There have been some surprises already this season. The Cardinals having the worst winning percentage in the National League Central nearly three weeks in is near the top.
Routinely the class of the division, the Cardinals have stumbled out of the gate. Through Tuesday’s games they sit in the basement of the division at 7-11, a half game back of the 7-10 Reds.
We’re still in the small sample size window, where sweeping generalizations of teams probably shouldn’t be made. Thus, writing off the Cardinals right now is premature. Their track record, coupled with the current collection of talent, both young and old, should offer hope that a finish at or near the top of the Central remains very much in reach.
That means the Cardinals have to keep perspective and play the long game. There’s a lot of time for things to change.
“One thing I want to just communicate is our group is extremely optimistic as to what we’re going to do this year,” Cardinals manager Oli Marmol said Wednesday in his weekly appearance on Total Information AM. “The clubhouse is feeling good about it. Obviously everybody is frustrated, don’t get me wrong, this is a competitive bunch, both the staff and the players, and we want to win every game.
“But when you look at it being early, and what this team is capable of doing, we feel really good about our lineup, I do feel like our rotation will settle in and they’ve done a better job of that. And our bullpen, we have some pieces that are really good.
“This will turn around. No one is more frustrated than us in this clubhouse, but at the same time when you look at collectively our group, our preparation and how they’re going about it, we’re looking forward to what’s ahead.”
That echoes Marmol’s sentiments throughout this stretch: The results haven’t been there yet, but they’re confident in what will happen if they stay the course.
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