A latent defect in a product is one that is detectable only after the product is purchased and used.  It seems as good a metaphor as any for the 2006 Cardinals.  Let's not be mistaken, this team is defective.  

When the team was first presented to us during Spring Training, we, the Fans -- the prospective purchasers of the product -- knew the team was a fixer-upper.  There were holes in the in-field at second base and in the out-field in left-field.  We knew that the pitching, both in the rotation and in the bull pen, would not be top of the line or state of the art.  But these problems looked fixable.  A trade here, a pick up there, a bit of spit and glue, and it seemed we had a perfectly serviceable contender.

Well, we were wrong.  We now know that latent defects in Mulder's shoulder, in Isringhausen's hip, in Edmonds' head (well, we already knew something about that, but who knew it would keep him from playing completely?), had sealed this team's fate before the inaugural pitch was thrown in our new jewel of a stadium.  Now we know that the drubbing the team suffered at the hands of the White Socks was no fluke.  It was just the first symptom to present of a cancer that already had fatally metastasized to the team's vital organs.

If we knew then what we knew now, maybe things would have been different.  Maybe we would have started Wainwright and Reyes from opening day.  Maybe Looper would have been our closer all year.  Maybe Duncun would have played 150 games.  Maybe we would have sought more drastic treatment.

And maybe we wouldn't have thought that we had a contender on our hands, rather than an also ran.  Knowledge does not solve the problem, but it makes acceptance easier.

As has been made abundantly clear to us for the past two weeks, the 2006 Cardinals are a lemon.  Too bad we can't get a refund.  At least we can get a new team, just not until next year.

After the team finally is put out of its misery, I think I'll be ready to look at the bright points of the season.  As for now, having been informed of the team's fatal condition only recently, I'm still coping with the news.

RIP