The Cardinals finished April with a respectable 14-8 record but there are those in the clubhouse who felt it should have been so much more.

“We could have had an epic month, but it turned out to just be a decent month,” said first baseman Lance Berkman, still disabled because of a left calf strain.

Berkman, in part, was referring to four one-run losses, all of them coming in games the Cardinals led.

“I feel like we’re suffered some bad losses this month,” he said. “With the potential that this team has, this is a nice month, but it’s certainly not our best.”

In the bigger picture, though, the Cardinals might have done quite well to be 14-8 in April. They started it, of course, without first baseman Albert Pujols and manager Tony La Russa, who have moved on.

Right-hander Chris Carpenter hasn’t pitched an inning because of a nerve problem which has weakened his right shoulder. And Berkman, one of their offensive stars last season, also has been injured and has had only 23 at-bats.

The Cardinals  split their last 10 games before starting a three-game series with a in over Pittsburgh in St. Louis on Tuesday.

As when they went 2-for-14 with men in scoring position on Sunday in a one-run loss, the Cardinals, despite ranking high in the league statistics in runs scored, often haven’t been up to snuff when they’ve had a chance to drive in runners.

“You’ve got to do that to win consistently,” manager Mike Matheny said.

That being said at the time of this post the Cardinals lead all of the National League in run differential…by a lot. A difference of greater than 35 runs exists between them and the next best team, the Atlanta Braves.

A few notes:

–1B Lance Berkman still has not run after suffering a recurrence of his calf injury on April 19. He is eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list this weekend in Houston, but that is not a sure thing.

–OF/INF Allen Craig  came off the disabled list on Tuesday after a rehabilitation option at Class A Palm Beach where he predictably crushed two home runs in his final start, and then at Class AAA Memphis. Craig had November knee surgery.

–RHP Scott Linebrink, who has a shoulder problem, felt tightness during a bullpen throwing session on Sunday and does not appear close to returning. When Linebrink, hurt the day after it was announced he made the club in spring training, is able to pitch, he will need several games on a rehabilitation program in the minors.

–CF Jon Jay is riding a nine-game hitting streak. Since the beginning of the 2011 season, he is batting .308.

–RHP Adam Wainwright in his fifth bid for his first victory on Tuesday was finally successful facing Pittsburgh. Wainwright, slow to round into form after missing last year following Tommy John elbow surgery, was much better in his last outing, holding Chicago to one run in six innings in a no-decision.

BY THE NUMBERS: 14-8 — The Cardinals’ record in 22 consecutive games against National League Central Division opponents.

As I wrote last week in this space, everything was rainbow and lollipops in Cardinal Nation after such a fast start out of the gate, beating up on division foes.  The St. Louis Cardinals were the first defending World Series champions to win their first six series of the season since the 1922 New York Giants. That, as you know by now, came after a season of incredible turnover and uncertainty heading into 2012.

Going into Opening Day, this was the talk, “Yes this team has talent, how will they respond without Pujols, Duncan, and LaRussa?”  “Can the team hold up through injuries with so many veterans?”

Then something happened. The team started winning in convincing fashion. And subtly, expectations became reset.

A tremendous start to the season. Heading into the Chicago series, the Cardinals led the NL in almost every offensive category and in run differential (second only in the league to Texas Murderer’s Row Rangers).

Then the first two games against the Cubs happened. Both 3-2 losses. Both 2-1 leads given up by the bullpens in the 9th inning. Now the team is 11-7 and only two games out in front of the Brewers. Now the team is dealing with the bats cooling off. Now they are dealing with fighting through blown calls by umpires and the bullpen giving up leads. They are dealing with multiple injuries that test not only their depth but their resolve. In a word, for the first time of the Mike Matheny era, they are dealing with significant adversity.

Making too much of a simple two game losing skid against Windy City Rivals? I am not so sure.

There are 9 more games in a row against the NL Central. As I have written many times before, these games are crucial. Even if they go 5-4, the fast start would ensure a 16-11 record, which is nothing to make light of. Personally, I think the team should be shooting for 17-10 or 18-9 through the NL Central start of the schedule. They still have the opportunity to run out to a good lead in the division, but it will depend on their ability to push through adversity, to push through a lack of run support for pitching over the last four games, the bullpen shaking off a couple of tough losses and blown saves.

This is the moment a lot of Cardinals fans have been waiting for. To seem what the team is truly made of. As my UCB co-host Dathan Brooks often says, every win in April is a win you don’t have to get in September. These April games really matter because they are all against the Central. And these next nine games will show us how the team handles its first bit of adversity on the young season.

It sure would be nice if they could give Wainwright a little bit of support as he is trying to get back to form. So far, he has had zero, that’s right zero, run support in his first four outings. That will change. His stuff still is not what it once was, but that is to be expected at least for a couple more months. He showed last night he will fight to make pitches and get outs with less than his best stuff. It is a move in the right direction. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Waino doesn’t go for another four games.

The first battle to get back on track and further the division lead is today at Wrigley Field at 1:20 Central Time. Can the Birds shake off a couple tough losses, and show the resolve and grit their new manager preaches? Or will they allow the sting of the last two nights to carry over and leave them in a division dogpile?….

It sure will be fun to watch and find out.

After their toughest stretch of the season (against the Yankees and Red Sox), the Royals hit the road for an easier slate of games (Blue Jays, Indians, Tigers). The road trip went okay, as they finished 5-5, but it easily could have went excellent as every loss was by one run.

They came back to Kansas City last weekend for a quick three-game series against the Indians and the first game of the series produced the same result: a one-run loss.

Going 5-6 in 11 straight games seems like something the Royals have been doing for the majority of the year. However, having all six losses come down to one run is extremely tough to take for the team and the fans.

Of the Royals’ 83 losses so far this year, 31 of them have been by one run.

Yep… 31.

They have grown accustomed to building an early lead and losing it, or counting on their offense to make a comeback in the last few innings.

As disheartening as these losses can be, there is light to be shed on the situation.

First off, the Royals’ Runs Scored(RS)-Runs Allowed(RA) Differential is sitting at -53 after 142 games. This isn’t a great number by any means, but it is definitely surprising considering their record is 59-83.

Last year, they were at a -172 RS-RA Differential after 142 games, with a 58-84 record.

This means two things: 1) The 2011 Royals are one game better in the standings than the 2010 Royals and 2) The 2011 Royals are much, much more competitive than the 2010 Royals.

With the plethora of rookies on the current roster, there is no doubt in my mind that the improvement is going to continue into 2012.

This year, the Royals have been experiencing a ton of growing pains. Whether it’s the rookies in the bullpen blowing leads or the rookie hitters going through 0-20 slumps, 2011 has been more of a learning episode than anything.

Next year, look for the bullpen to hold onto more of the one or two run leads. Look for Mike Moustakas to go on a 15-game hitting streak filled with doubles and home runs rather than singles through the hole at 1^st and 2^nd. Look for Johnny Giavotella to be kept in the game during the 9^th inning because he has improved his defense.

One-run losses are very frustrating when they are happening over and over. Nobody likes to lose, especially in that type of fashion.

Improvement has to start somewhere and being closer and more competitive in individual games is a great start.

As hard as these losses are to swallow this year, just know that they are actually stepping stones into much greater success in 2012.