NL Central Preview: St. Louis Cardinals — Part One

It has almost become a rite of passage for the St. Louis Cardinals to end each season atop the National League Central standings. From 2000 to 2015, the team made the postseason in 12 of 16 seasons, including five straight appearances from 2011 to 2015, establishing a model of consistency unheard of in modern baseball. For fans of opposing NL teams, the Cardinals are who everyone loves to hate.

Although the team still hasn’t gone through a losing season since 1999, its playoff magic has run out the last three seasons. The Cardinals haven’t made the postseason since the ’15 season despite continuing to be in the hunt. The front office was active this offseason, adding two star names to its…