Within the last week, heck, within a 24 hour period, the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs both made moves to bolster there teams for the last 3 months of the 2008 season.  With those moves, all eyes in the baseball world focus on the St. Louis Cardinals, wondering if they will too make a bold move to try and match what the Cubs and Brewers did. 

Sure, we've all heard the rumors that the Cardinals are in the running for Matt Holliday and Brian Fuentes but let's be realistic Cardinal fans, that move more then likely wont happen.  In fact, I think past history should tell us something when it comes to if the Cardinals will make any type of impact move before the trade deadline.

The answer, is NO.

These days, the Cardinals act more like a small market team with how they run their team.  The new Busch Stadium is a cash cow, but Cardinal management has been reluctant to rent high-price players for the stretch drive.  This year, they seemed sold on seeing what they have when their injured players get back into the fold.  The first move backfired, as Mark Mulder was taken out of a start Wednesday night after throwing 16 pitches.  The diagnosis is a shoulder strain, and Mulder goes back on the DL.  It's more then likely the end of the road for Mulder as a Cardinal, a deal that when first made looked like it was going to be a steal for the Cardinals.  Instead, it looks like Billy Beane knew something the rest of baseball didn't when dealing Mulder, and the Cardinals took the bait and were burned. 

Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright are scheduled to come back to the Cardinals by August 1, barring any setbacks.  If healthy, I would both of those guys straight up with Carlos Zambrano/Rich Harden and CC Sabathia/Ben Sheets.  The problem, those guys aren't completely healthy and only Wainwright has made a start this season.  That's a lot of pressure to put on 2 guys with a team right in the middle of a pennant chase.

Year in and year out, Cardinal nation grows increasingly frustrated with the lack of impact moves as the trade deadline nears.  This year, with the Cardinals leading the Wild Card and sitting 4.5 games behind the Cubs for the top spot in the division, fans are voicing there opinions more and more about making a move to put the Cardinals over the top.  As much as I would like to concur, I'm skeptical about making such move for this team. 

Why you ask? 

On paper, the Cardinals roster doesn't match up very well with the Cubs and the Brewers.  Both those teams have made it known that they are going for it now, while the Cardinals mindset has been since the end of last season to play this season through, give guys who haven't had a chance a decent shot to play and then slowly add in the younger players, giving the Cardinals a chance to be good for many more years to come.  So far, the plan seems to be working, as the Cardinals have overachieved for the first 3 months and have found themselves neck and neck with the Cubs and Brewers. 

In order for the Cardinals to make a move, they would have to give up something and I don't know if that would be something they are willing to do.  To me, it would be like taking a step backwards in the rebuilding process.  I for one, am excited to see that our minor league system is actually producing top notch talent.  For the first time in a long time, the Cardinals will have more then 1 player in the Futures game at the All-Star break.  For the first time in a long time, the Cardinals are committed to playing there youngsters, as 10 different Cardinals have made there major league debut this year alone. 

As much as I would love to see the Cardinals take a chance and try and match what the Cubs and Brewers did, this team has its eyes and focus on the 2009 and 2010 seasons.  This team has it's eyes on being a great team year in and year out, building from within and then sprinkling in some veterans through free agency to fill in spots.  The formula has worked so far this season, and the Cardinals have yet to promote any of there top notch players from there farm system.  I'm sold on what John Mozelak is trying to do, so I'm just going to let this thing play out and see what happens. 

This Cardinal team has been fun to watch, and part of that comes with no expectations heading into the season.  I'm going to continue to watch them kick, fight and claw there way through the season.  They've already defied the odds that they would keep playing this well so far, maybe, just maybe they shock the world again like they did in 2006