The Chicago Cubs already gave Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols a going away present in their final game at Wrigley Field. David Ross and the Cubs decided to gift Pujols another present this past weekend as they allowed him to belt career home run number 695.
All Ross and the Cubs had to do was walk Pujols in the 8th inning of a tied game, but instead, they decided to groove him some fastballs so that he could give the home crowd a great moment. It was extremely considerate of the Cubs, and hopefully, the Cardinals return the favor in the future.
The Cubs were actually in the giving mood all weekend long as they allowed the Cardinals to sweep them out of town. Chicago could have been playing the role of spoiler, but they realized that the Cardinals needed the help.
It has been a rough couple of seasons for Cubs fans, but it was only a couple of years ago when the roles were reversed. Hopefully, things swing back in the other direction quickly, as it’s much more enjoyable when the Cubs are the teams racking up the wins.
One thing is for sure, and that is that Albert Pujols will no longer be able to torment the Cubs pitching staff in the future.
Can Cardinals Win the NL?
Now that the Cardinals have taken a pretty commanding lead in the NL Central, fans of that team have started to dream about another World Series championship. The Cardinals always seem to come up with some magic in October, but it might take more than magic to win the pennant in 2022.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an absolute juggernaut on offense, but that team does have some question marks in the pitching department. The other two major threats are the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets.
Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado are good enough to give the Cardinals a chance, but they don’t seem to have a realistic shot at winning the pennant. It would be a real shame if Cubs fans were able to celebrate an early playoff exit for the Cardinals in 2022.
Who’s Better in 2023?
Based on where the Cubs and Cardinals stand in 2022, it seems pretty silly to ask which team will be better in 2023. A deeper look, though will show you that there actually isn’t that big of a gap.
The Cubs do appear better positioned over the a five-year period, but there is a path for Jed Hoyer and company to close the gap this winter. St. Louis is going to be losing two of the most important players in franchise history, and the Cubs have money to spend.
As good as the Cardinals have been in 2022, they still aren’t among the best teams in the league. The Cubs should be aggressive in the coming months to make a serious run at dethroning the mighty Cardinals next season.
