Imrem: Cardinals sure seem to have Chicago Cubs in their heads

It's only winter but you already can feel the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry heating up to a summer sizzle.

Twice in the last week, the Cardinals made the Cubs even more relevant than Las Vegas oddsmakers have.

If the Cards don't dummy up, they're going to sound petrified of the Cubs and like they can't get that team up north out of their heads.

The Cards doth protest too much over recent events, even if no one is quite sure what "doth" means.

If Cubs fans wanted to, they could make fun of that team down south (yes, I'm dragging the rivalry into Michigan-Ohio State verbiage).

However, the Cardinals do still inspire admiration and respect around here for the success they have sustained over decades.

For their own good now, the Cardinals should stop mentioning the surging Cubs during interviews.

First, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny expressed disappointment with Jason Heyward's comments after the former Cardinals outfielder signed with the Cubs. Heyward's rationale was that the Cardinals are aging while the young Cubs figure to endure over the course of his eight-year contract.

Matheny took that personally, but the only response should be to go out and beat the Cubs on the field.

OK, now for pitcher Mike Leake who, after signing with the Cardinals, said that he's excited to be a part of the rivalry.

"Honestly, I wouldn't mind taking them down," Leake added about the Cubs.

Maybe what really annoys the Cardinals is the rave reviews the Cubs are getting.

The burr in Matheny's behind could be last week's headline on USA Today's website: "Jason Heyward gives Cubs the next great dynasty."

The Cubs did beat St. Louis in the playoffs, but not even they are declaring themselves a dynasty before winning even one National League pennant, much less a World Series, much less a string of them.

As for Leake, he might have seen the MLB.com piece declaring that the Cubs have "the best" starting pitching in baseball.

At his introductory news conference in St. Louis, Leake insisted the Cardinals' five-man rotation is full of No. 1 and No. 2 starters. Leake said that makes them "the best" … and he might be right. Cardinals starters are a combined 112 victories above .500 for their careers.

Also pointed out in the Leake article was that his career record is 9-2 against the Cubs and 8-3 against the Pirates, another NL Central contender.

Leake can make a great case for St. Louis having better starting pitching than the Cubs. Meanwhile, Matheny can make a great case for the Cardinals still being the team to beat in the division.

But why would Leake and Matheny feel compelled to go public with their feelings if they aren't feeling at least a few degrees of Cubbie heat?

All that Matheny and Leake did was further legitimize the Cubs, as if last season's postseason run wasn't legitimate enough.

The normally smarter-than-thou Cardinals would be smart to stay above the fray and let others inflate the Cubs' egos.

When the Cards talk about the Cubs, they sound like their rival has taken up permanent residence in their heads.

Maybe the Cardinals simply are trying to convince themselves that they still hold the trump cards in the NL Central.

Maybe they're talking big but just a little worried about defending their top perch in the division.

How many days to spring training did you say it is and how hot will it be by then?

mimrem@dailyherald.com