CARDS SWIPE AT HYPE
Team insists talk surrounding Cubs ‘ doesn’t mean squat’
ST. LOUIS — There are two basic rules when it comes to hype. Rule 1: If you’re getting a lot of it, don’t let it mess with your head.
Rule 2: If you’re getting none of it, pretend you didn’t want any, anyway.
Rule 2 leads us to the St. Louis Cardinals, who for years — decades? — were the bane of the Cubs’ existence, yet now reside somewhere in the unfathomable recesses of the Cubs’ shadow.
It’s a wonder the Cardinals have even bothered to suit up this year, you know?
But that’s how massive and nonstop the hype surrounding the Cubs has been.
“Talk is talk,” said Cardinals right fielder Stephen Piscotty before the season- series opener between the teams Monday. “It doesn’t mean squat.”
Well, it must mean something, for goodness’ sake. Like, that the vast majority of the free world expects the defending National League Central champs to be bounced from their perch and onto their feathered duffs.
“They can have all the hype they want,” said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny.
Because, really, who would want to be exalted from sea to shining sea?
OK, perhaps we should take the Cardinals a tad more seriously. Sure, they lost to the Cubs in the playoffs last year. No doubt, the free- agent defections of Jason Heyward and John Lackey from St. Louis to Chicago smacked of extra significance.
But these are still the Cardinals. They know a thing or two about a thing or two.
And they know a thing or two about Rule 1. They’ve never been hyped quite to the extent that these Cubs are, but — year after year — they show up to spring training knowing full well the rest of baseball expects them to contend for the World Series.
Multiple members of the Cardinals offered the Cubs a few words of warning ( friendly, we’re sure) about the danger of so much hype.
“It can be a distraction,” Matheny said.
First baseman Matt Adams was kind enough to elaborate.
“All the baseball analysts, they can sometimes make way too big a deal out of how great you supposedly are. I don’t know how else to put it,” he said. “The Cubs are going to get all that buzz because they’re good, but you still have to go out and play.
“Some people slap those big expectations on you, it can take a toll on a team, for sure.”
You’d better believe the Cardinals are hoping so.
Upon signing with the Cubs, Heyward ruffled feathers across Birdland when he cut to the chase about how much older the Cardinals’ core players were.
Yadier Molina. Matt Holliday. Adam Wainwright. Plenty of miles on those tires.
“I felt like if I were to look up in three years and see it’s a completely different team, that would be kind of different for me,” Heyward said then.
Who could blame the 26- yearold outfielder — who could’ve re- upped with the Cardinals for more money — from wanting to enter his prime with guys his own age?
In the St. Louis clubhouse, that was taken as a dismissal. Which has, of course, only added to the hype surrounding the Cubs as they attempt to grab the wheel of this rivalry with both hands.
“We don’t care,” said Cardinals center fielder Randal Grichuk. “Keep the hype on them.”
The Cubs will be only too happy to oblige.