Too much of a good thing...

I’ve heard it said that money and tragedy don’t change you, they only make you more of who you are.

If you are close to being an alcoholic, and you lose a loved one, you will probably take that next step. If you are a jerk, and you win the lottery, you are going to be Barry Bonds.

From opening day to April 29, the Cards were a tired team, a lackluster team. Their starters were inconsistent, and only Molina and Duncan were mildly exceeding expectations at the plate.

Since the death of Hancock, the Cards have been even more inconsistent. Balking home runners, failing at the plate, playing poor baseball. In five games, they are averaging 1.2 runs scored per game, and have been shut out twice.

They’ve allowed 7.4 runs per game. It’s painful to watch.

The hangover from the world series is not going away. At least not yet.

Truth is, they should be tired. It takes a lot to play 162 games. Since 2004, the Cards have averaged 175.3 games per year, including the postseason. And they get one less month off to recover. That's three more starts per pitcher. Forty more at-bats on Rolen's shoulder, Albert's foot, and Jimmy's...shoulderfootheadkneehamstring. It's also 13 more games to drive LaRussa closer to the shed in Beautiful Mind.

That just sounds exhausting. Further proof that Bobby Cox is a cyborg, and Leo Mazzone is from one of Jupiter’s moons.

Jimmy Ballgame looks like he needs two months off. When he takes the field, he conjures images of Nick Nolte in North Dallas Forty. Rolen appears to have the flexibility of a fifty year old lumberjack.

One wonders if Eckstein and Pujols have really recovered from their oblique injuries. Albert is on pace to strike out more than 70 times for the first time since his rookie season. Oh the horror of 70+ strikeouts...but still.

Oh yeah, Carpenter has an arthritic elbow. But what 32 year old doesn’t?

As bad as the Cards have been, I do expect them to make a run. They will play better than this, perhaps even stringing together a win or two. But it looks like this team will be out of it by September, with some Rick Ankiel sightings imminent.

And that ain’t the worst thing in the world.

They need the rest.