They give no pennants for trying, so let's concede that point right away. But if the last week has been any indication, Cardinals fans have reason for optimism.
The Cardinals are running on so many parallel tracks in their quest to improve the team this winter, you'd need a conductor to keep up with them. They're running in the fast line in hopes of catching the biggest fish of them all, pun intended, and on slower lanes too.
Yes, the Cardinals have already made a trade offer to the Marlins for Giancarlo Stanton, according to industry sources who would know. But that's not the only ball John Mozeliak, the team's president of baseball operations, is juggling this winter.
You can bet your Bob Gibson bobblehead that there is a tremendous sense of urgency at Busch Stadium this winter, and that's the first step toward making this team a legit NL Central contender again.
It remains to be seen whether the Marlins accept the trade or if Stanton would even waive his no-trade clause to play in the nation's baseball capital. Regardless of what happens, Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. and Mozeliak deserve credit for at least chasing the biggest Marlin.
Anybody who has spoken with DeWitt about expensive long-term contracts similar to the $295 million remaining on Stanton's deal or the one the Angels made to lure Albert Pujols out of St. Louis will tell you that DeWitt and Mozeliak know that those types of deals usually don't work out well for teams.
Nonetheless, the Cardinals are one of the few mid-market teams that can afford to absorb the majority of Stanton's remaining contract. DeWitt and Mozeliak would surely disagree with this perception, but it sure does appear as though owning the Cardinals is a license to print money.
Unlike their biggest rivals, the Cardinals have rewarded their loyal fans with consistent winning without going through a massive rebuild. DeWitt abhors the idea of tanking in St. Louis, so Mozeliak has been tasked with trying to maintain a winning product without the benefit picking early in the draft.
When you consistently draft around 19th, it's tremendously more difficult than stocking the system with Top 2 picks, as the defending World Series champion Astros did from 2012 through 2014 while forming the core of their team or with Top 10 picks as the 2016 Cubs did from 2010 through 2015.
Despite 11 World Series titles, including the last two under DeWitt's reign in 2011 and 2006, there is some frustration among Cardinals fans.
Cardinals fans have grown so accustomed to excellence, they are already restless after missing the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2007 and 2008.
Under a system that rewards losing teams with higher draft picks and more draft and international signing bonus cap space, it should be no surprise when teams take a few steps back after a consistent period of winning similar to the one the Cardinals had from their World Series title in 2011 to their 100-win season in 2015 season.
In that span, they reached the NLCS four times and the World Series twice while winning 100 games in the year they failed to reach the NLCS. Those types of seasons aren't rewarded with high draft picks.
Nonetheless, the Cardinals have rebuilt their farm system into one of the strongest in baseball again. Opposing teams are eager to see which St. Louis players aren't placed on the 40-man roster so that they can be picked off in the Rule 5 draft next month.
Looking at the players available, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Cardinals add left-hander Austin Gomber, slugging outfielder Tyler O'Neill, speedy outfielder Oscar Mercado and Venezuelan right-hander Derian Gonzalez to the 40-man roster later today.
It must be noted that it wouldn't be surprising if any of those four are moved in a deal if one is finalized today or, obviously, later this winter.
It will be interesting to see how this winter unfolds, but you can bet the Cardinals will be tremendously stronger when they report to spring training next February.
Mozeliak has made it clear that he's pounding the pavement and ready for business this winter. Whether they land Stanton or not, multiple industry sources note that the Cardinals are fishing in deeper trade waters this winter.
It remains to be seen what happens. Mozeliak understands that fans expect results. They don't care how many calls he makes. They only care about how many players he lands.
Nonetheless, there's reason for optimism. The Cardinals are approaching this winter with a sense of urgency that hasn't been seen or, perhaps, even been necessary in nearly a decade here.
