The St.Louis Cardinals have a lot of cleaning up when they decide that they want to make it to the postseason next year and actually win in a way that's enjoying to their fans and maybe even themselves. They have changes to make and players to be reevaluated because I feel as if many of them are no longer at their full potential and some of them need some more time to grow. Although we know this may take many seasons for all the changes to take place and go into effect that it could be a while before the Cardinals see a postseason anytime soon. Although their record doesn't show their poor performance the games, the players statistics, and the fans can sure tell you all about it. The Cardinals barely made it over a .500 winning percentage this 2016 season when last season they were at a .617 winning percentage. That obviously says something about the team and the way they played this season compared to last.

Pitching

Pitching is an important part of baseball, so is hitting and fielding obviously but, without some good pitching they can't even have a game. Starting pitching is definitely where the Cardinals seem to have the most problems. While I obviously can't fit every pitcher in here, I looked through the 25 man active roster and picked 5 pitchers that most will know just by name. 24 year old Mike Mayers would have to be the first considering he got his first and quite possibly his last major league debut with the Cardinals on July 24, a game I was actually at. Before he could even finish the first 2 innings he had already given up 9 runs, oops. He eventually got to pitch a second game sometime throughout the season and ended up 1-1 with a 27.00 ERA, that definitely tells you something, he needs to go. On to the next, 35 year old Adam Wainwright who coincidentally had his worst season since his first season with the Cardinals in 2005. Waino went 13-9 with a 4.62 ERA. I mean he is 35 years old, maybe we should cut him some slack but, also he should probably see this as a possible ending to his career. Now to everyones all time "hero" or the guy everyone was in love with at one time, 25 year old Michael Wacha. Seems like all he does now is 'wacha, wacha, wacha batter', get it? Anyways, Wacha went 7-7 with a 5.09 ERA, he may be young but, maybe his previous season was just a fluke when he went 17-7 and everyone swooned over him. A more middle aged guy, 30 year old Jamie Garcia who also had one of his worst seasons. Garcia went 10-13 with a 4.67 ERA, may be time to move him to relief. But, to shed some light on it all there is a 22 year old pitcher Alex Reyes who went 4-1 with a 1.57 ERA and 1 save. He's young and still has a lot of growing room in which is something the Cardinals actually need to think about. Enough with pitching, let's hit the outfield.

Outfielders

As much as I'd love to go through every single outfielder on their roster, I picked 3 pretty major components to their 2016 season and each play a different position in the outfield. Starting with number 7, everyone loves him, no one wants him to leave, 36 year old Matt Holliday. This fella spent some of his season on the disabled list but, not as long as he did in 2015. Something about injuries and baseball players that doesn't mix well. Once they start, they typically continue especially being the oldest on the team. Holliday had a batting average of .246 in 110 games were he had 382 at bats and 94 hits. Some of that means nothing to the fans but, it does mean some to the team and the way they're playing. On to center fielder Tommy Pham a 28 year old who played only in 78 games had 159 at bats and 36 hits with a .226 batting average. The problem with him is that he is always being sent down to the minors and then coming back but, he doesn't bring much to the plate. He isn't all that young, therefore it doesn't do much good holding on to him because he has little hope. Lastly would be Stephen Piscotty a 25 year old who played in 153 games had 582 at bats with 159 hits and a .273 batting average. Now I bet you're all thinking someone good in the outfield until you hear about how he's had 8 errors just in the 2016 season. He may be able to hit but, if you can't catch a ball or throw it correctly there's a problem when it comes to the world of baseball. Alright here's just some of the adjustments we need in the outfield but, we need even more in the infield.

Infielders

This is where we get into the depths of the errors. We start with 26 year old, second baseman Kolten Wong. This year he actually ended up with his least amount of errors than in seasons past. He ended the season playing 121 games with a .240 batting average, turning 67 double plays in 88 games at second base and with 8 errors. Although he had less errors than in seasons past he still needs some work. On to Jedd Gyorko who we actually traded Jon Jay for although Gyorko is a second baseman and Jay is a center fielder they should've not gotten rid of Jay, they got the bad end of the deal on this one. Gyorko although younger than Jay by 3 years played in 128 games where he had a .243 batting average but, only played 46 games at second base where he had 1 error but had 10 errors overall during his 2016 season with the Cardinals. Now compare that to 31 year old Jon Jay who only played in 90 games because of a fractured arm that made him miss almost 2 months of the season. Jay had a .291 batting average in just 90 games with 347 at bats. Cardinals definitely missed out on him this year, their loss. Everyone has seen it coming 34 year old Jhonny Peralta has not been much of anything in his past seasons and in this season he had quite a few complications with his left thumb in which made him go down to rehab a few times and also be on the disabled list for a bit of the season. Peralta had a .260 batting average in 82 games in which he played shortstop in 74 games and had 4 errors. No joke is being said when the Cardinals can't seem to get their infield together. Another sad error stat goes to third baseman Matt Carpenter who played in 129 games had an overall error total of 13. 8 of those errors occurred at his normal position third base, if that doesn't scream problem I don't know what does. Otherwise, he had a decent season with a .271 batting average but, had a little problem with his right oblique and it being strained. I won't be surprised to see the same injury next season. Now 28 year old, first baseman Matt Adams also had a decent amount of errors with 7 in just 86 games. Adams did have a .249 batting average though which isn't incredibly bad. But, the Cardinals were in running for top 5 teams with the most errors in the NL. Now with everyone's beloved fella 34 year old Yadier Molina. Molina played in 147 games which is impressive for someone his age because it's definitely that time to see his playing time decreasing instead we just see his play decreasing rather than his time. Although he hit very well with a .307 batting average, one of the highest of the team this season, his defense more or less sucked. He had 2 errors in 146 games, 8 passed balls, and 67 stolen bases, those are bases that were stolen on him. Molina has always been known as someone who usually stops the runners but, this time he let them go with ease it seems like. Molina will most likely be seeing less playing time next season considering his age, we see it with all catchers. Now take a look at the future catcher of the Cardinals although he only played in 10 games this season, I'm sure he could do better than Molina at his age. This catcher would be 22 year old Carson Kelly, he caught in only 36 innings but, had no passed balls or stolen bases, he only started in 2 games but, I see him starting more next year as a replacement for Molina. I hate to break all of your hearts but, it's the sad truth especially of a catcher.

Now there's a bit of a pattern, the older the Cardinals get, the worse the team gets. Things need to be changed and taken into actual consideration before this team gets worse. This could take seasons or could possibly be done by next season with all the right moves and the players work a little harder. No, I am not completely dissing on the Cardinals, I grew up in St.Louis and have watched these men play for many years but, afraid they won't see a postseason in the near future till they make some changes. Make the changes, work hard, and the wins will come easier, that's all.