For some reason Cards Diaspora still hasn't been kicked out of the UCB (United Cardinal Bloggers), so while we're still in kind of good standing, we're going to take a crack at the postseason awards ballot.

You can also vote if you're so inclined: LINK HERE

Player of the Year:

Yadi. No brainer.

Pitcher of the Year:

Kyle Lohse. You know, there was a point in time where Kyle's 4 year/ 44M contract was the worst contract in the history of the Cardinals. He was 10-18 from 2009 through 2010 with a 5.65 ERA and body language that made Sad Keanu look like a Glee extra. 2 years later and the Cardinals can't afford him. Go figure.

Game of the Year:

7/16 vs Brewers. Down 2-0 on the road in the top of the 9th, the Cardinals were in one of their patented dry streaks. The Brewers were playing with fire, loading the bases and getting 2 outs before Matt Holliday stepped in and hit a bases loaded single to tie the game. Allen Craig completed the comeback with a single. A beautiful, unexpected win that, in retrospect, really put the Brewers out of contention in the NL Central.

Performance of the Year:

Carlos Beltran. 4-5 2 HR/7RBIs 05/02/12 vs The Pirates. A flawless game from a suspiring season.

Surprise Player of the Year:

Carlos Beltran. We thought we'd forget about Albert Pujols by the time his contract with the Angels ended. Carlos made him a distant memory by May. Pete Kozma's late season run was surprising. But in totality, Beltran was the free agent gift that kept on giving.

Disappointing Player of the Year:

Lance Berkman. 90% of people that walk into a casino are up at one point. 80% of those 90% give their winnings back plus some.

Rookie of the Year:

Joe Kelly. Dude was a spot starter. A fireman out of the pen. And pretty damn reliable for a rookie.

Our old friend HMW hasn't been heard from much in these parts for a while. 

So I was exctied to see he's alive and well over on Twitter (LINK HERE) and still up to his old tricks. 

Behold... his collection of bearded bobbleheads: 

Some e-mails you don't want to see. 

When it has 'David Freese Car Accident' in the subject line. During a Holiday. You really don't want to see.

Late in the day Thursday, the stories about Freese's car wreck started circulating, by 8p, we had a picture. It's hard to not assume the worst, considering the crash was in daylight, the weather was nice, it's the off-season and holidays are generally a time for parties. 

Luckily, it looks like David ran off the road to avoid a collision with a deer. Putting the wild in Wildwood. He followed police procedures and has told everyone that he's not hurt. 

Phew.

St. Louis is serious about their Cardinals. And when a Cardinal grows up in St. Louis, becomes a World Series MVP? He's pretty much all our adopted son. Thankfully all that was damaged here was a murdered out Range Rover and what looks to be a 10-year old white ash.*

Let's get this man a driver and and rental car ASAP, Mr. DeWitt. If our off-season is going to be boring, then let's keep it boring.

*Probably not a white ash. Probably not 10 years old. 

Ed Note: This article was originally published in 2008 on Cards Diaspora by Mountain Fresh (nee Fresh WC) after the devastating news that Rusty’s, an Edwardsville IL ‘Skanksgiving’ tradition was shuttered.

For whatever reason, this article got put up in 2009, 2010 & 2011 and by giving it some run again, we've created a monster. As long as this site is in operation, the day prior to Thanksgiving will have this post up...

The vast majority of you will not find this post amusing/entertaining in the least. But it’s become something I look forward to reading every year on this day.

So I hope you’ll indulge us posting this again…

Skanksgiving: a time to share joy, cocktails, and inflated stories of success with the majority of your graduating high school class. 

“People who get excited about NYE are d-bags. Skanksgiving is where it’s at,” offered loyal CD reader and problem drinker John Bucher. “If every day was Skanksgiving, you could say goodbye to the Taliban and hello to world peace.”  

But it won’t be all fun and games for one quiet St. Louis suburb this year.  
This brimming hamlet’s 28,000+ residents began their 2009 Skanksgiving with a burning and all important question: “ Where the hell am I supposed to go tonight now that Rusty’s is closed?

Edwardsville, Illinois: Baseball Town, USA. – once the home to Rusty’s Restaurant, a place thousands of proud Edwardsville Tigers felt was the Skanksgiving capital of the world.  One of Edwardsville’s first victims of the recent economic downturn, Rusty’s had their final last call June 4, 2008- and closed their doors forever.

Current dentist and future rehab visitor Beau Moody offered the CD his take:

“I mean…I’m never going to go to a class reunion- Skanksgiving at Rusty’s was as close as it’s ever going to get for me.  I love Laurie’s, but it’s just not the same.  Quite frankly, I’m not sure I’m ready to deal with this tragedy.”

Downtown watering holes Laurie’s Place, the Stagger Inn (Again), and Cleo’s stand ready to pick up the slack, but it won’t be enough for local attorney Tom Ludwig.  “ I wouldn’t even step foot in Rusty’s any day other than Skanksgiving.  Now that it’s gone, I guess I’ll just stay home this year.  I’m deeply saddened by our community’s loss.” 

Though many intend to move on with their lives and give the recently re-badged Big Daddy’s their business this Skanksgiving, some are unable to let go. 

As early as Sunday evening, flyers were circulating the streets of Edwardsville calling for a gathering in the now vacant Rusty’s parking lot for a Candle & Natural Light vigil to mourn the legend of Rusty’s Skanksgiving.  But regardless of tonight’s plans, the landscape of Edwardsville’s night-before-major-holidays-nightlife is forever changed. 

If there is something we love more than randomly seeing celebs in Cardinal hats, I haven't found it. It's awesome. And we've featured some of the best on the site (including, who else, AXL ROSE!)

We, shamefully, were on the TMZ and found this:

And if you want to hear more from Slim, check out this interview: LINK HERE

Good on the whole Cash Money crew for helping the community out AND looking good. 

Axl Rose is not a great musician. 

Anyone else get a little caught off guard with these new uniforms? 

Because screw you, that's why. LINK HERE

The world's fastest piano juggler. LINK HERE

LOL Taliban. LINK HERE

Cracker Jacks are getting caffeine. LINK HERE

Great article on ESPN. LINK HERE

Uncle Drew is back. LINK HERE (via Mountain Fresh)

I think I've been able to distill the real disappointment of 2012. 

I thought it was dead. 

I thought that after a season filled with the laziest trope the Cardinals evoked, we were finally done. We wouldn't have to see it ever again and we would all be the better for it.

Than I click on the Sporting News 'Hot Stove 2013' for the Cardinals and there it is. The phrase that SCREAMS that what you're about to read is nothing more than filler.

Fluff.

Here's the leade: No Albert Pujols? No Tony LaRussa? No problem for rookie manager Mike Matheny and the Cardinals, who came within one win of reaching the World Series.