Last week, I wrote a piece saying that after losing three consecutive series, the Cardinals had shown us exactly what kind of team they are. And what do they do after that? They go 4-2 in their next homestand, beating the Phillies and Astros two out of three and getting back to the .500 mark.
The Cardinals entered their four-game series against the Mets with a 9-9 record and a little momentum. This series against the Mets represents a test, then they get a little bit of a break with the struggling Braves before returning home for a series against the Brewers.
I think this Mets series is very important because New York leads the NL East, and the Cardinals need to be able to beat good teams. They also were 1-5 in their first road trip of the year, so they also need to prove that they can win on the road.
But I won’t harp on that too much here. While I’m still not sure the Cardinals are a true contender, there is one thing I’ve noticed that I think a lot of fans are catching on to as well. This team is actually fun to watch.
While their record isn’t anything special at the moment, I couldn’t help but notice that team is one that inspires some hope. Let me explain.
In 2023, the Cardinals went 71-91. Even 2007 wasn’t that bad, and it was clear that team had no fight whatsoever. It’s part of why they finished in last place and recorded their first losing season since 2007’s 78-84 finish. That team was no fun to watch. Even the most optimistic Cardinals fans can agree.
Last year was better. They went 83-79 and finished in second in the NL Central. However, the offense was so bad that when they got down early, it felt like the game was over. The 2023 struggles even reared their ugly head again, and they were nine games under .500 in May. But even the Mother’s Day surge, they briefly dipped back below .500 multiple times, and while they finished four games over, their run differential suggested that they should have finished 10 games under at 76-86. Not good.
However, this year, as strange as it sounds, feels a bit different. A lot of it has to do with the offense. Last year, the offense was non-existent. But this year, it’s clicking. The Cardinals have managed to beat some of the best pitchers in baseball, including Pablo Lopez, Paul Skenes, Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler and Framber Valdez.
We can talk all day about the difference the hiring of Brant Brown has made. But more than anything, even when the Cardinals get down early, you don’t get the sense that the game is already over. Better yet, even on days when they don’t score a lot of runs, they can get timely hits that put them in position to win.
On Wednesday, I was a little worried when Ronel Blanco had kept them scoreless up until the fifth inning. But what happened next? Nothing special. Victor Scott II just started a rally with a perfectly placed bunt and Lars Nootbaar hit a go-ahead homer that proved to be the difference in the game.
This year, I also get the sense that this team has a lot of fight and passion. The infusion of young talent has energized this club. They have the right amount of veteran leaders, but the young guys are taking over. They’re taking advantage of the opportunities that they’ve been given and they’re running with those opportunities.
That lit a fire under this team, especially the young players. These guys know that not much is expected of them, but that might be for the best. They’ve taken on this mentality of wanting to prove the doubters wrong, and they’re having fun with it. More importantly, when I see this club, I see a bunch of guys that are having fun playing baseball. They enjoy each other’s company and want to win for each other.
I’ve had my issues with Oli Marmol and how he runs this club in the past, but you can even tell that he’s having fun managing this club. Everybody just seems inspired. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t issues bagging the team down a bit, but everybody’s playing for each other. All throughout the organization, guys have good attitudes.
If there’s one thing I worry about, it’s the pitching staff, but after the Cardinals were swept in Boston, the staff has really doubled down. Even though Matthew Liberatore gave up five runs in Pittsburgh, he gave them length and kept them in the game. Sonny Gray is pitching like his old self, Erick Fedde has bounced back nicely from a bad start at Fenway, Andre Pallante picked up right where he left off last year, and Miles Mikolas was better in his last start.
On top of that, Liberatore delivered a dominant start against the Phillies, and Steven Matz looks healthy and effective serving as both a starter and a reliever.
I could go on for hours here, but you guys get the picture. This may not be very good team, but are they fun to watch or what? They don’t give up, they make things interesting, and they find ways to get the job done as opposed to 2023 and 2024, when they essentially were finding ways to lose.
Like I said, I’m skeptical about this team making the playoffs. But regardless of how they finish 2025, they’re showing that they have the passion and the fight to withstand a 162-game season. They’ll battle until the last out is made, and they’ll generate some excitement from the fanbase.
I know attendance is down, and I know that a lot of fans aren’t pleased right now. But unlike the last two years, there is something to be excited about. There’s a brighter future awaiting the Cardinals in the next few years.