Why the Cardinals are letting Adam Wainwright down, and how they can fix it

St. Louis Cardinals legend Adam Wainwright is just two wins away from 200, though there’s no guarantee he’ll reach that mark. It’s one of several ways the 2023 season has let Wainwright down.

Not all athletes get to walk off into the sunset as they retire, ideally still with enough talent left to reach their ultimate goal. Babe Ruth famously lasted just 28 games into his final season in 1935. It happens.

Adam Wainwright isn’t struggling as mightily as Ruth in those days, but 2023 hasn’t been easy. Rather than retiring after a postseason appearance with Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina, Wainwright opted to stay one more year, chasing an elusive 200-win mark and hoping to compete for another World Series.

Instead, the Cards are unlikely to make the postseason, trading away most of their spare parts to prepare for life after Waino retires. Wainwright, meanwhile, is just two wins away from 200, but has lost four of his last five outings while his ERA has ballooned to 7.81.

Cardinals: Adam Wainwright’s heart is broken

In his USA Today column, Bob Nightengale made the argument that baseball fans everywhere should be rooting for Wainwright, especially those without a horse in this race.

“I really thought we had a chance this year, and the way I was feeling, I was definitely coming back,” Wainwright told USA TODAY Sports. “Come on, five wins from 200, feeling strong, and you’re going to quit that? Being that close to a cool number like that? There’s not too many guys who will do that unless the game changes back. It will be too hard.”

Wainwright makes a good point — there are few pitchers who would turn down this opportunity, even if their skills were declining. Waino had a good enough year statistically in 2022 to warrant one final go-around in St. Louis.

“I’ve been wanting to be great this year, it just hasn’t happened,” Wainwright says. “But to get to 200, and even more, that would be pretty cool. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to be standing on the mound, and hopefully we’re winning 8-0, and seeing it happen.’’

All it takes is two wins. Don’t mess it up. St. Louis.