Dangerous Cardinals not without flaws

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This could have been a transitional year for the St. Louis Cardinals. Perhaps even an acrimonious one, too. It began with failed contract talks between the club and future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols and ended with one of the best comebacks in the wild-card era.

The Cardinals fell 10 games behind the Brewers in the NL Central and 8 behind the Braves in the wild-card race on Sept. 5. However, the Cardinals finished the season with an 18-8 run in September, including three of four in Philadelphia and 16 wins in the last 21 games to swipe the wild-card away from the Braves.

Regardless, many of the issues that bothered the Cardinals during the regular season have not been rectified. Pujols will be a free agent at seasons end, just like his manager, Tony La Russa. In his 33rd season as a big-league manager and his 16th with the Cardinals, La Russa could be on the move at the end of the season, too.

This is La Russas 14th trip to the playoffs and it may have been the most difficult. Before the season even began, La Russa had to manage without ace starter Adam Wainwright, who had Tommy John surgery. To make matters worse, all-star closer Ryan Franklin inexplicably imploded and was no longer able to get hitters out. With his 1-4 record, 8.46 ERA and one save in five chances, the Cardinals released him at the end of June.

Without Franklin, the Cardinals bullpen has been below average in 2011. Its 3.73 ERA was 11th-best in the National League and was near the bottom in opponents slugging percentage thanks to finishing with the third-most home runs allowed. Only Washington had more blown saves than the Cardinals in the major leagues.

As a result, the starters had to pick up the slack. Wainwright was out for the year, but former Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter had his second straight healthy season. The Cards starters were third in innings pitched, but really, the Cards staff is mediocre at best. Behind Carpenter, ex-Phillie Kyle Lohse led the team with 14 wins, while lefty Jaime Garcia and veteran Jake Westbrook also posted double digits in wins.

The Cardinals are led by Pujols and the offense that led the National League in runs, batting average, slugging and on-base percentage. The Cards also struck out the least amount of any team in the big leagues.

But that doesnt mean the team is without its issues, either.

Centerfielder Colby Rasmus, still just 24, seemed ready for a breakout season until he decided St. Louis was a little too demanding a baseball town for him. So he was traded to Toronto. Meanwhile, all-star Matt Holliday has battled an injured hand, while veteran shortstop Rafael Furcal has hamstring issues.

Lance Berkman, on the other hand, had no hang-ups. Instead, the 13-year vet posted 31 homers with a .959 OPS and a .301 batting average. In eight career postseason series, Berkman is a .320 hitter with seven homers. All-star and Gold Glove catcher Yadier Molina, also put together his best offensive season.

Regardless, the Cards still go around Pujols, so there should be no surprise that the teams late-season surge coincided with their best players best month.

Pujols closed September by batting .355. During the four-game series at Citizens Bank Park two weeks ago, Pujols went 7 for 17 with a long home run that might be completing its first orbit by now. He hits particularly well against Roy Oswalt (seven homers and seven doubles in 95 career at-bats), but against Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels, Pujols is a combined 7 for 42 (.167) with two homers (both off Hamels) and four strikeouts. Against closer Ryan Madson, Pujols is 0 for 11.

Of course, regular-season numbers often have little bearing on the postseason and vice versa. Nevertheless, last season the Phillies also faced the best offense in the National League during the NLDS and allowed three earned runs in a three-game sweep.

Thats one stat the Phillies hope holds up.

E-mail John R. Finger at jfinger@comcastsportsnet.com.

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