Conventional wisdom is quite frequently off base.
The Cardinals are a good-looking team, with a lot of ways to win, even without their biggest weapon. Yes, even with the big redhead, Mark McGwire, sidelined, the Cardinals present a formidable lineup, not to mention a solid rotation and a reasonably effective bullpen. An opportunity to see the Cardinals this week was an opportunity to see a team quite capable of reaching the World Series. The odds are longer without McGwire, but probably not as long as you might think. It's hard to fathom why manager Tony La Russa is under fire in some quarters in the River City.