The Cardinals sport the best record in baseball and will be playing games in October because, you know, that’s what they do.
Meanwhile, 29 other teams are in fights of varying winability for postseason positions. Unfortunately, not everyone can make the tournament. Some franchises are worse than others when it comes to competing for championships.
To wit…
The following teams have the longest post-season droughts:
- Toronto Blue Jays (1993 last appearance)
- Seattle Mariners (2001)
- Miami Marlins (2003)
The Astros, Padres, Mets, White Sox, Cubs and Rockies – even with the expanded playoff format – have not been in a playoff game since before the turn of the decade.
So when Cardinals Nation pisses and moans on Twitter, it’s met with a collective SHAAAAD UPPP! from many, many parts of MLB fandom.
And lately, two men have been the subject of the vast majority of vitriol – Arnoldi Cruz and Peter Kozma.
Mr. Cruz:
https://twitter.com/Silent_Bob_66/status/627459088398462976
Tony Cruz can't hit. Can't field well. Can't run fast. He's pretty much a waste #DFACruz #STLCards
— Anthony 🇺🇸💯💙 (@TheAntho815) August 2, 2015
Tony Cruz is completely useless
— Nick (@FWBluesFan) August 2, 2015
Mr. Kozma:
https://twitter.com/MattSebek/status/623276979106807808
Pete Kozma is the most hated player by the fans since Pete Kozma
— John Nagel (@CardinalsFarm) July 30, 2015
Lance Lynn inspires me with more confidence at the plate than Pete Kozma does.
— #dennis (@gr33nazn) July 28, 2015
Mind you, this is the backup catcher and the 25th man on the roster – if either guy figures prominently into a postseason game, something has gone way off the rails for the Cardinals.
But The Nation demands perfection. And Mr. Cruz and Mr. Kozma are far from perfect.
Here’s the hard truth, though – both of these guys are going to be around for the rest of the season. The Cardinals don’t have a viable Cruz replacement (at least not one that has proven they can call an MLB game) and Kozma is an day-to-day insurance policy for Jhonny Peralta at shortstop.
It is what it is.
And our tough love isn’t working. It’s been pretty obvious all year. So maybe we should try a different tact?
I propose rousing ovations for both Cruz and Kozma next time they bat at Busch Stadium. An olive branch, if you will.
Letting them know that we’re in their corner and that by suffering through their ’15 seasons with them, we hope this is moment – this cheer – will help to put the terrible times in the past.
Will it work? Who knows. But it’s worth trying something.
Unless you’ve got a better idea.
Photo: Fox Sports
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
