We are nearing the midway point in the baseball season and the year, where does it go?

Before you know it, it will be time to strap on the pads and helmets and think about back to school. July is that month where the weather gets unbearable and hopefully the baseball heats up as well.

The All-Star break is coming upon us and it appears no Cardinals will make the starting line-up for the National League. Cards skipper Tony La Russa recently chastised St. Louis fans for not getting the vote out for certain Redbirds.

I applaud the manager, standing up for his guys but I always think keeping the Cards under the radar and hungry is more important. Let them keep that chip on their shoulder a little longer. This bunch has been a huge surprise and continues to find ways to win series and at the same time battle through all sorts of injuries.

In the next few days a key series looms with the division-leading Cubs that, although is not make or break, could give this squad a big boost heading into the few games before the All-Star break.

Looking at what the Cards have done so far is pretty remarkable. Where did Kyle Lohse come from? What about the pick-up of Todd Wellemeyer from Kansas City? These two combined account for 16 wins. Throw Braden Looper’s nine wins into the mix and you have 25 of the Cardinals 47 wins.

I dare you to tell me that at the start of the season you thought the Cards' big three would be Looper, Lohse and Wellemeyer.

There’s been the big first half by Ryan Ludwick (.256, 16 HR, 58 RBI) and the solid play of Skip Schumaker (.304, 6 HR, 30 RBI). The Cardinals have gone with the youth movement with 10 rookies seeing action this year so far, second most in the majors.
One of the biggest questions marks coming into the season, the outfield, has become one of its most solid links. There’s also more to come with hot hitting Colby Rasmus (.356 in June at Triple A Memphis) waiting in the wings.

Some are saying that the Cards are making a mistake trying to keep struggling Chris Duncan (.238, 4 HR, 19 RBI) in the lineup; I think they may be trying to get Duncan to get hot to increase his trade value.

It’s a long season and with a crowded outfield there could be a trade looming for the Cards in the near future or before opening day 2009.

This Redbird team has shown a lot of heart and is winning over fans with its gritty hustling play. Take nothing away from the Cubs — they are the team to beat in the NL Central — but the Cards just keep hanging in there, always looming a few games behind.

July and August could be interesting and when you add in football at all the other levels things will really start to blur. So turn the AC down another notch, sit back, sip on that lemonade and enjoy the summer of 2008.

Let’s meet here next week.