Well, Alexandre, I’m tired of waiting and I’m running out of hope.

Now is the time, boys, to make the kind of push we’ve been waiting for. We currently sit 9 games behind the division leading Milwaukee Brewers who boast the best winning percentage in the league. We’re about 7 games out in the wild card. These aren’t insurmountable odds, but with July swiftly coming to a close, our chances of having the opportunity to defend our title are growing slimmer each day.

Granted, Lady Luck hasn’t been kind to us. Chris Carpenter, the Cardinals ace and arguably the best pitcher in the league, has been on the shelf since the season opener against the Mets. The fact that we haven’t been mathematically eliminated yet despite only getting 6 innings of work out of our horse is cause enough for celebration. Our erstwhile #2 starter, Mark Mulder (whom we gave up Dan Haren for), hasn’t thrown a pitch all season as he recovers from shoulder surgery. Shortstop David Eckstein, center fielder Jim Edmonds, catcher Yadier Molina and right fielder Juan Encarnacion have all missed time with various injuries. Scott Rolen’s shoulder is barking again. Youngsters Adam Wainwright and Anthony Reyes haven’t pitched as projected. The most consistent starters have been Braden Looper and Brad Thompson, lifelong relief pitchers before this year. This team has dealt with more than just injuries and poor performances; it should not be forgotten that this club buried one of their own, Josh Hancock, just a few months back. It is near impossible to quantify how difficult that must’ve been for this team. All in all, the ’07 campaign has been one to forget for Cardinal Nation.

No matter. With Brewers ace Ben Sheets out for the next 6 weeks, now’s the time to make a run. With a patchwork rotation and an anemic offense, it’ll be tough for sure. But I believe. Eck and Encarnacion are already back; Jimmy will be activated soon. If things go right, maybe Carp and Mulder will log a few innings for us in August. The Brewers are young and the Cubbies (much to my chagrin) seem to be for real, but my Redbirds are experienced and that’s gotta count for something.With 7 games against Chicago and Milwaukee next week, we can be right back in this thing with a well timed hot streak. Maybe we can catch lightning in a bottle again and make something magical happen a la last October. And remember that “surplus” of cash we saved by not resigning Soup and Weaver, Walt Jocketty? No doubt, it was the right move to let those guys walk. But we desperately need a couple of impact players to infuse the roster with a little more bite. Now’s the time to get that done, too.

I’ll be there in Hot-Lanta tomorrow night with my son. Maybe I should hand deliver this letter to you all. At the very least, we face a Braves club that’s reeling from being swept by the hapless Cincinnatti Reds. Now’s the time to get off the schnide. Let’s do it, guys.