There are, by my count, three surefire ways for St. Louis' opponents to cope with the Tony La Russa mystique, the Tom Emanski fundamentals and all else that accompanies the seemingly invincible aura of the Cardinals Being The Cardinals:
1. Throw the ball hard.
2. Hit the ball harder.
3. Revisit those first two, or be prepared to lose by a single run because someone on your side did something stupid on one small play and the Cardinals, naturally, didn't.
Well, those first two options are easier deliberated than delivered. If everyone could pitch and hit with power, here's guessing they probably would.
But man, tell me it didn't feel like the Pirates finally found something resembling a formula -- no, a realistic formula -- to solve their first-place nemesis in flat-out overpowering St. Louis, 5-2, Friday night at PNC Park.
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