What a year it has been. For our final post of 2009, we present our top five stories of the Cardinals’ season, the final United Cardinal Bloggers’ project of the year:

1. Cardinals roll dice to acquire Holliday
   Perhaps the Cardinals’ biggest midseason trade since they brought in Scott Rolen, the ripples of the Matt Holliday-for-Brett Wallace, Clayton Mortensen and Shane Peterson trade are still being felt today as the baseball world awaits Holliday’s winter signing. John Mozeliak put his reputation on the line to acquire the slugging left fielder, and Holliday posted a 9.5 RC/G in helping lead the team to the playoffs.
2. Carpenter and Wainwright are twin Cy Young candidates
   Entering 2009, Adam Wainwright figured prominently in the team’s plans for success. Even so, few would’ve considered him as the odds-on favorite to win the Cy Young. And while Chris Carpenter had obviously been there before — he won a Cy in 2005 — chances were slim that he would even get 20 starts, let alone vie for a second award. Although neither won the Cy Young, they finished second and third in one of the closest votes ever (the 10-point margin separating the top three finishers was the second-closest in NL voting), and Wainwright actually received the most first-place votes.
3. Cardinals win division title
   Making the playoffs is the highest form of success in baseball these days, and few figured the Cardinals would top the Cubs in 2009.
4. Ryan comes of age at shortstop
   Despite another no-confidence vote to begin the season, Brendan Ryan closed the team’s revolving door at shortstop by playing the best defense in the league at the position. You know it’s big news when Tony La Russa compares his shortstop to Ozzie Smith.
5. Pujols wins third MVP
   Fans may take his dominance for granted, but winning the MVP is always noteworthy, especially when it’s a player’s third. Pujols passed Rogers Hornsby, who won two, and tied Stan Musial.

Also receiving consideration: Pineiro’s career year, the rise and fall of Wagner Mateo, Herzog inducted to Hall, team mustaches.
[Author's note: How could we leave out Skip Schumaker's bold transition to second base? Sorry, Skip.]

This entry was posted by Pip on Thursday, December 31st, 2009 at 6:03 pm and is filed under analysis, group blogging. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.