No, seriously.
 

The Cardinals have had a lousy week since clinching the Central Division in Colorado last Saturday. After two ugly losses to the Milwaukee Brewers this weekend, this team looks anything but prepared for postseason play. They had the best record in the NL and home field advantage in the playoffs well within their sights and they blew it. Yesterday’s loss assured the Cardinals of the third seed in the playoffs. But there’s one thing they can do.


Blow it off like none of it ever happened.


Nothing in the regular season matters come Wednesday’s Game 1. The 2006 World Champions were 3-7 in their final 10 games of the regular season. They started the NLDS on the road in San Diego and won. They started the NLCS on the road in New York and won. And, of course, they started the World Series on the road in Detroit but won their 10th World Championship in front of Cardinal Nation at Busch Stadium.


The 2006 and 2009 Cardinals don’t have many more similarities, though. And it would be unfair to totally rely on that comparison anyway. This year’s team has a better rotation and a deeper lineup. They’re better defensively, too, and may have more weapons out of the bullpen. After all, no one knew what to expect out of rookie closer Adam Wainwright in the 2006 postseason; after the past three weeks that’s pretty much what the 2009 Cards are facing with Ryan Franklin.


Let’s face it: the clichés are true. Anything can happen in the playoffs. The 2006 Cardinals were an example of an average team excelling at the right time. So were the 2007 Colorado Rockies. The 2007-2008 Chicago Cubs showed what can happen when a great regular season team goes cold in the Division Series. And we all remember the 2004 Red Sox, who followed up an unthinkable ALCS comeback against the New York Yankees with an unthinkable domination of a 105-win Cardinals team in the World Series.


Whether the Cardinals win or lose game 162 today, they need to forget about it as soon as they walk off the diamond. Manager Tony LaRussa needs to decide between Kyle Lohse and John Smoltz for the 4th starter slot for the Division Series. The other guy will go to the bullpen, and with Smoltz’s closer experience that may give Lohse the inside track on a rotation spot. After that it’s filling out the rest of the bench and bullpen spots. The starters need to prepare for their next games, which will be some of the most important of their careers. Youngsters get their first taste of postseason play, and the veterans need to help keep them grounded and focused.


There’s plenty to do. No one needs to worry about how the regular season ended. Now it’s time to worry about how the playoffs will unfold.