St. Louis Cardinals

The most unlikely World Series winner last year and possibly one of the worst teams ever to win it, the Cardinals entered the off-season needing several changes on their team.  And several were made, but not for the better.  Three-fifths of their post-season rotation bolted for free agency and the Cardinals didn’t do much to improve the team, seeking to go with reclamation projects and young unproven arms.  The offense will still mash but this team may be worse that last years, pitching wise.

Starting Rotation

1. Chris Carpenter (RHP) – St. Louis did Carpenter right by giving him a contract extension and he’s appeared to have put his arm and injury troubles behind him.  Carpenter is a solid ace at the top of this rotation and should contend for the Cy Young award for years to come.
2. Anthony Reyes (RHP) – Reyes was solid in the minors and had a pretty impressive rookie debut as well, plus a solid post-season showing.  He’s a more than adequate number two behind Carpenter and his stuff is solid.  His fastball touches 95 mph and he’s got a great changeup and curveball.  If he continues to improve, Reyes should be more than adequate as far as replacing the departed Jeff Suppan.
3. Kip Wells (RHP) – The latest Dave Duncan pitching project, Wells is hoping that he can regain some semblance of the promise he had when he was a White Sox first round pick.  Wells does have good tools, as his fastball touches the low-90s fastball and he's got a great curve, but his biggest problem is that he lacks command of his arsenal (that and he can't seem to stay healthy.)  If Duncan can get Wells back on track, he could be one of the biggest values of the off-season.  Then again, the same was said about Sidney Ponson last season...
4. Adam Wainright (RHP) – This would seem like a bit of desperation on St. Louis’ part until you realize that Wainright was developed as a starter and that he’s moving back into his natural position.  That big curve should play well in the rotation and he should be a more than adequate starter.  However, if Jason Isringhausen isn’t ready to come back, Wainright could also enter the season as the closer.
5. Braden Looper (RHP) – Getting back to desperation moves, Loopers potential move to the fifth starter’s position may qualify as one.  He’s hasn’t started a game since he was back in the minors.  He’ll likely be holding the place for Mark Mulder, who’s on the DL.

Bullpen

• Jason Isringhausen (Closer) – The team is optimistic about Jason Isringhausen's recovery from hip surgery, and they'd better hope so if they expect to keep Wainright in the rotation.  Izzy may be good for 30 saves or so, the problem is that he’s been coming off of injuries almost since he’s gotten to St. Louis.  Short term, Izzy should be fine.  Long term, which comes into play next year, the Cardinals had been start looking for his successor, as this will probably be the last year that you can expect anything productive out of him.
• Russ Springer (Setup Man) – One of the best setup men in the business, Springer jumps from the Astros to St. Louis to help sore up the setup corps and ease the pain that Wainright’s departure will cause.
• Ryan Franklin (RHP) – Franklin will add some depth to the lineup, plus offer a possible arm to the rotation.  Franklin started 94 games for Seattle from 2003-05.
• Tyler Johnson (LHP) – Johnson gets the job done, but the numbers aren’t pretty at all.
• Randy Flores (LHP) – Why is this man still on the roster?
• Josh Hancock (RHP) – Hancock is a solid right hander that should be dependable coming out of the pen.
• Brad Thompson (RHP) – Taking the place of Josh Kinney, Thompson will be the last bullpen option.

Starting Lineup

1. David Eckstein (SS) – One of the shortest players ever to play returns at the top of the lineup again.  Eckstein is a solid defender that has great range.  As far as offense, Eckstein has excellent plate discipline and enough speed to be able to run out line drives.  The one thing he doesn’t have much of is power, but really, when you sum him up, he’s a good player. 
2. Adam Kennedy (2B)- After Kennedy’s ugly divorce with the Angels, he needed a new place to call home, which he has in St. Louis.  Kennedy still has a sold glove and hits well enough to play in the second spot.  He reunites with his old double play partner, Eckstein, with whom he won a ring with in Anaheim.
3. Albert Pujols (1B) – Pujols won his first Gold Glove at first base in 2006 and finished second in the MVP balloting.  Pujols seemed like he was going to break Roger Maris’ home run record.  He finished with 49 home runs, 137 RBI’s and a .331 average, and that’s with missing 18 games.  Pujols should continue to be the rock of this lineup and should take Bonds’ title of “Most Dangerous Hitter” away from him this year.
4. Jim Edmonds (CF) – Edmonds re-signed with the Cardinals over the winter.  Despite the fact that he will turn 37 in June., he’s still an excellent centerfielder that hits for power and can serve as protection for Pujols.  I don’t expect him to post last year’s disappointing stats again, as he was recovering from post-concussion syndrome, and he should rebound to his 2005 numbers. 
5. Scott Rolen (3B) – Rolen is a seven-time Gold Glove winner who again led his position in fielding during '06.  He’s also a hell of a hitter to, as he hit 22 home runs and 95 RBI’s all while returning from serious shoulder surgery.  The only real issue is his relationship with Tony LaRussa, as the two have made it clear that they rather despise each other.  In spite of promising to be civil to one another, I’m not sure how long that will last until they decide to go after each other again.
6. Chris Duncan (LF) – The Cardinals got a huge lift from rookie Chris Duncan, who hit 22 homers in 280 at-bats.  However, that may be the best he’ll be, as his minor league stats don’t’ compare well to that.  Duncan is in a odd spot, as he’s brutal playing the outfield and first base is being held down by Pujols.  Ideally, he’s a DH, but that position isn’t available in the National League.  Because he’s got some power potential, he’s going to starter, but the Cardinals had better pray that that great 2006 is for real. 
7. Juan Encarnacion (RF) – An underrated free agent addition, Encarnacion rebounded from a horrific start to hit.278 with 19 HRs.  He’ll be a great force in the back of the lineup and he plays a mean right field too.
8. Yadier Molina (C) – Molina has a great glove and arm, as witnessed by his 41 percent success rate in throwing out runners.  The only problem is that he doesn’t have much of a bat, though he’s still young enough to possible develop a league average one.

Bench

• Preston Wilson (OF) – Obtained off of waivers from the Astros, Wilson provides great pop of the bench and can adequately play all three of the outfield positions.
• So Taguichi (OF) – A useful fourth outfielder that can be used as a bat off the bench of as a replacement for any period of time.
• Scott Spiezio (UTIL) – Spiezio is a all-purpose weapon that can play the infield and outfield corners, plus can hit for power as well as play any of the positions for any amount of time.
• Aaron Miles (INF) – Miles was once considered to be the heir to second base, but he’s more useful as a utilityman, able to play short and second base.
• Gary Bennett (C) – Bennett is a solid defensive catcher, but he’s not much of a hitter.  Hey, that sounds just like their starter!

Disabled List

• Mark Mulder (LHP) – Mulder is currently rehabilitating from season ending shoulder surgery, and may be available sometime in July. 
• Josh Kinney (RHP) – Rescued from the independent leagues a couple of years ago, Kinney pitched his way into the pen by dominating during the regular season and in the post-season.  Unfortunately, he’s now on the DL and will be out for the year thanks to Tommy John.

Down On The Farm…

St. Louis’ farm system isn’t great, as the talent is in the lower minors, plus the fact that so many recent picks were huge busts.  However, the Cardinals have little impact talent, as many of their players have bene selected from college, leaving little projection and even less chance of them being huge impact players.  As a result, what you see in St. Louis is what you get.

• Jamie Garcia (LHP) – Should none of the bargain bin pitching options work out, the Cards may be forced to turn to Garcia early, even though he’ll just be beginning play in Double A.  Garcia has great maturity for his age and has a solid sinker that goes in the low 90’s and a great curve.  His chance is inconsistent, but workable and he mixes all of them in well.  He’s induces lots of ground balls and would function well for St. Louis with that defense behind him if called up.  He should be a solid middle of the rotation workhorse that could be a mix between Jeff Suppan and Brandon Webb.  Garcia will likely be in Double A, but could make an emergency start if there is no other choice.

In Conclusion

This team is going to suffer some attrition for management’s decision to not spend money this off-season.  The Farm System is three years from producing talent to help out at the major league level and most of these vets are either reclamation projects or on the decline.  The rotation may or may not be good, it’s probably closer to mediocre as Wainright gets some experience in the rotation and the Cardinals hope that Wells’ arm doesn’t explode.  All in all, I think this team is going to be sitting

Final Standing:  Fourth place in the National League Central.