August 2011
Redbirds Giving Me a GREAT 64th Birthday Present
Today, August 21, 2011, I celebrate my 64th birthday. Earlier today, I commented to my youngest son, Paul, a big Cardinals fan, that the team was not doing a very good job of giving me what I would love to have – a sweep over our longtime rivals, the Chicago Cubs, and a chance to hold our own with the red hot Milwaukee Brewers. However, after being a devoted fan of the Cardinals my entire life, I must admit that the Redbirds actually give me a birthday present EVERY time they take the field! Certainly it is more enjoyable when we win, but the Cardinals are such an important part of my life, indeed, such a big part of my family, that EVERYTHING they do, good and bad, affects my life.
Evidently the Redbirds do realize it is my birthday, though, since they are really hitting well tonight, like the great offensive team they are this season, and much better than they have done in recent games. Albert Pujols and John Jay have both homered once, and, one of my absolutely favorites, Yadier Molina, has homered twice. Whether we win tonight or not, I honestly have no control over, but I do know that win or lose I will receive a great amount of real joy just having the opportunity to watch my favorite team play, and I do my best to watch EVERY time they do…
Title Hopes for 2011
One thing that always exists in the off-season, every year, prior to the start of a new season is HOPE. The 2011 season has been an injury plagued one for my St. Louis Cardinals, beginning with Adam Wainwright, and continuing with Matt Holliday, Albert Pujols, David Freeze, and others. It has also been a season of coming together as a team, continuing even now with the addition of Rafael Furcal, Edwin Jackson, Octavio Dotel, Corey Patterson, and Mark Rzepczynski. Recent sparkling performances by rookie Lance Lynn have definitely bolstered our relief corps, as has the return of Kyle McClellan. Tony continues to mix and match, paying special attention to getting the whole roster involved often enough to keep everyone sharp. Ryan Theriot has shown his appreciation for the value of teamwork by willingly allowing Rafael Furcal to take over the regular shortstop duties while he is willing to be plugged in whenever and wherever needed. Rookie Daniel Descalso has truly sparkled with his remarkable rbi production in the late innings. And, Lance Berkman, has been the greatest find in recent Cardinal history! What have all these events produced? In one word – H-O-P-E. Hope to win the National League Central Division title this season, and maybe more; Hope to be competitive enough to sign Albert long term, and Hope to sustain all True Cardinals fans…
cardsmainman
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