Hancock, the Cards, and the case for the Bulls

Greetings from St. Louis where I spent the last couple of days enjoying Cardinals baseball at Busch Stadium.

And I do mean enjoying. Sure, it's just the Pirates, but solid pitching and timely hitting have produced three straight victories. This team, in this division - that's something to celebrate.

But just when you think the action on the field is starting to get interesting, a bombshell drops away from it.

Josh Hancock's father has filed a lawsuit, blaming Mike Shannon's restaurant, its manager (Mike's daughter), the tow truck driver, the tow truck company, and the guy whose car broke down on the interstate, for the death of his son.

Everyone is to blame, apparently, except for Josh Hancock, the guy whose blood alcohol content was nearly twice the legal limit, was speeding, talking on his cell phone and never hit his brakes as he plowed into the backside of the tow truck last month.

The wrongful death suit charges that Hancock "regularly became visibly intoxicated" at Shannon's.

When I heard this yesterday, I couldn't believe it. Pathetic. Even sad.

Dean Hancock filed the suit in St. Louis Circuit Court. Mr. Hancock could be in for a rude awakening. This is Missouri, not Dickie Scruggs and lawsuit-happy Mississippi. He may be better off trying to move his case here.

If local fan and media reaction is any gauge at all, he'll have a hard time finding a sympathetic jury. Last night on the Cardinals flagship station in St. Louis, KTRS, talk show host John Hadley became so exercised while discussing this, I thought he was going to have a stroke on the air.

When Josh died, Mr. Hancock issued a classy statement thanking the Cardinals for their help and support.

His family received sympathy and support from Cardinals fans all over the country. Those same fans are now reacting to the lawsuit with scorn, skepticism and anger.

Even if the Hancock's squeeze a few dollars from someone, either through a jury award or settlement, will it really be worth it?

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Back to baseball. Akin to a cover of a business magazine touting a hot stock right before it crumbles, the sports media can send a signal right around the time of a market top or bottom.

Such is the case with Sports Illustrated and John Donovan's column on Thursday. Just as the Cardinals were preparing to sweep the Pirates and climb within 7.5 games of the Brewers (only six back on the loss side), Donovan unleashes his critique of the Redbirds.

"When all is said and lost this year, these Cards will end up much like last year's Cards. Only a little worse. And, this time, they'll have no chance at postseason redemption."

Maybe. Maybe not. But the view on the eve of the Memorial Day weekend, with 118 games to go, looks considerably more bullish than it did a few weeks ago.

Kip Wells pitched one of his best games of the season on Wednesday night, Braden Looper has been consistently solid all year long as has the bullpen. Jason Isringhausen is simply terrific. Yadier Molina and Chris Duncan are leading a resurgent offense.

The team's next seven games are against Washington and Colorado -- two clubs that are combined 17 games below .500 this season. A good stretch here -- say 5-2 -- would have the Cardinals almost breakeven for the season. In this division, breakeven is a pace not easily achieved (for proof -- see here).

The tipping point for this team comes from the direction of third base and centerfield. If Scott Rolen or Jim Edmonds can consistently produce, this team has a shot. If both get going, I'll feel very comfortable the rest of the year.

I think this club bottomed out with the sweep at Detroit last weekend. These next seven games should tell us a lot.