Step 1: The Cardinals play a season and have a winning record.
Step 2: They either just miss the playoffs or get in and are knocked out super-fast.
Step 3: Other teams that spend more and take bigger risks win the pennants and World Series.
Step 4: Cardinals share offseason optimism about both the present and the future.
Repeat Steps 1-4.
This happened eight years in a row.
Every year, starting in 2015.
Eight years in a row — one playoff series win (the 2019 National League Division Series).
Just one more playoff series win than the Pirates or the Rockies.