So, why am I worried?
As of this writing, the St. Louis Cardinals have a three-game lead over the Los Angles Dodgers in the race for the final National League playoff spot with only six games left. What could possibly go wrong?
By the way, that’s exactly what I thought when I read about some Republican voter registrations in Florida. What could possibly go wrong? Or, when I heard that the NFL was considering replacement referees during the regular season. What could go wrong? Or when I heard that Todd Akin was going to open his mouth and say something. What could go wrong?
So I repeat: What could possibly go wrong as the Cardinals try to close out the 2012 season?
Well, let me think.
It’s possible the entire St. Louis team could get run over by the tarp while taking batting practice before a game. Or, all Cardinal pitchers could decide it would be fun to pitch underhand for a few innings. Or, someone might replace Matt Holliday’s wooden bats with Wiffle bats. Or, someone could tell Cardinals manager Mike Matheny that Albert Pujols has been playing for the Los Angeles Angels all season.
I guess what I’m saying is that I’m a bit nervous about the Cardinals’ chances right now. I really never got nervous last year when the Cardinals were — I think — 139 games behind in the race for the playoffs. Last year, nobody expected the Cardinals to make the playoffs, let alone win the World Series. Last year, the Cardinals really had nothing to lose, so they didn’t lose. This year, the Cardinals do have something to lose, and that worries me.
Of course, it’s not as if the playoff spot the Cardinals are after is really a grown-up playoff spot. This year, Major League Baseball has added an additional playoff spot for both the American League and the National League. The winner of the final spot will face the winner of the wild-card spot in one game to see which team gets to advance to the real playoffs. If this sounds like a cynical way to stir up fan interest late in the season, it is.
When I first read about the additional playoff spot, I thought it was a terrible idea. I thought it was an affront to the integrity of the game of baseball. I thought it was the worst thing to happen to baseball since the introduction of the designated hitter. Now, of course, I think the additional playoff spot is the best thing to happen to baseball since the invention of the cup.
Without the additional spot, the Cardinals wouldn’t have a chance of making the playoffs. Without the additional spot, I wouldn’t be nervous. Instead I would be sad, and rather than worrying about the Cardinals making the playoffs I would be able to start worrying about the Kansas City Chiefs. But because the Cardinals have a good chance at grabbing the last playoff spot, I have to worry. I have to hope that the Cardinals can find a way not to blow a three-game lead over the Dodgers or a four-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers.
Almost all of the “experts” say the Cardinals are a lock to clinch the last playoff spot. So of course, that worries me. The last thing you want is for the “experts” to say that your team is going to win something, because history tells us the “experts” are seldom right. Whenever a bunch of “experts” all agree that something is going to happen, I automatically bet on the opposite happening.
Well, unless the “experts” all agree that Todd Akin will probably say something dumb again.
I mean there are some things you can count on.
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