2019 for the St. Louis Cardinals was really good. Then it was really bad. Then really good. Then really bad. Then really, really good. Then really bad, then good, then bad, then really, really, really good, then really, really, really, reaallllyy bad.
Because the ending was so demoralizing, but maybe not so much considering how far we made it, this season is a hard one to digest. I want to feel angry, but I also want to be appreciative. My emotions are all over the place.
So here’s a poem to try to sum up the season.
A long, cold off-season had our favorite team looking sharper.
Though Mo gifted us Goldy…we pleaded for Harper.
Extensions were dealt like insults from a bully
“Age doesn’t matter”, Mo said, we believe in you fully.
‘Twas the year Alex Reyes was supposed to make an impact
But like the guy from Operation, his body failed to stay in tact
We signed up for another year of good ole number fifty
Our nostalgia was high but our confidence was drifty
At last, Spring Training began to conclude
All the negative thoughts and possibilities we tried to allude
Opening Day in St. Louis was coming up fast
A day to dream about our future, and celebrate our past
April came and went in the blink of an eye
Sitting at the top of the division, our confidence flew high
But like a ‘68 Chevy that shines then breaks down
Our record collapsed…and chaos ensued in our faithful ole town
We scratched and we clawed through months cold and hot
We had a visit with an old-friend who made us smile a lot
Yes for the first time in eight years, Albert paid a visit to Cardinal nation
And as he deserved, every fan in attendance gave him an ovation
Still, the battle for the Central crown was loud and intense
Instead of pulling away, our Birds decided to build the suspense
All season long our beloved Matt Carpenter forgot how to hit
Our saving grace, Tommy Edman, noticed there was a spark that needed to be lit
We had a twenty-three year old pitcher do, well…. a pretty good job
He did things that haven’t been done by a Cardinal since some guy named Bob.
Jack Flaherty in the second half was like something from outer space
If 2019 taught us nothing else, at least it taught us that we have a true ace
We marched into Wrigley and put on a show
Those 2nd-highest-payroll-having Cubs were left with their stupid heads hung low
We built a lead in the division and had all but cemented our place at the top
Then for some reason, we decided this winning thing needed to stop
Things got close and our lead almost slipped
But we regathered ourselves before our pride and lead were stripped
The stupid Cubs tried once more to spoil our fun
Long story short, we turned to Mr. Flaherty and the Central was won
Playoff baseball was back in the Gateway City
October was here and it was time to get giddy
In Atlanta they thought we would fear their stupid chop
They gave us a good run, but in the end the champagne bottles were ours to pop
Before we turned in a four-game disaster,
Shildt gave a speech for which he’ll likely hear from his pastor
For the first time in five years, we made it to October’s second round
The Nats then very abruptly buried us into the ground…
In a time like this, it’s easy to get down
The NLCS was a circus and the Cardinals were the clown
It is tough to sugarcoat these last four games
The Nats whooped our butts… and honestly probably don’t even remember our names
Though it’s time to put things in perspective and digest our feelings
Because I guarantee this team made it past most of your predetermined ceilings
I for one did not think this team would make it this far
I had some expectations but they definitely rose the bar
I know what you’re thinking and yes you’re right
It would have been nice for us to at least put up a fight
I also had a lot of steam built up but I’ve since let it vent
Going to the NLCS is better than going wherever the Cubs went
So next time you have a glass in your hand, raise it to this team
Because they brought you more joy than it may currently seem
We all love the Cardinals and we all love baseball
And we’re all going to miss it at the end of this fall
There will be a lot of question marks heading into next year
There will be a lot of excuses from Mo that we’re going to hear
But for now I will sleep in peace and I recommend you do the same
Because at the end of the day, I still love this beautiful game
Thank you, Cardinals for another season of memories. Thank you for bringing playoff baseball back to my favorite city, and thank you for making me smile. I tip my hat to this 2019 squad. They were incredibly frustrating at times, but there’s nothing I would rather have frustrate me than St. Louis Cardinals baseball.
Thanks for reading, and as always, go Cardinals.
