As a lifelong, diehard fan of the Cincinnati Reds, the St. Louis Cardinals are to me as the “top 1%” are to the “Occupy Wall Street,” movement. Cardinals fans have everything I’ve ever dreamed of: a consistent winner, a sold-out stadium, an icon & future Hall of Fame inductee in their lineup, and most importantly – recent World Series Championships. Adding to my indescribable angst for the franchise in St. Louis are the actions of their players and manager. If you’ve followed the Cardinals to any extent over the Tony La Russa era, you are well aware of the reputation they’ve created for themselves, as a team that complains and makes excuses.
Nonetheless, I found myself rooting for the Cardinals as they mounted their improbable comeback last night. Despite all the pain they have caused me over the years, despite the complaints and excuses, it was impossible for me to ignore the overwhelming feeling of respect I have developed for their resiliency and heart.
I touched on this idea earlier on the FanSided Reds’ site, Blog Red Machine. I remembered back to an interview I did with St. Louis Post-Dispatch writer Bernie Miklasz earlier this year. The interview took place well before the All Star break, yet Miklasz had already identified something that made the 2011 Cardinals special.
To open to the interview, I asked Bernie:
"The Cardinals have fought through what seems like a never ending string of injuries, managing to stay in or around 1st place all year. How have they been able to match (or even outplay) the Brewers and Reds, with all the injuries?"
Considering the events that transpired last night, his answer provides great insight to the mentality of the St. Louis Cardinals…
Miklasz:
"Mental toughness is impossible to quantify, and some would undoubtedly scoff at the suggestion that it makes a tangible difference. But the Cardinals have plenty of it. And it does make a difference. I’ve seen this team absorb a bunch of cruel punches all season — it’s been unbelievable — and they don’t stay down for long. They always pick themselves up. They compete like crazy."
Well, anyone who may have “scoffed at the suggestion” that mental toughness makes a difference is probably reconsidering that opinion today. Baseball fans across the nation witnessed this exact quality last night. Mr. Miklasz warned us about this team before the All-Star break.
Bernie continued with this:
"It’s a hard-edged team that doesn’t mope around, feeling sorry for itself. Much of that comes from the manager, Tony La Russa. He’s a polarizing figure, even in St. Louis. He’s so combative and relentless, and it rubs opponents the wrong way. Lance Berkman said it best: he couldn’t stand La Russa when he competed against him as a member of the Astros for all of those years. Berkman said he wanted to punch La Russa. But he also said everyone on the Houston side respected La Russa because his teams would show up, compete, play hard, go after you, always look for an edge and never really back off. And once Berkman became a member of La Russa’s team he came to appreciate the manager’s high standards and personality. And the Cardinals are definitely a reflection of La Russa’s personality – both good and bad. But at times like this — with the team constantly being rocked by injuries and adversity — that’s when TLR is at his best."
Miklasz knew on July 3rd that which many of us learned last night: mental toughness matters, and the 2011 Cardinals “have plenty of it.”
I’ll never be able to enjoy the sight of Tony La Russa gleefully smiling as the Cardinals win a World Series elimination game in walk-off fashion, but I’ve learned to respect a team that displays unbelievable resiliency, even if that team makes me want to “occupy” Cooperstown.
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