With Monday night’s win in Houston, the Cards lowered their magic number to a MLB-low three. If the team takes care of business tonight and tomorrow in Houston and/or the Cubs sputter after winning two straight, the NL Central crown will officially be back where it belongs in St. Louis.
And while those cynics among us will quickly look forward to analyzing the 
opponent who awaits in the division series, a division championship is certainly worth celebrating.
After all, it takes nearly 90 wins to even get into this position.
So, while the Cards inch closer to their seventh division title in what will be considered one of the best decades in the franchise’s storied history, let us take a moment to be thankful that we are Cardinals fans.
We’ll need this momentary period of serenity before the lunacy that is October baseball returns to this town anyway.
Somewhere between win number 89 and 91 this season the Cards will pop champagne, celebrate a six month baseball odyssey and remind us all that there’s no better anticipation for the second season than that of baseball.
Here’s proof that this moment of regular season jubilance is truly unmatched by what any other sport can offer.
NBA: Congratulations, your team has won the division. While the rest of the media attention has since shifted to who will represent the seven and eight seeds in each conference playoff, your team will likely be on the cusp of one (if not two) of the most pointless, drawn-out and predictable playoff series in any sport. Talking heads everywhere will, instead, size-up the conference finals which won’t begin until six weeks from now. If you’re the Utah Jazz, you know it’s not getting any better from here on out.
NHL: Congratulations, your team managed to put together a sound regular season campaign from beginning to end. This means nothing. In fact, the team awaiting yours in the first round won their last 13 games to make the playoffs behind a hot goaltender and is widely-considered a dark horse to upset you in the first round. If you’re the San Jose Sharks, simply be glad that your team’s performance these next few weeks will nullify a rise in next season’s ticket prices.
NFL: After spending an entire weekend dissecting the likely two dozen playoff scenarios that allude to ties, division records and total yardage accumulated in games played in the final month, you quickly determined your team has indeed qualified for the playoffs. Now you must hope and pray that your season doesn’t go up in smoke because of one sloppy night. If you’re the Philadelphia Eagles, you know to instead be thankful for the Phillies recent title.
NASCAR: Your favorite driver qualified for the chase! After three dozen races that all seemingly appeared identical each week, you’re now geeked up for the season’s final ten events that still manage to include 30 or so drivers racing for no reason in particular. If you’re uhhhh…oh who the hell am I kidding? I wouldn’t watch NASCAR if my family owned a team. Isn’t the Daytona 500 like two months from now anyway?
PGA: By some inexplicable algorithm, your golfer of choice has qualified for the tour playoff! If you can follow the logic, strategy and mathematical cause and effect of what will happen over the next few events, I know you’ll be glued to the TV for the season’s final tournament. That, of course, is despite the fact we’re all convinced these tournaments mean nothing compared to any of the majors anyway.
WNBA: A purely scintillating 12 game, five week regular season has lent itself to what should be a captivating playoff. In fact, they’re going on right now. Haven’t noticed? That’s because it’s September…and well, it is women’s professional basketball.
College Hoops: You’re team made the dance! Your crew, winners of the conference’s regular season and conference tournament is a one seed. All eyes will be on your school as it takes on a 16 seed of future doctors representing a conference and school that you can not find information about anywhere on ESPN.com. Relax and for now enjoy the seemingly never-ending discussion about which team’s bubble burst the hardest. Be glad you’re not a Mid Major.
College Football: You’re team is going bowling baby! Put the Christmas week travel plans on hold because you and 100 fraternity brothers will celebrate the 
abrupt conclusion of this season by partying in beautiful El Paso, Texas on New Years Eve in the Sun Bowl. You’ll have 37 days to make proper preparations.
Baseball: Your ticket is officially punched to the post season. Enjoy it. Only eight teams made it this far and only half those will be around after the first week once we get started. Your team will go hog wild if they advance even past the first round, another banner will hang if they advance after that. From there, sit back and enjoy the complete crap-shot that will be the Fall Classic.
Soak up that serenity while you can.