RetroSimba

In cooperation with the United Cardinal Bloggers project for December, here are my choices for the top five Cardinals stories of 2010: 

#1. The Road Trip From Hell

The 2010 Cardinals were a disappointment primarily because of the dispirited effort they gave on a 10-game trip to Pittsburgh, Washington and Houston in August.

What should have been a trip that ignited a run to the National League Central Division title instead turned out to be a journey that exposed the Cardinals as unworthy.

The trip defined their season and their character.

When it began Aug. 23, the Cardinals(67-54) were two games behind the first-place Reds (72-52) in the loss column.

Even though the Pirates, Nationals and Astros all had losing records, the Cardinals went 2-8. In that same period, the Reds were 6-3, opening a seven-game advantage in the loss column with a month remaining.

The Cardinals were outscored 53-38 on that trip.

After opening with a 10-2 win at Pittsburgh, the Cardinals lost 4-3 and 5-2 to the Pirates. At Washington, the Cardinals blew a two-run ninth-inning lead in the opener of a four-game set and lost 11-10 in 13 innings. St. Louis won the next game, 4-2, but then lost 14-5 and 4-2. In the final three games of the trip, at Houston, the Cardinals were shut out in consecutive games by the same score, 3-0, and lost the finale, 5-2. In the shutouts, J.A. Happ pitched a two-hitter in the opener and four Astros pitchers combined on a three-hitter in the second game.

Amid this disaster, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and star first baseman Albert Pujols found time to particpate in a Glenn Beck rally in Washington.

#2. Cardinals dominate Reds, still lose

The frustration of the 2010 season is exemplified by the Cardinals’ story against the Reds.

St. Louis dominated the Reds, winning 12 of 18, including a three-game sweep of an intense series Aug. 9-11 in Cincinnati that catapulted the Cardinals into first place in the division at 64-49.

In head-to-head competition, the Cardinals were superior to the Reds. St. Louis outscored Cincinnati, 94-63. The Cardinals batted .289 with 18 homers against the Reds. Cincinnati batted .238 with 13 homers against St. Louis.

Yet Cincinnati won the division title because the Reds played well against the rest of the NL Central and the Cardinals didn’t.

The Reds were 12-4 against the Cubs, 10-5 with the Astros, 11-3 with the Brewers and 10-6 with the Pirates.

The Cardinals were 6-9 against the Cubs, 5-10 with the Astros, 7-8 with the Brewers and 9-6 with the Pirates.

#3. Adam Wainwright becomes the ace

At 29, Wainwright led the Cardinals in wins (20), shutouts (2), complete games (5) and strikeouts (213). It was his first 20-win season and the shutouts were his first in the big leagues.

#4. Albert Pujols’ underappreciated season

Pujols became the first player since Hank Aaron in 1963 to lead the National League in home runs, RBI and runs scored and not win the Most Valuable Player Award.

Pujols had 42 home runs, 118 RBI and 115 runs in another stellar season. He also reached and surpassed 400 career doubles and 400 career homers. He is the third-youngest player (behind Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez) to achieve 400 homers.

The first baseman won his second Gold Glove Award.

#5. Jaime Garcia’s emergence as a reliable starter

The rookie gave St. Louis a much-needed left-hander in the rotation. Garcia, 24, was as remarkably consistent as he was successful. His key statistics: 13-8 record, 2.70 ERA, 28 starts, fewer hits allowed (151) than innings pitched (163.1) and 132 strikeouts.

Most impressive: Garcia was tough against top competition. He was 8-1 against the four clubs that qualified for the NL postseason: 4-0 against the Reds, 2-0 against the Phillies, 1-0 versus the Braves and 1-1 against the Giants.