Wednesday night provided the latest sign the Cardinals might be up to something special.
They lost their cleanup hitter to the 10-day disabled list, and they didn't miss a step. They completed a three-game road sweep of the Dodgers, thanks to a stellar show of pitching by three rookies (Jack Flaherty, Dakota Hudson and Jordan Hicks) and late home runs by two young hitters (rookie Tyler O'Neill and second-year shortstop Paul DeJong). And by reading and hearing the quotes coming out of the victorious visitors clubhouse, you get the sense they were surprised by none of this. The Cardinals beat the Dodgers, the team that was supposed to become a World Series lock after acquiring Manny Machado, by a combined score of 13-6 over three games. Then they pretty much shrugged. It's become expected.
This team is confident, perhaps a little cocky even, but where is the harm in that?
The Cardinals have plugged into the youthful energy and swagger that arrived with the Class AAA additions like Harrison Bader and Flaherty and Hudson and others. Remember: These players helped the Memphis Redbirds make minor league history with the amount of games they won the past two seasons. They expect to win every time they take the field. They ooze confidence. If that bothers opponents, even better! You are going to have to convince them this is a different game in the big leagues. Not many teams have been able to do that as of late.
And the veterans? They're inspired instead of threatened. Matt Carpenter,Ìý°´Ç±ô³Ù±ð²ÔÌýWong,ÌýJedd Gyorko and others have embraced the youthful wave. All boats are rising. There is no better test case for which way this team is trending than catcher Yadier Molina. He's in postseason, World Baseball Classic mode right now. He knows.
The Cardinals are, without a doubt, the National League's hottest team since the All-Star break.
They lead the NL in second-half wins (23) and winning percentage (.676). No other team has won more than the Braves' 19 games. No other team has won at a rate higher than the Diamondbacks' and Rockies' .600. (That's why Cardinals-Rockies in Colorado is going to be must-watch baseball.)
Cardinals pitchers lead the NL in second-half ERA (3.18) and rank third in opponent average (.232).
Cardinals hitters lead the NL or are tied for the lead in second-half hits (310), extra-base hits (112) and home runs (47). They rank second in walks (119) and plate appearances per strikeout (5.33). Their OPS of .784 checks in third. Their average of 4.97 runs per game ranks fourth.
Cardinals defenders, highlighted by what is becoming a nightly jaw-dropping play from Gold-Glove-worthy second baseman Wong, are rewarding stellar pitching by holding opponents to an average of 3.44 runs per game, best in the NL since the break.
Since they returned from the All-Star break, the Cardinals are 23-11 while outscoring opponents 169-117.
This month, they are 17-4 while outscoring opponents 106-56.
Lately, the conversation in St. ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëùµ¼º½ÍøÖ· has revolved around if interim manager Mike Shildt, who took over one game before the All-Star break, has shown enough to lose the interim tag for 2019. Those trying to minimize or dismiss the Shildt Effect are arguing against some pretty convincing stats at this point. But hey, maybe there should be more discussion about what can happen in 2018.
If the Cubs, who are 17-15 since the break, were not looking over their shoulder, wondering about the state of their 2.5 game division lead, they should be now.
Tyler O'Neill is congratulated by Cardinals teammates after tying Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers with an eighth-inning homer. (AP Photo)