If the story of 2021 St. Louis Cardinals sounds familiar, it’s because you’ve already heard it once before.
It’s the tale of the 2007 Colorado Rockies. At least, that’s how it appears and what fans of the Redbirds are hoping for, minus the World Series result.
“I do not want to be the team that runs into them,” said AT&T SportNet commentator Cory Sullivan of the Cards. “I do not want to be on that team because they are going to be a wrecking ball.”
Should anyone compare St. Louis to that Colorado club who ran off 14 wins in the final 15 games of the regular season before winning another seven consecutive in the postseason, it’s the team’s defensive whiz in centerfield.
“I think when you look at the Cardinals and the 2.8% chance they had on September 7 and the run they’ve gone on, there are a lot of similarities because there’s a different hero every night.”
St. Louis’ success has largely been driven by the individual that comprise the team. Tyler O’Neill slugging 11 home runs. Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado reprising their roles as superstars. More vintage performances by Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina. Last minute rentals of veteran starters like Jon Lester and J.A. Happ providing effective outings. Giovanny Gallegos holding down the ninth-inning with All-Star Alex Reyes struggling.
The 17-game win streak is longest in franchise history and the 11 consecutive road wins to end the season is the first time since the 1887 Philadelphia Phillies, who were actually nicknamed the Quakers at that time. All in all, it’s highly evocative of the team that represent the National League in 2007.
“I’ve actually read some quotes that are incredibly similar where they’re talking about how they come to the ballpark and they just know they’re gonna win,” Sullivan shared about the second Wild Card club. “They expect to win. They don’t know how they’re going to do it and they don’t know who’s going to be the hero and I feel like every guy I was teammate with in ’07 said those exact words.”
Each game was an opportunity for a new protagonist to emerge and serve the greater story. Sullivan and Ryan Spilborghs pairing up to replace the contributions of injured centerfielder Wily Taveras. Rookie Manny Corpas doing the same for an ineffective Brian Fuentes. Todd Helton’s improbable walk-off home run against lockdown closer Takashi Saito. Josh Fogg going into Dodger Stadium to shutout L.A. before that gutsy performance against the Padres. And Jamey Carroll’s sacrifice fly to score a diving Matt Holliday to win Game 163, the precursor to what would eventually become the Wild Card Game.
Of course, the Cardinals will have to play the NL Wild Card Game away from Busch Stadium and in the unfriendly domicile of either the Dodgers or Giants, whichever 100-plus win club that doesn’t secure the divisional crown in the NL West.
“Momentum is just as important entering the playoffs as having three great starters,” Sully offered. “Right now the Cardinals are at the tip top of that. I don’t care if they played the best teams in baseball right now they’re gonna run right through them.”
Spoken like a man with personal knowledge of the situation.
