can the Cardinals make the playoffs or are they toast?

[Blackout]

i want Carlos Beltran and David Freese to make it to the playoffs

[Bothrops Atrox]

Considering that they are only 2.5 games out, you can't say they are "toast." They only have to pass up either the Pirates or the East winner. And considering that they have the best run differential in baseball, they have been very unlucky so far - so I think their record will improve quite a bit. The lineup is absolutely stacked, the starting staff is solid and deep and the bullpen has been lights out for a month.

[Rich the Giants fan]

2 1/2 games out of a chance to play a one-game playoff.

[Bulldog19]

I think it's kind of funny how much complaining there has been with this Cardinals team. And I've been known to complain about them too. People talk about how bad of a season they are having and here they are in contention still in August. Will they do anything with it? Who knows.. but I think it just goes to show the players go out there and compete day in and day out and if you ask them, they are never out of it.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Considering that they are only 2.5 games out, you can't say they are "toast." They only have to pass up either the Pirates or the East winner. And considering that they have the best run differential in baseball, they have been very unlucky so far - so I think their record will improve quite a bit. The lineup is absolutely stacked, the starting staff is solid and deep and the bullpen has been lights out for a month.

Do they have a poor record in 1-run games?

[Bulldog19]

Do they have a poor record in 1-run games?

Yes. It's awful. But they mentioned the other night on the broadcast that in a lot of those games, they were actually down several runs and made comebacks that came up short by 1-2 runs at the end of the night. I don't know off the top of my head, but in games with run differential of >2 runs they are way over .500 but with it being <1 run difference they are awful..

[Rich the Giants fan]

Do they have a poor record in 1-run games?

They are 12-18.

[KevinWI]

Last year, it looked like the Braves had the WC locked up and the Cardinals were out of it and they came back and made the post-season and won the whole thing. So, I'm not counting them out yet. Granted, they had Pujols last year, but still.

As much as I would love the Pirates see to make the postseason, they have a lot of young guys who don't have experience playing games that matter late in the season (aside from the vets like Barajas and Burnett) and the Cardinals do.

[ian2813]

They not only can, they will. Mark my words.

[chicagowhitesox1173]

Yeah I have a hard time counting the Cardinals out in any year of late. I like Pittsburgh but i'm not sure if they can keep this up. The stretch run probably will be tough for the Pirates and the Cardinals have alot of playoff tension experiance to make it through the long haul. I think the Cardinals will win that division.

I'm still shocked at last year what the Cardinals did and this year seems like a cakewalk compared to what they went through last year.

[BeatEmBucs]

If they're within 5 games by Labor day...watch out! They made a great run in September last year, and showed incredible resilience in winning the title. While I would like to think the Bucs learned their lesson after last years fallapart, I see the Cards in the rear-view mirror and I'm concerned. Gonna be a big 3-game series at Busch August 17-19. The Cards are far from toast...at least for now.

[Rich the Giants fan]

The Cards will be heard from. They are a dangerous team.

[Bothrops Atrox]

Do they have a poor record in 1-run games?

Very poor in 2 run games too. Plus something like 7-13 in innings too.

[Mr. Lasorda]

With an offense like that, they definitely have a chance to make the playoffs.

Imagine this team if they weren't so injury riddled...

[Honus Wagner Rules]

The Cards have a +116 run differential but are just 11 games over .500? That is so weird. Their Pythagorean expected record is 67-42. Their actual record is 60-49.