Lost in the shadows of the historic collapse by the Boston Red Sox, and for that matter the Braves blowing their 8.5 lead, is the job done by the Cardinals to make up the ground they did in the NL Wildcard race over the past month of the season.

There has been so much turmoil in St. Louis this whole season with the looming free agency of Albert Pujols to the patchwork pitching staff the team put together after injuries decimated things.  Yet here we are again and LaRusa’s team is exceeding expectations.

St. Louis trailed Atlanta by 10.5 games on Aug. 25, but won 23 of its last 31 games. The Cards made the run without one of their best players, outfielder Matt Holliday, and with a cast of rejects and retreads. There was the quiet signing of Lance Berkman this offseason and the addition of critical bullpen pieces like Octavio Dotel and Arthur Rhodes late in the year. LaRusa even got production out of new shortstop Rafael Furcal, who was wasting away in Los Angeles.

It’s not the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals just yet, but it could be by time the postseason is complete.

Like him or hate him, consider myself leaning heavily towards the latter, you have to respect LaRusa's track record.

LARUSA’S BEST 5 SEASONS (BleacherReport.com)

MLB st. louis carindals, tony larusa, best seasons, 2011