The Cardinals are doing their best to prove to the world that their World Series win last year was the biggest fluke since Moby Dick. Tonight they were two-hit by lowly John Maine and the Mets en route to a 10-0 shutout, completing a three-game sweep. The Cards were outscored 20-2 in those three games.

What's even worse is that they started career reliever Braden Looper, who hasn't started a game since his first year in pro ball in 1997 back in high Single-A ball.  Pitching ex-woeful Met Looper in his first career start against the his ex-mates is like throwing meat to a pack of wolves—have you ever seen the Mets eat?

The Cardinals become the first reigning champs to start the season 0-3 since the Baltimore Orioles in 1984 and just the eighth ever:

Consider that the Cards' ace Chris Carpenter will miss his next start scheduled start, which was supposed to take place in St. Louis next game, Friday in Houston.  Adam Wainwright is scheduled to pitch their next game, and he is another pitcher who has never started a game in the majors. At least he was a starter throughout his minor-league career though.

Should the Cardinals lose Friday, they would become just the third reigning champs to lose their first four games:

Two losses in their first two games in Houston and the Cardinals become the first World Series champs to lose their first five games the next season.  Even the Marlins various dismantling projects of their championship teams never came close to doing that.