Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud - The 2007 St. Louis Cardinals

Phil Jackson used to tell his Bulls and Lakers teams that "The crown is heaviest on the head that wears it." That statement has never been more true than with the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals.

Here is a brief summary of the Cardinals season:

1) Spring Training - skipper Tony LaRussa is arrested for drunk-driving.
2) Starting ace Cris Carpenter gets injured in his first outing of the year and has not pitched again this season.
3) Fellow ace Mark Mulder has missed the majority of the season with injuries as well.
4) The Cardinals begin their title defense with a depleted roster and untimely slumps from their key hitters, especially Albert Pujols and the ailing Scott Rolen.
5) Outfielder Preston Wilson goes to the D.L. in May - he is still there.
6) Outfielder Juan Encarnacion is beaned in the face by a foul ball while standnig in the on-deck circle and is likely finished as a major leager. He will be lucky to regain full vision in his eye.
7) Third baseman Scott Rolen is finally placed on the D.L. as well, done for the year.
8) Pitcher-turned-outfielder Rick Ankiel sparks a playoff push for the Redbirds, but is now being linked to HGH.

Have we ever seen a team, let alone a defending champion, go through this much turmoil in a single season? And here is the kicker:

They might still make the post-season!

If the Cardinals can win the N.L. Central this year, it will be one of the most remarkable accomplishments in baseball history. Despite playing in the nobody-wants-to-win-it Central Division, to even be in the picture at this point is flabbergasting.

Can they do it?

The Cardinals schedule over the next three weeks is brutal. They have no days off until the end of the year. Even though they have series against the Cubs and Brewers coming up, they also play the Diamondbacks, Mets and Phillies. They do, however, have a long homestand coming up and finish the year against the hapless Pittsburgh Pirates. This is the most fascinating, least noticed story of a wonderful baseball season, but based on the season so far, I can't help but think it isn't going to end well.