The Grass Is Always Greener On The Other Side: Busch Stadium

(Pic: Wikimedia Commons)

They say the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

The saying is obviously not meant to be taken literally. It’s about envy. It’s a statement that paints a picture of human perception. We want what we don’t have. Everyone is guilty of having those thoughts at some point.

You’ll find very few things in life that will immune you from such feelings. Those are the things you cherish the most. Like your children, your significant other, friendships, etc… Things you wouldn’t trade for the world.

When it comes to baseball and the love of the game, the St. Louis Cardinals, if you’re a fan of them, are one of those few things that offers immunity from envy. Folks, this is Baseball Heaven. This IS the other side of the fence. The rainbow really does end some place, it’s at Busch Stadium.

I’m not being cocky. I’m being thankful.

The Cardinals are one of  St. Louis’ most prized possessions. Baseball is huge in american culture and the Cardinals have helped to shape that culture almost every step of the way. The team has gifted this city and their fans with some of the greatest moments in baseball history and some of the best players the game will ever know.

Recently, people have tried to tarnish the Cardinals’ good name by associating them with cheating. As it stands now, a low-level employee “hacked” a Houston Astros’ computer data base. The system held information of little importance to the Cardinals.

The motivation behind the “hack” seemed to be about a disgruntled employee who was acting on his own, instead of anything linking the Cardinals to cheating. That employee is no longer with the Cardinals. We must wait to see if any further details develop. The investigation is still going. I’ll admit… It hurts. It’s not the accusations that hurt. It’s the fact that any person that’s associated with the Cardinals could make such a costly mistake. 

The Cardinals have always demonstrated nothing but class and the utmost respect for the community of baseball. Any team could have a low-level employee make a stupid decision. It’s the actions the organization takes after the facts have been brought to the table that should define the ball club.

Jeff Luhnow, GM of the Astros, has even stated the Cardinals did not “cheat”. The fact that some folks around the country still scream “Cheaters!” only demonstrates their envy. They want so badly to take the Cardinals down a notch. For them, they will hang on to anything that makes them able to feel better about their team, compared to the Cardinals.

Every time the power rankings come out, some goofball writes up an article discrediting the Cardinals. One recently even explained all the success the Cardinals have is just luck. I’m laughing now even as I write this. They’re right… They figured it out. The Cardinals owe all their success to rabbit’s feet and Four-leaf Clovers.

Yes, the offense hasn’t been as successful as you would like to see, but having great pitching is far from lucky. It’s not like the Birds went out and bought their whole rotation, either. They have a great scouting department and a superior development system.

There are multiple things that contribute to the success of the Cardinals. Granted, some of it maybe hard to explain. There is no give in the team. Just when you think you have them beaten, they will crush your dreams. They don’t call them the “Cardiac Cardinals” for no reason. They have great fan support. The fans feed off of the Cardinals, and the Cardinals feed off of the fans.

As long as the Cardinals are ahead of the competition, as long as they keep finding ways to be one of the best teams in baseball, people will envy that. With that envy will come attacks on the team and their fans. It’s human nature.

So the next time you see or hear someone bashing the St. Louis Cardinals, don’t get upset. Don’t return the attack. Just be thankful and know that their hostility or nonsense is actually envy.

You stand on greener grass.