a victory (untucking their uniforms, and the means by which they celebrate).

Well, I can only envision what went through LaRussa’s brain when he saw highlights from the Brewers’ win on Sunday, 9/6 versus San Francisco.

But, furthermore, what was the rest of baseball thinking as well?

In a game where the Brewers had previously executed a rare triple play going 5-four-3, they forced extra innings vs. San Fran.

Then the Brewers finest player, as well as the emperor in Prince Fielder stepped up during the bottom of the twelfth inning to wind up the savior again.

Fielder hit a curving line drive over the right field wall to credit him another lifetime game-winning hit and the brewers a 2-1 victory.

Just as Fielder crossed 1st base, he pulled out his shirt (I wrote an expose during the previous season detailing why they do it), then he pointed to the dugout. After watching the finish effect, you’ll comprehend why he pointed.

An organized dance was getting ready to take place.

Customarily a dance of this type consists of the player running around all four bases, jumping on home plate and next being mobbed by his colleagues. The Brewers added in a small change on Sunday.

Fielder rounded the bases. Fielder jumped on home plate. Just when Fielder landed though, the rest of the franchise (minus coaches and managers) fell over like dominoes, departing “The Prince” standing on house plate with his arms raised to the sky.

These men are paid to play a game, so go out and possess some friendly, like Prince Fielder and the rest of the The brewers Brewers are doing.

If you’re looking for the best sports talks and the best sports sport trivia online, look no further than RootZoo.

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