A Penguin in the Orchard

National League Central

It’s all over today. My Cardinals clinched the National League Central last night with a big win over the Astros. That they got to clinch it at home is even better.

There’s no other baseball city in America like St. Louis. Yes, they love their Rams and Blues, but the sports passion in St. Louis has always been baseball. They were, after all, the westernmost team in baseball until the Dodgers left Ebbetts Field for Los Angeles. The huge Cardinal fan base is a legacy of that geography. It’s all part of the rich tradition of baseball in St. Louis with 9 World Series championships and 13 pennants. That’s still second only to the Yankees.

We’ll hear more, as the playoffs progress, about Jack Buck and Darryl Kile. I think that’s as it should be. They were both critical to the Cardinals’ success this season. Jack’s history with the Redbirds spanned nearly 50 years. He bridged the history of the team from Stan Musial to Mark McGwire, with so many other greats in between. Jack’s mere presence reminded all of that history and, by extension, reminded new and veteran Cardinal players alike of the responsibility to their fans the Cardinals have always felt.

Darryl was the consummate team player. He was known for taking new pitchers under his wing, for showing them around the bigs and for taking the responsibility to help bring them along. Even when his good buddy Matt Morris became the ace of the staff, Darryl continued to lead in the clubhouse and on the field.

I’m sure both will be credited and well-remembered as the Cards move into the post-season. That actually started last night, with MVP candidate Albert Pujols carrying Kile’s jersey onto the field in the post-game celebration. I’ll have to admit to a lump in my throat.

As well as the Cards have played in the past few weeks (winning 14 of 16), they’re going to have to step it up another notch. They’re likely to see the Diamondbacks in the first round, with Arizona possessing the home field advantage. That’s clearly a tough first round. If the Cards get past Arizona, I have to believe the Braves would be next. Atlanta’s finest have been playing out of their minds this year. Even as a huge Cardinal fan, it’s tough to believe that any team, the Yankees included, have had a better season than the Braves. And they’re coming into their part of the season - the playoffs where, short of the World Series, they’ve ruled the roost for the past ten years.

It’s going to be a tough post-season but, given the tragedies the Cardinals have already endured this season, they’re clearly winners regardless of the outcome.