O’Neill is trying to kill Bader.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tyler O&#39;Neill is having a difficult time in RF. Couldn&#39;t pick up two fly balls in the first inning, and has now twice converged on balls that Harrison Bader called for so clearly that we heard him in the press box. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/stlcards?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#stlcards</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cardinals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cardinals</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLB</a></p>&mdash; Derrick Goold (@dgoold) <a href="https://twitter.com/dgoold/status/1032116182403481600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tyler O’Neill plays RF like he comes from a country with guaranteed healthcare <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/stlcards?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#stlcards</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/dodgers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#dodgers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cardinals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cardinals</a></p>&mdash; Brock Benefiel (@brockbenefiel) <a href="https://twitter.com/brockbenefiel/status/1032117680659148800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Carlos just got taken out by a comebacker. Hopefully just knocked wind out of him.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">109 mph baseball to the gut? FUHHHHHHH! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dodgers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cardinals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cardinals</a> <a href="https://t.co/BJcDfCzG5f">pic.twitter.com/BJcDfCzG5f</a></p>&mdash; Raul Medina (@raulisnotcool) <a href="https://twitter.com/raulisnotcool/status/1032135151436750850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Oh wow Wong

That will do it. Another nice win.

Another nationally televised game tomorrow night. This series not great for sleep.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">ICYMI — Did Kolten Wong just make the most ridiculous play of the year? <br><br>(Yes, yes he did) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/STLCards?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#STLCards</a> <a href="https://t.co/CCRoggV9pP">pic.twitter.com/CCRoggV9pP</a></p>&mdash; FOX Sports Midwest (@FSMidwest) <a href="https://twitter.com/FSMidwest/status/1032139666638614529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dodgers</a> 2 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cardinals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cardinals</a> 5 <br> <a href="https://t.co/MVDG7hu7uh">pic.twitter.com/MVDG7hu7uh</a></p>&mdash; Cardinals Bot (@CardinalsBot) <a href="https://twitter.com/CardinalsBot/status/1032141811404484608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;this might be the play of the year!&quot; - <a href="https://twitter.com/DannyMacTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DannyMacTV</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/stlcards?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#stlcards</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/stlchirps?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#stlchirps</a> <a href="https://t.co/lBvR85pF3A">pic.twitter.com/lBvR85pF3A</a></p>&mdash; cardinalsgifs (@cardinalsgifs) <a href="https://twitter.com/cardinalsgifs/status/1032139921941659648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Manager of the year?


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/STLCards?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#STLCards</a> win yet again, beating the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dodgers</a>, and are 16-4 this month, now just 2 1/2 games back. Incredibly, in just one month, interim manager Mike Shildt has put himself squarely into the National League Manager of the Year conversation</p>&mdash; Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) <a href="https://twitter.com/BNightengale/status/1032140474864128000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Its brutal living on the east coast. I watch a couple of innings before bed, but when the updates go off on my phone, I usually lean over to check them. It has been very satisfying to see "Cards beat the Dodgers..." the last two nights.

And this team has the lead in the WC. 2.5 games back from the Cubs.

Playoff wins usually end up being about pitching, especially bullpens. Is your pitching better and or deeper than the other team.

Getting nervous yet JD?

The Cubs have been getting good outings from their starting pitching right now. They just cant score runs but they just picked up Daniel Murphy somehow and Kris Bryant is soon to return from the DL.

I'm shaking in my boots.

It's always better to have a lead this time of year than chasing for sure. I don't expect they are going to average 1 run a game much longer, but the luster on that lineup is not as bright as it once was, even when Bryant returns.

Makes absolutely 0 sense.

Contreras even in a down year for power is still one of the best hitting catchers in the league.
Rizzo had an extended slump but he's back and hes been better than his career numbers recently.
Baez has been better than ever.
Bryant is an MVP who's "down year" because of a shoulder issue comes out to a 122 OPS+.
Kyle Schwarber is looking like his rookie year with a slight dip in SLG% with 22 HRs.
Jason Heyward is having his best year as a Cub.

The only positions where the Cubs could look to reasonably improve offensively is SS and CF and they just acquired a guy in Daniel Murphy who has a .904 OPS in the 2nd half that allows the team to likely put Russell on the DL with his finger and move Baez to SS. It also frees up Zobrist to play more outfield and move Heyward to CF more often.

If the Cardinals and Brewers were looking to give themselves the best chance to catch the Cubs they both royally ****ed up by not claiming Murphy. Now you just better hope he becomes everything he has shown not to be over his career.