Times are tough. 

Way back when this site was launched in 2006, RVB and I made a pledge that if a company contacted us and wanted to give our readers something, we'd do it. And over the years, we've had some OK give aways. 

But today? Today we're giving away cash. $100 in cash from Chevy Keys to STL.

And they couldn't make it any easier. 

Go to their Twitter account and follow them (LINK HERE). Then at the end of the day, they'll tell us who followed them today and we'll draw a winner.

THAT. IS. IT.

You followed Octomom, dummy. You can follow an account that is Tweeting about cool crap happening in St. Louis. 

I'll post the winner of the drawing in the comment section tomorrow. You have until 11:59a CST to follow their account to win. And yes, this is just for Cards Diaspora readers, so your chances are VERY good.

UPDATE: We have a winner: @Brian_Haenchen

Thanks to everyone that played and followed. (I'd have put that in the comments, but the site won't let me comment. What a professional operation we're running.)

In 2004 I was working full time at a landscaping company and then hosting a radio show from 4p to 7p on the local ESPN Radio affiliate in Knoxville TN. 

My partner on the show was a huge Astros fan. And I'll never forget sitting in the studio well after the (terrible) show had ended, watching Game 6 of the NLCS between the Cards and 'Stros. We had tickets to Game 7 and would be leaving the station and heading straight to STL if the Cards won. 

This happened. 

So we were off. And my buddy, although shamed to admit it, was giddy. The Cardinals hadn't been to a World Series in forever (17 years) and the Astros, well the Astros had never been. 

Worse, at least for me, was that Jeff Suppan was getting the nod in Game 7. His opponent? The Rocket. Roger Clemens. In the midst of his 7th Cy Young season. Looking to become THE legend in Houston and take them to baseball's holy land. 

Then this happened.

I still feel bad for my buddy. He was one of MAYBE 5 people wearing Astros gear in Old Busch Stadium that night. Walking out of the gates, I still remember 2 separate news crews approaching him to get a reaction shot.

Man, that had to be the worst.

I bring this moment up, because the Astros are in town and because the Astros are terrible. 

Clemens was 41 (!) in 2004. Nearly 10 years later, people are clamoring for him to come back and make a start? I didn't get it. Sure, I saw Houston's record and would admit that a gimmick for the die-hards that locked into season tickets back in the spring and can't even give them away now would be fair. 

But Clemens? 

After watching two nights of the Astros, bring on the Clemens. 

Not only could Astros fans get a bar argument chip (You think your team's bad? Mine hired a 51 year old... 5 years after he retired!), but we'd get to see Clemens, perhaps, take one last final beating from the Cardinals, who travel to Houston next week.

Win and win.

The Astros are bad. Like real bad. Like so bad that when we complain about the Cardinals, it's like complaining that the caviar at this cocktail party is way to fucking twangy to be served on rye mini toasts. 

Bring back The Rocket. A failure to launch would be just the tonic everyone needs in Houston.

It's not something I'm proud of, but I used to write for Bleacher Report. 

I know. I'll have to carry that shame with me as long as I live. It's my burden. 

Today Bleacher Report follows a pretty simple model. SEO Bait. And then SEO Bait some more. Ever do a search for "St. Louis Cardinals"? Chances are you'll see something like this:


They are SEO masters.

And the headlines are even better: "5 Reasons The Cardinals are the SF Giants EASIEST 1st Round Opponent".

WHAAA? My beloved Cardinals are playoff pushovers? *CLICK*

Then I get this:


Or this:


I'll spare you the rest of the list... but if you're leading with a 3-3 head to head record and Chris Carpenters nuts in big games... FAIL.

Doesn't matter to B/R, though. They've got your click recorded. Nearly 1300 as of the time I found this artcile. Written by a man that was encouraged to make a list, even if the list didn't hold an iota of merit.

Just a heads up, I guess. None of this is going to change, until we stop clicking on these silly headlines and make B/R do better.

They can do better.

Over the weekend Modern Family star (and Kansas City native) Eric Stonestreet had a run-in with a Cardinal fan at Dodger stadium.

Sorry if the Royals suck again, Stonestreet... but don't bail on your team and try to act like you're a Dodger fan. We know your true colors!
 

Last night, around 11:15 Allen Craig hit a double, nearly getting thrown out at second base to lead off the 6th inning. 

• Oh, punny. LINK HERE
• 90s problems. LINK HERE
• Birds stealing food from humans. LINK HERE
• Farting in the hood. LINK HERE
• Breaking Ned. LINK HERE
• Andy Murray. LINK HERE

Or maybe the drones mapped Busch Stadium when Dennys Reyes was still with the Cards?

Still... poor form, Google.