It is time to put out an SOS as the St Louis Cardinals have 35 games left to show what they can do. The S.O.S. this year, however, is not a distress signal. The remaining strength of schedule for the Cardinals actually ain’t too bad!
While on one hand, the real meaning of SOS is just morse code …- – -… asking for help (we did get some help at the deadline with Caleb Ferguson and Everson Pereira), I am going to assume you were looking for a Strength of Schedule.
After a July reeling session, times have
changed again after visiting NYC to defeat the Yankees. Since that Yankees series, the Cardinals are 10-5, winning series vs teams like NY, the Rockies, Phillies, and Cubs, showing we can take ‘em high or low in August… and taking 2 of 3 vs the Reds so far on their home turf with another two games to go… if your hopes are high, I cannot really blame you. If you are still a naysayer, I’m fine with that too.
This looks like a team that could still finish right around .500… or possibly even make the playoffs. Time will tell.
I’m not here to advise you to be an optimist, pessimist, or neutral bystander like me (I’m a little of both column A and column B, hopefully balancing out), but to inform you not to write the rest of the season off totally. It might be interesting, and fun, for a variety of reasons, but let’s just give hope a chance, maybe.
While not overrating things… Fangraphs gives St Louis 12.5% odds at the postseason… that is… not great. So don’t let me make you think we are going to the playoffs. So much can happen over the next 35 games, it’s far too early to even write this, but here we are, I am. It is also far too early to write off the team.
Fangraphs has the Cubs and Phillies as practical shoe-ins for wild card berth, giving the Padres a significant advantage as well.
But! the Cardinals could be compared to several teams if we use run differential: the Phillies are +12 and the Cardinals +10. The Padres and Diamondbacks are +5 and +3. So in that regard, maybe we can make it in?
Wait! The Tigers are +83 runs, for example. But are one of six teams vying for that last American League wild card right now. That may be something to see, watching all those lukewarm AL teams scramble for that last spot, below NY and Boston. Maybe I can watch the Red Sox as a ghost of the 2025 Cardinals.
Not to mention, the Nationals, Pirates, and Marlins might end up better than the Cardinals and Phillies. I kind of doubt it, but stranger things have happened. If somehow the Cardinals tie with the Cubs at the end of the season (not likely!), we would get into the playoffs due to winning the season series this year (barely).
So. Much. Could. Happen. Don’t get me wrong, I have no idea. Let’s check on that S.O.S. idea.
Which Wild Card Contenders Have the Most Arduous Strength of Schedule?
- The Cubs still face the Brewers, Braves, both Sox, Diamondbacks, and Marlins… on the easy side of things they get to face the Pirates (who I wouldn’t describe as exactly easy for the Cubs?), Reds, and Mariners. That’s some tough matchups that could either get them buttered up and ready to rock in the playoffs… or who knows? The Cubs have been a very streaky team, but at least have bettered their pitching a little after the trade deadline.
- The Marlins don’t have it easy going out, so it might be easy to write them off at this point. I’m ready to write them off now! Damn their run differential. It’s about the same as the Nationals.
- The Phillies making it into the playoffs is not as set in stone to me as it is to Fangraphs… I would probably be slightly surprised if they didn’t make it, but they could also easily blow it vs the likes of the Brewers, Braves, Rays, Diamondbacks, Astros, and… the Cardinals!
- if the Pirates want to make a comeback, they must run the gauntlet of the Brewers, Dodgers, Cubs, Padres, White Sox, and Cardinals… but they get to also play teams like the Angels, Giants, and Royals.
- The Padres have a pretty balanced strength of schedule going out of the season, with a blend of tough teams and easy to beat ones, so as it has seemed all season, the Padres moreso have to beat themselves than anything, the talent is there, but what to do with it…
- The Nationals also balance out, maybe a little bit on the easy side, but they must persevere vs teams like Dodgers, Braves, Phillies, Padres, Cardinals, and Marlins. They could certainly be a thorn in the side of any of those teams with their offense, but especially those wild card contenders. Their “easy” teams don’t seem like pushovers to me, however… I don’t think they can make it on just offense.
- Your and my favorite team, the Cardinals, slot in right here as far as Strength of Schedule: we play the Brewers, Dodgers, Phillies and White Sox still, all formidable opponents, but… we also play teams like the Rockies, Giants, Reds, Orioles, and Guardians… with the Nationals and Pirates in there to spice things up!
- Out of the wild card contenders, the Diamondbacks have the easiest S.O.S. going on. While they do play some really good teams, they get to play the Rockies, Giants, Royals, Reds, and Rangers. So I certainly would not write off the Diamondbacks.
(Somewhat Educated Wishful Thinking) aka Not So Wise Prediction: The Phillies crumble while the Padres tread water, the Diamondbacks surge, and the Cubs go on a big ol’ losing streak, tying the Cardinals for the last wild card spot, but the season series makes the Cardinals a shoe-in for the postseason.
This could definitely be a September to remember, what with a potentially very exciting AL wild card race, and the potential that the Cardinals could stay in the hunt well into September…
1995 in Music
Continuing on with a series I have been doing reviewing music from each year going upward, I now address another amazing, dumbfoundingly awesome year in human music, the year 1995…
- Unwound – ‘The Future of What’ to me, 1995 was a time of realization: that the corporations had won and there wasn’t really any going back. Things had been permanently altered. This is the soundtrack to the decay. Goosebumps every time. Extremely underrated. Poetry as sound and movement. Off-kilter beats to changing times, music stripped down to power trio status. Acerbic and pummeling, in a postmodern arthouse kind of way. And I mean that in the best way possible. Its immediacy and emotional power will always emanate through the dimensions of time and space.
- Don Caballero – ‘Don Caballero 2’ after deciphering this album’s puzzle and first, the band’s sound… you will find an album that keeps on giving after repeat listens, it’s grandeur revealed slowly over time. It is chock full of brooding abstractions, sonic oddities, enough heaviness for a lot of metalheads while not really sounding metal, high energy masterful drumming, technical yet inventive guitar riffs, and incredible bass playing. In the end, it’s truly all about Damon Che’s absolutely insane one-of-a-kind drumming, but the whole band on this one was lethal accurate and creative as fuck. So you have that ultimate band chemistry with something beyond here. There are few albums that can match this one’s unique sound, ferocity, and utter tenacity while existing in a totally new, abstract realm.
- Mr Bungle – ‘Disco Volante’ this album totally blew my mind when it was released in 1995. Beer, robitussin, and weed were involved, as were like minded spirits of the 90’s during listening sessions. This was a special occasion album, not your usual fodder. Nitrous oxide might be busted out, or god knows what, but that didn’t matter; this damn album was the Drug, not whatever drugs. Disco Volante opened my mind to many musical pathways as a musician, while it sounded like the soundtrack to both my worst nightmares and most incredibly weird dreams. You get a wide variety of oddball but familiar sounds here, too. The scope is massive, but the production impeccable.
- Aphex Twin – ‘I Care Because You Do’ While I didn’t hear this album until at least 5 years after it came out (heard its successor, RDJ album, before), ICBYD is a can’t miss Richard D James album. This is the album where Aphex Twin gained its own sound. It went sentient here. Not many pick this one as their favorite, but if you do, I cannot blame you. This is just so far ahead of its time, and total genius. In some ways I would call this part 1 of a trio of albums: ICBYD, RDJ Album, Drukqs. What a beautiful way to start it all off. (yes, I know there are a lot of Aphex Twin albums before this, and after Drukqs).
- Heavy Vegetable – ‘Frisbie’ San Diego art punk post prog rock, or whatever. To me, this is my pop punk. I absolutely love this band. I don’t even know how to describe this stuff, but the drummer is absolutely incredible, there are male/female vocal harmonies, unexpected melodic musical shifts, short songs with many parts, and yet all somehow catchy as hell. You’ll also hear some fat ear candy saturated fuzz guitar sometimes, which is a good thing! A tone good enough to steal. If that was not enough for you, there is a song about Wesley Willis and a song about Jackie Chan on this shizzle!
- P.O.N. – ‘P.O.N.’ this band is my hidden gem find for 1995. Avant garde experimental rock with a heavy jazz influence. Interesting rhythms and a live, well recorded sound with super tight performances going every direction and genre imaginable. Heavy and epic but in the room and immediate.
- Sonic Youth – ‘Washing Machine’ Sonic Youth still in their prime years! Maybe even peak! While ‘Dirty’ gave many listeners a first truly alt rock experience, Washing Machine took it to the next level when people bought the followup. SY at their best, perfecting their sound with a seasoned mid 90s style. They still sounded like that no-wave NYC band, just in a more refined form? Standout tracks: Saucer-like, Unwind, Little Trouble Girl, and the epic album ender, The Diamond Sea.
- Tricky – ‘Maxinquaye’ quite simply, one of the best triphop albums ever! This album was a bit of a soundtrack to my early college years. It’s a perfect album start to finish and the production and music work so well together it creates an unforgettable atmosphere and musical experience. Futuristic yet earthy af. A fever dream held together by filaments, wires, and paper clips produced by a sampler and a legit musical genius, post-massive attack. This album will set a certain mood whenever it reaches the airwaves. So 90’s.
- Kyuss – ‘…And The Circus Leaves Town’ Kyuss’ swansong, what more needs to be said? Precursor to QotSA. Generator party music. Insane Californian desert vibes! Rock and mfing roll… Kyuss goes out with a bang here, but also check out their albums before this! Legendary. John Garcia on vocals, Josh Homme on guitar, and Alfredo Hernandez on drums is a gigantic lineup, especially with Scott Reeder on bass!
- Scorn – ‘Gyral’ cruisin’ music for 1995… HUGE bass sounds from the UK. No joke. Music to calm down and zone out to, while feeling like a badass. Pretty sweet bowling pin sound on track 1! lol. The big bass sounds of 1995! This album is dark af(!) but still has a playful sound… if a bit downtempo and bass heavy. Heady but catchy at the same time, and one of a kind. The producer is also a drummer and founding member of Napalm Death, btw.
- GZA – ‘Liquid Swords’ an honorary wu-tang album I would have to say, and one of the best of any among the wu-tang family of albums. True 90’s hiphop masterpiece.
- Radiohead – ‘The Bends’ an all time classic! Perfect album start to finish. My favorite songs are Planet Telex, Just, My Iron Lung, and Black Star, but the whole album is stacked full of hits.
- Medeski, Martin, and Wood – ‘Friday Afternoon in the Universe’ eclectic jazz sounds from the developing top notch trio, catchy as all get out.
- O.L.D. – ‘Formula’ there is no other album that sounds like this, not even other O.L.D. albums. Another hidden gem from 1995! All of the thumbs up for this one. I don’t even know what to say. Must hear. Absolutely incredibly awesome.
- Techno Animal – ‘Re-entry’ way way way ahead of its time in 1995! Cannot stress that enough. Deep sounds. Standout track: Narco Agent vs The Medicine Man.
- Clutch – ‘self-titled’ such a god damn classic rock album at this point, I don’t even know how I can rate it this low but what a stacked year of good no dare I say it all time great music! Everything on this list top top tier.
- Tetsu Inoue – ‘Organic Cloud’ simply put, one of the best ambient music albums I have ever heard, bar none, hands down classic. Hidden gem unearthed! I am so glad that I found this album.
- Autechre – ‘Tri Repetae’ Autechre becoming their true selves on this groundbreaking IDM classic.
- Faith No More – ‘King For A Day, Fool For a Lifetime’ the most epic tomfoolery to be had from Faith No More on King For a Day. Totally stacked album, many styles, some super tight rockers, but somehow the two closing tracks steal the show here.
- God Lives Underwater – ‘Empty’ this forgotten 90s one hit wonder style band always reminded me of a what if bedroom producer version of NIN met Alice In Chains impersonator? Somehow the combo works if you hear it in a techno acid rock light. And yeah, that’s pretty synesthetic in nature.
- The Pharcyde – ‘Labcabincalifornia’ and I leave you with one of the classic 90s hip hop albums, top tier.
Well hopefully the Cardinals can take advantage of that somewhat favorable strength of schedule and the first step is to beat the Reds again and again! 5:40pm again tonight, and then an early one tomorrow both on Cardinals.TV.
