Perhaps it was fitting that I spent last Saturday night hanging out at the bars in Wrigleyville just hours after the Dodgers eliminated the Cardinals from the playoffs.


In the shadows of Wrigley Field -- the very symbol of playoff futility -- I thought about Cubs’ fans, who watched their teams fall apart in the division series in 2007 and 2008. Thanks to the Cardinals’ collapse last week, the N.L. Central Division champions have now been swept in the division series for three consecutive years. The sweep is hard enough; it hurts more knowing we share this dubious distinction with our rivals.


Thankfully my wife’s family proved to be a fun diversion from the heightened agony I would have surely experienced if I was watching Game 3 in St. Louis. What did we do in Chicago? Drink, of course. Plus, on a cold Sunday morning, we watched my wife’s cousin Renee run the Chicago Marathon. (Kudos to her for completing the run in tough weather conditions.)


On the drive home from the Windy City, my thoughts turned to reflecting on the ‘09 campaign and on the forthcoming offseason. The Cards ran an inconsistent race in 2009: a fast start in April, followed by seemingly running out of gas from May until mid-July, only to regain their footing with the Matt Holliday trade that propelled them to the front of the pack by the end of August, only to stumble across the finish line in September and October. The Cards finished with hands on their needs, sucking for air and wondering “What the hell happened?”


A team with seemingly realistic World Series aspirations will be best remembered for a dropped fly ball, lack of timely hitting and pitching breakdowns. Still, the season has not been a total loss. We should applaud ownership’s commitment to winning as evident by the Holliday and DeRosa deals. Plus the Cards won 91 games, clinched a division title and returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2006. It was a big step forward for this organization after it fell short in '07 and '08.


Sadly, we have to move ahead and think about the offseason. We’ll have plenty of time to dissect signings, trades, etc., but in the meantime, let’s look at some burning questions in Cardinal Nation:

1) Will LaRussa and Duncan come back? All signs point toward both men returning in 2010, but you never know until the contracts are signed.

2) Will Holliday return? Cardinal Nation would be pleasantly surprised if Holliday commits to a long-term deal early instead of testing free agency. Despite his less-than-stellar NLDS, Holliday was the 2007 NLCS MVP and is an excellent player. If Holliday goes elsewhere, here’s one name to keep in mind: Jason Bay.

3) Speaking of big-dollar deals, will the Cardinals re-do Albert’s deal? Bill DeWitt has stated a desire to lock up El Hombre for the remainder of his career. What will be the price tag? $25 million per season?

4) What is the future for DeRosa, Pineiro and other free agents in St. Louis? It seems that a lot hinges on whether Holliday comes back. Pujols and Holliday would easily account for about 40 percent of the team’s projected $100 million payroll, which DeWitt recently stated would be the likely figure in 2010. If Holliday goes elsewhere, the club will have extra mobility to supplement the roster. It is pretty safe to assume that Todd Wellemeyer, Khalil Greene, Troy Glaus and Rick Ankiel will be playing for other teams in 2010. John Smoltz has stated a desire to pitch in 2010; will it be in St. Louis? Pineiro will likely pitch elsewhere as he will command a hefty contract; the Cards already have big dollars committed to Adam Wainwright, Kyle Lohse and Chris Carpenter and will likely rely on internal options to round out the rotation. Will DeRosa cash in on what would likely be his final big contract at 34 years old?


It will be interesting to watch this offseason unfold. Hopefully when the end of the 2010 season rolls around, I won’t be strolling the streets of Wrigleyville fighting off the disappointment of a tough playoff series defeat. Instead, I hope to be celebrating the Cardinals' 11th world championship in the streets of St. Louis. Cubs fans will just have to wait another year.


Thanks for reading.
 
Gabriel Kiley is a freelance sports writer based in St. Louis. Feel free to post your comments below or follow him on Twitter.