My 2009 Cardinals Preview (Previously posted on FB)

Prequel: This is my first attempt at a blog, so things are going to be quite bland. When I get the hang of it I am hoping to create some more interesting blogs. I've got some good ideas for some future topics, but for now...

My 2009 Cardinals’ Preview

With a little more than a week left until pitchers and catchers report, I decided to do my own little preseason analysis on this year’s St. Louis Cardinals. I am excited to see that there are going to be some battles in this year’s spring training (3B while Glaus is recovering, second base, left handed reliever, closer), as well as seeing how some of the young guns that the Cards have groomed will turn out. I will assess every position, starting rotation and bullpen. Then I will project how I think the Cards might do this year (being as realistic as possible).

Last year our beloved Cardinals made an impressive run deep into the season for the Wild Card spot with a team littered with injuries and no-names. I mean, who outside of St. Louis knew of Ryan Ludwick before last season? No one. It was only until September rolled around and this team just ran out of gas. I was pleasantly surprised with last year’s team because I was under the assumption at the beginning of last season that 2008 was going to be a rebuilding year. This got me really excited for the 2009 baseball season as there is only one way to go for this team and that is up. With 86 wins last season (which is three more wins than what they had in the 2006 World Championship season by the way) the Cardinals were good enough to finish fourth in the National League Central Division. This division turned out to be one of the toughest in the MLB with the Cubs and Brewers both advancing to the postseason. It should also be noted that the Redbirds only finished a half game behind Houston for third place in the division (Houston only played 161 games due to a makeup date with the Cubs being irrelevant in the standings). If you would have asked me last year when I thought the Cardinals were going to contend in the division again, I definitely wouldn’t have told you that they would be in the hunt for the Wild Card until September. I thought that 2010 would be the first time the Cardinals would be back as a powerhouse in the Central. However, last year proved me wrong, and I am very excited for this year’s season.

This year’s offseason has been kind of a quiet one for the Redbird Nation, but true fans of the Cards know that this is not an irregularity. There have been many offseasons where the Cardinals front office decides to stay away from big name signings/trades. There are some notables worth mentioning from this year’s offseason (mind you, this year’s offseason is not over yet). The shortstop issue was addressed as a trade was made with the Padres to acquire Khalil Greene in exchange for relief pitcher Mark Worrell and a player to be named. More on Greene later. The left handed relief corps was also addressed in the signing of Trever Miller. Also, more on relief pitching later. Key losses in this year’s offseason include: Aaron Miles (to the Cubs… why do they continue to sign former Cardinals??), Cesar Izturis (good riddance), Felipe Lopez, and Russ Springer. There are also a number of Cardinals still on the free agent list. Some of those include: Randy Flores, Izzy, Tyler Johnson, Braden Looper and Mark Mulder (haha, who the Hell wants him now?) and Ron Villone. Of the remaining free agents (all pitchers by the way) I would only like to see Looper brought back. For a team with as many injuries that they had in 2008, a guy who pitched an inning short of 200 innings would be good to have in the fifth starter’s spot. However, I will not include him in my assessment of the starters later on. Now, on to the position evaluations.

Catcher:

The Redbirds are in possession of one of the best defensive catchers in the big leagues. Name that Molina! He was finally awarded his much deserved Gold Glove in 2008 (about two years too late according to me). Just two weeks ago, the Cardinals and Molina came to an agreement of a four year deal and a club option in the fifth year. So, Cardinals’ fans, Molina is here to stay as the Cardinals catcher, and this Cardinals’ fan couldn’t be happier. I don’t even have to tell you about his defensive skills (I still get chills every time he zips a ball down the first base line to try and pick off a dumbass runner that got too big of a lead after the pitch was thrown), but his offensive skills are something that need to be looked at. In 2008, Yadi enjoyed his first season of hitting over .300, barely. I did enjoy that fact along with that Yadi also had the most hits in one season last year as well (135). The only thing that I am worried about is, can he do it again? I am optimistic, however Yadi’s previous seasons are all suspect in the hitting area. The only thing that makes me think that he is evolving as a hitter is that he has one of the greatest hitters in the game to learn from and add to his own hitting game. I think that Yadi has shown that he is learning from Pujols in that he rarely strikes out. By rarely, I mean almost never (only 29 K’s last season!) However, I do believe that this year is going to be the deal breaker for me in deciding if Molina is improving in his hitting game. Also, in order to help stay on the healthy train, Molina has lost 10-15 pounds in this year’s offseason which is also a good sign. Maybe he might become the base stealing threat we always thought he would be! (Sarcasm to the max there)

The Cardinals also came to terms with backup catcher Jason LaRue. LaRue enjoyed his first season with the Cardinals last year, and while he might not be Gary Mother F*ckin’ Bennett, he still proved decent enough for a backup. LaRue is a veteran, and I have no complaints about him. What more is there to say about a backup though?

First Base:

Who’s on first? Just the reigning NL MVP. El Hombre. Phat Albert. Sir Albert. The Machine. Call him what you will, but Albert Pujols will continue to be just who he is supposed to be in 2009: Albert Pujols. Is there really anything more I need to elaborate on? Everyone knows his passion for the game, and he will be a staple in the Cardinals lineup in the 2009 season.

Second Base:

I will move from one of the most solidified positions at first to a revolving door concerning Cardinals’ players at second base. The second base position has always been viewed by the Cardinals as a stop-gap position. Since Fernando Vina, who was our last multi-year starter at second, the Cards have used several different middle infielders in the past seven years. However, in the 2006 offseason the Cardinals signed a former Cardinals’ top prospect that was used to bring in Jim Edmonds in the 2000 trade. Adam Kennedy signed a three year deal, and it looked like he would be the second baseman for the Cardinals for the next few years. This didn’t turn out as the Cardinals had hoped. He only played in 87 games in the 2007 season and 115 games in the 2008 season. Having been sidelined by injuries in both years, Kennedy clearly isn’t working out here in St. Louis. There was much talk about trading Kennedy in this offseason, but no move was made. There was even talk of Kennedy demanding a trade to get out of St. Louis. None of this happened, so just a few days ago, the Cardinals released Kennedy, agreeing to pay him the rest of his salary. They just wanted him to get the fuck out of St. Louis (something that is rumored to be spearheaded by LaRussa). This leaves a hole in the second baseman position. There are a few candidates in the Cards orginization that will be vying for the spot in Spring Training, barring that the Cardinals don't make a move between now and Opening Day for a free agent (Orlando Hudson maybe?)

Skip Schumaker - Skip hasn't played the middle infield since he was a shortstop in college, and it is rumored that he moved to the outfield for a reason. Either way, it has been documented that Skip is gearing up this year's Spring Training to see some time at second. This is interesting in that Skip is a left-handed batter, and he will be the only lefty at second for Tony. With Tony's love for platooning, this might be an advantage for Skip's playing time at second.

Brendan Ryan – With the departure of Aaron Miles (and now Kennedy) and the feeling I am getting that the Cardinals’ front office isn’t going to sign another middle infielder, the chances of Ryan making the team are pretty good. Ryan has been a part of the Cardinals’ big league organization since 2007. Although he hasn’t been an everyday player for the Cardinals, Ryan has been important in the spot starting role. Not known for his offensive production, Ryan will have to show some improvement or he will never make it into the starting role and he will see a lot of time coming off of the bench.

Brian Barden – Barden is a middle infielder who was traded to St. Louis in 2002. He is a good contact hitter with not much power, but he can get the job done. Without many other options for backup infielders, Barden might find his way on to the big league club by default. A good thing about Barden is his fielding: he has spectacular fielding abilities. If he can refine his hitting so that it is acceptable for a major league middle infielder, good things are in the future for this kid. I would like to see him get a serious look this year in Spring Training at second.

Third Base:

So I thought that third base would be something easy to talk about this year with the return of Troy Glaus. The trade that was basically a swap for third basemen (Rolen for Glaus) between the Cardinals and the Blue Jays proved to be a steal for the Cards last year. While Glaus came into St. Louis as the starter last year, many were skeptical as to how productive he would be with the bum foot that came along with him. However, he proved to be an asset in both the field and in the lineup. For most of the 2008 season, Glaus boasted the best fielding percentage in the National League at third base, and finished second in votes for the Gold Glove award for third base. Defense was not something that Glaus was known for, so that was a nice little surprise. Glaus also turned into a doubles machine last year, hitting 33 doubles, the most that he has had in a season since 2001 when he played for the Angels. This had me excited to know that the hot corner position was accounted for in the 2009 season. Then, out of nowhere, a report came out about two weeks ago stating that Glaus had surgery on his shoulder, and that he would be sidelined for at least 12 weeks. This was pretty much out of the blue, and now we have an open spot at third base for spring training, and the beginning part of the regular season. Here are the candidates that will be vying for a starting spot while Troy Glaus is on the mend (not to mention, a third baseman for the future after Glaus’s contract is up after this year):

David Freese – If you recognize this name, it is because he just came into the Cardinals organization before last season began. He was the player that was received by the Cardinals from the Padres in the Jim Edmonds deal. Who would have thought that the Edmonds deal would actually be a good one in regards to getting this guy? Freese would most likely have been the starting third baseman for the Cardinals’ AAA club, but now he is the leading candidate for the spot on the major league club. Last year, Freese enjoyed a good season at Memphis, hitting 26 home runs and hitting for an average of .304 and slugging .550. However, he did strike out quite a bit (111 times). It is also noted that Freese’s range at third base is limited (however Glaus’s was limited as well) while he does have an above average arm. There is a downside to this prospect, and that is that he is already 26 years old, and he hasn’t spent any time at the majors to this point. Time will tell if he is the future Cardinals’ third baseman.

Brett Wallace – Wallace was drafted by the Cards in the first round in 2008 at the 13th pick. Considered to be one of the Cardinals’ top prospects, Wallace is a force to be reckoned with in the lineup. Just in his first year of minor league ball, Wallace hit for a .367 average and a .456 slugging percentage. At 24 years old, he is a natural first baseman (I think we already have that covered) so his range at third base will be limited, but he has above average arm strength for the position. I believe that his bat could be a really nice asset to the Cardinals lineup (maybe not this year, but in a couple years). He moved up quickly in the minor leagues, and if everything works out in Spring Training, Wallace might have a spot in the Cardinals lineup.

Joe Mather – Mather enjoyed some time in the big leagues last year, and he was actually hitting quite well. He served mostly as an outfielder until he broke his hand in early Septemeber (just one of the many injuries the Cardinals endured last season) and cut his season short. This spring, Mather will be looked at for the third base position, as well as a backup outfielder for the big league club. When he was signed, he was noted to be a shortstop, so infield work is not out of question here. He showed that he had some life to his bat, hitting eight homers in just 133 at bats. Although I don’t think he is likely to break this year’s roster as the starting third baseman, I do think that Mather will be on the roster as a backup.

Shortstop:

Boy, I miss Eckstein circa 2006! Since the World Series MVP season by Eckstein, nothing has been the same for the Cardinals at the shortstop position. With Eckstein booting more than 20 errors in the 2007 season to a plethora of guys seeing time in the 6-spot in the 2008 season, I can only hope that 2009 is a better year for the Cardinals. In this year’s offseason, the Redbirds made a move to acquire a shortstop from the San Diego Padres. Khalil Greene was obtained by trading away Mark Worrell and a player to be named. Worrell, a relief pitcher who saw some time in the Bigs last year, is a good pitching prospect that you’ll probably hear of in the near future in someone’s bullpen. Anyway, Khalil Greene was supposed to be the cornerstone for the Padres’ shortstop hole. For a while, he was just that. In his first four full seasons with the Padres, Greene hit for at least 15 home runs each season (with 27 homers in the 2007 season). With the Padres looking to clear some space in their payroll and the Cardinals in the market for a shortstop, Greene has found a new home. Although he’s never been the best average hitter, Greene makes up for that with his occasional pop in the bat and his great defense. There are some things that scare me about Greene though. First up is his abysmal 2008 season. He didn’t hit his first home run until May, and he broke his hand cutting short a season where he hit ten home runs, a .213 average and a crappy .260 on base percentage. Wow. Let’s only hope that these stats can be improved. If not, we are in for a long year at the shortstop position.

Outfield:

In the Cardinals’ outfield, there are four guys who pretty much are going to be there regardless: Rick Ankiel, Ryan Ludwick, Chris Duncan and Skip Schumaker. Since LaRussa usually likes to keep five outfielders on his roster, there will be one open spot in spring training that guys will be competing for. There are two guys that I see that will be competing for the one open spot: Brian Barton and Joe Mather.

Left Field:

Of the three outfield positions, left field seems to be the most open (besides closer) as to who will be in this spot for Opening Day. Chances are, LaRussa will do his normal thing and platoon about six or seven outfielders over the course of the season, so I’m just going to pick the three guys who I think might be a part of that platooning:

Chris Duncan – I really don’t know how I feel about Duncan. He seems like he’s always got a great potential to be a run producer, but never actually follows through with it. From reading the forums on the Cardinals’ website, I can tell that a lot of fans believe that Duncan is the result of LaRussa favoring him due to Dave Duncan being his father and the Cardinals’ pitching coach. I haven’t thought of the issue being that bad as to say that nepotism is taking place, but I would like to see Duncan produce more regularly in the 2009 season. If he could stay healthy this year, I think that he could return back to how he was producing at the end of the 2006 season (22 home runs in only 280 at bats – all after the All Star Break). Time will tell though.

Brian Barton – Barton is a Rule 5 draft pick that the Cards picked up from Cleveland last year. As a Rule 5 draft pick, Barton had to be placed on the 40-man roster, or Cleveland would be able to claim him back. Luckily, Barton had a terrific spring last year, and he earned himself a spot on the roster. Barton is a speedster (although LaRussa hardly ever seems to steal) and he had himself a respectful year at the plate (.268 average). However, as the season went on, Barton found himself riding the pine more and more. This wasn’t necessarily due to Barton’s lack of production; it was more of other players producing more (Mather, Ludwick, Schu and Ankiel). With only three spots in the outfield, Barton was the odd man out. This spring Barton will have a chance to make the big league roster again, and maybe even a starting job.

Joe Mather – I’ve already commented on Mather earlier for the third baseman’s spot, but Mather will definitely be in the hunt for a spot in the Cardinals’ outfield as well. He could have an edge over Barton due to the fact that Mather has a little more pop to his bat. From what I saw from Mather last year, I am very excited to see him in the 2009 campaign.

Center Field:

I’m going to throw two guys in this spot, even though I think that both of them will be on the roster come Opening Day. Rick Ankiel will most likely be the starter while Skip Schumaker will be a backup. Schu will probably play all three outfield positions, much like what he did last year.

Rick Ankiel –Rick Ankiel is the man. Name another starting pitcher that gave up pitching and came back as a power hitting outfielder. I got one, Babe Ruth. Have you heard of him? I don’t think there is another baseball player that has gone through more to get where he is today. Regarded as one of the best young pitchers in 2000, Ankiel had a meltdown and had to retire from pitching. He then started all over in the minor leagues, and made his way back to the Cardinals’ major league club. I can still remember watching Ankiel’s first start in the outfield during the 2007 season, and I was in awe when he hit his first home run as a position player that night as well. In 2008, Ankiel enjoyed his first full season as a center fielder. In last year’s season, Ankiel hit 25 home runs, drove in 71 runs and hit for a .264 average. The only problem last year was Ankiel’s health. He had to end his season early last year due to a hernia. Ankiel is focused on staying healthy this year as this is one thing that he has been criticized for. There is one thing that he isn’t criticized for, and that is his arm in the outfield. Teams should take note this year when trying to run on Ankiel. Anyone who doesn’t remember should look at the game against the Rockies last year when Ankiel gunned down two base runners at third – both throws made from the outfield wall. There is only one hang-up about Ankiel’s 2009 season: he isn’t signed yet. Ankiel eligible for arbitration this year, and an agreement hasn’t been reached yet. Good news though is that there are rumors that the two sides are getting closer in the deal to make Ankiel's arbitration a thing of the past.

Skip Schumaker - On Opening Day in 2008 Skip Schumaker was the starting left fielder and leadoff hitter for the Cardinals. As Schu probably isn’t going to be starting all the time in any one outfield position, he will see plenty of time in all three as the season progresses. In 2008, Schu hit .302 for an average, and he proved to be a qualified defensive outfielder throughout the season. He also spent much of the season in the starting lineup due to the many injuries the Cardinals suffered in the outfield corps. I believe that Skip is going to be a great asset to the club in 2009, and he will be used by LaRussa often in many different roles. These roles will inclued both infield and outfield, and I think that Skip will see time in both places.

Right Field:

Ryan Ludwick no longer the oft-injured journeyman he once was. At least I hope the former isn’t any longer. Ludwick secured himself a spot in the Cardinals’ outfield after a torrid 2008 season. He earned himself his first All Star bid, and won the award of Silver Slugger for his efforts in last year’s season. Ludwick finished with 37 home runs, 113 RBIs and a .299 batting average. One can only hope that Ludwick can repeat his 2008 season and provide some protection in the lineup for Albert. However he has the same problem as Ankiel, he isn’t signed as of yet. Hopefully that changes in the near future.

Wild Card Outfielder:

There’s been a lot of talk about this guy in the Cardinals organization for the past couple of years. Colby Rasmus was supposed to be the guy to take over when Edmonds retired. However, Edmonds didn’t want to be platooned here in St. Louis and that was essentially the reason he was traded last year. In stepped Ankiel to take Edmonds’s place in center. Rasmus is a 5-tool baseball player, and he has done nothing but hit in his time in the minors. If he does well in Spring Training this year, there is a chance that he might make the starting lineup in center field. If this happens, Ankiel will most likely move to left, and there will be a battle for the fourth and fifth outfielder’s spot on the roster between Schu, Duncan, Mather and Barton. More than likely Schu and Duncan (if he is healthy) will get the last two outfielder slots. However, I hope that Rasmus gets another year down in AAA Memphis to ensure that he is ready for the Bigs. I think the Cardinals’ management did the right thing with Ankiel in 2007, and I hope that the management does the same thing with Rasmus in 2009.

Potential Lineup:

Without a true leadoff hitter, the Cardinals are going to have trouble there. After that (depending on some battles in Spring Training) the lineup could look something like this:

1 – Skip Schumaker/Brian Barden (2B Platoon)
2 – Chris Duncan (LF)
3 – Albert Pujols (1B)
4 – Ryan Ludwick (RF)
5 – Yadier Molina (C)
6 – Freese /Glaus (3B)
7 – Rick Ankiel (CF)
8 – Pitcher’ Spot
9 – Khalil Greene (SS)

Now I know that LaRussa changes his lineup daily, so this is not going to be right by any means. I’m just throwing an idea out there.

Potential Bench/Platoon Players:

OF – Chris Duncan (I wish he would just go away)
C – Jason LaRue
OF/1B/3B – Joe Mather
2B/SS – Brendan Ryan

Starting Rotation:

What I wouldn’t give to ensure that Chris Carpenter will be healthy for the 2009 season. I think that so much of this season rests on this guy’s shoulders it is ridiculous. Without having Carp all of 2008, the Cards missed out on a guy starting every fifth day that gives you a legitimate chance to win, no matter who he is facing. Reports on Carp have been good so far this off season, but I am not counting my eggs until they are hatched. When I see Carp pitch this year and look good, I will then be happier. Until then, get well soon, Carp!

The Cardinals were lucky enough to have an interim ace while Carp was sidelined all this time. Adam Wainwright proved to be the pitcher he has been groomed to be last year. Posting an 11-3 record while only starting in 20 in the 2008 season, Wainwright did everything right last year except stay healthy. What was described as a “freak” injury, Wainwright was sidelined for more than two months. Who knows how the Cards might have finished out if he had been healthy for all of last season…

If there is one thing to take away from last year, it is that Kyle Lohse is a very good pitcher. He won 15 games for the Cardinals last season, and that was good enough for the Cards to resign him for four more years. He has proven that he can go late into games, therefore saving the bullpen and helping his team out in future games. I hope that the long-term deal won’t discourage Lohse to not produce as he did last year on a one year deal. However, if Lohse produces along with Wainwright and Carpenter healthy, the Cardinals have a pretty good 1-3 starting rotation for the 2009 season.

However, the 4-5 starters are a little more suspect. The fourth pitcher’s spot is secured by Joel Piñeiro. Piñeiro had an average year on the mound last year, posting a 5.15 ERA and a record of only 7-7. He did miss about a month of playing time over the course of the season, going on the 15-day disabled list twice for minor injuries. Hopefully two things happen for Piñeiro this season: he lowers his ERA to at least 4.5, and he stays healthy. If both of these things happen, I think he’ll be suitable as a fourth starter. Not my first pick though (I wish a move would have been made this offseason to bring in another pitcher to make Piñeiro the fifth starter).

The fifth starter is also returning from last year. Todd Wellemeyer will round out the pitching staff on the starting side. Wellemeyer was acquired from the Royals in the middle of the 2007 season, and he started 11 games in 2007 for the Cardinals when he had never started before in his major league career. In 2008, Wellemeyer was a starter on the back end of the Cards’ rotation for the entire year. He posted a 13-9 record with a 3.71 ERA. He also put in 191.1 innings of work which surprised me. I hope that Wellemeyer can repeat what he did last season and I will be happy as far as our fifth starter is concerned.

Spot Starter/Carpenter’s Replacement:

Since Chris Carpenter isn’t a sure thing to be inserted into the starting rotation, a name that will be thrown around to get a starting role is Brad Thompson. Since the 2005 season, Thompson has been a part of the Cardinals’ pitching corps, whether it is in a long relief role, a spot starter or a regular rotation starter. He has also bounced back and forth from the minors and the majors in his four year career with the Cardinals. However, with a combination of the Cardinals not signing another pitcher in this year’s offseason and the possibility of Carpenter not being ready to go for the beginning of the season, Thompson might see significant time in the starting role in the 2009 season. Either way, Thompson should see his name on the Cardinals’ roster this season, either as a starter or in the bullpen as a long reliever.

Bullpen:

I’ll try and decipher the Cardinals’ bullpen; however this is going to be a tough task…

Closer:

Here is something that needs to improve GREATLY if the Cardinals have any intentions of competing in the 2009 season. In 2008 the Cards’ bullpen suffered the most blown saves of any team in the MLB with 31. This was due to the lack of a closer in the lineup with Jason Isringhausen going down with injuries, and never coming back to full health last year. LaRussa used several different pitchers in the closer’s role, including: Ryan Franklin, Chris Perez, Randy Flores and six other pitchers who all recorded at least one save in the 2008 season. This year, the closer’s role is up for grabs, although LaRussa and Co. have made several statements that they do not want a rookie closing for the club at the beginning of the season. That rules out Chris Perez and Jason Motte (a converted catcher) for right now. I would like to see Perez given the role and see how he does, but I’m not the manager. Hopefully he will obtain the role as closer sometime this season. There have been hints that Carpenter might be available for the closer’s role if he cannot start. If anyone remembers in 2006 when Adam Wainwright served as the closer at the end of the season to replace Izzy when he got injured, I can see how people might like this idea. I do not. Carpenter either needs to be in the starting rotation or rehabilitate until he can pitch well. There were also rumors that Wainwright could return to the closer’s role. Absolutely not. Wainwright needs to be in the starter’s role as well because he can go deep into games, and he is a great pitcher that will win the Cardinals more games by starting every fifth day. That leaves a couple other names that will be competing for the closer’s role in Spring Training. Ryan Franklin looks to be the front runner right now, but I hope this changes. In 2008, Franklin did have 17 saves for the Cards, but he also blew eight games. A 17-8 ratio is not good from a closer’s perspective, in my opinion. Not to mention, some of those saves were nail-biters if I remember correctly. Another guy that is going to be considered is Josh Kinney. Kinney might have been forgotten by Cards fans last year because he underwent season ending surgery last year and only got to pitch seven innings in the 2008 season. However, in 2006 Kinney was great coming out of the bullpen for the Cards, striking out 22 batters in only 25 innings with a 3.24 ERA. He has great stuff, and could be the right answer for the Cardinals as the closer for the beginning of the 2009 season. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top in this battle for the closer’s role; however whoever wins this position battle in Spring Training is not guaranteed the position for the year that is for sure. There is also the option of doing a closer by committee for the 2009 season. LaRussa executed this at the end of the 2008 season, and it proved successful to a degree. Spring Training will tell us what LaRussa’s decision will be.

Left Handed Reliever:

Like I said earlier, the Cardinals’ did make a signing to address the issue of left handed relief. Trever Miller was signed in December, and he is going to be used as a situational pitcher that LaRussa likes to use in matchups against opposing batters. This was another poor spot in last year’s bullpen as Randy Flores and Ron Villone just couldn’t get the job done at times last year. Hopefully with the addition of Miller, the Cardinals will now have a go to guy in the bullpen who throws from the left side. The drawback to Miller is that he needs to be healthy in order to be effective. He is coming off an injury that might show up this year if all is not well. The second lefty that LaRussa likes to carry will most likely be a battle between Jaime Garcia, Royce Ring, Charlie Manning and Ian Ostlund. Of those four, the only one that pitched for the Cards last season is Garcia, and it was only for 16 innings. Ring is the likely frontrunner for the position as he is the only veteran in the group. Ring was signed as a free agent this year after having pitched for the Braves in the 2008 season, posting an abysmal 8.46 ERA in only 22 innings. He’s not a strikeout pitcher, so he’s got that against him as well. Charlie Manning was acquired off of waivers from the Washington Nationals in October of 2008, and he was brought in to compete for the left handed reliever’s role. Last year for Washington, Manning pitched 42 innings and struck out 37 batters. That was his first year of work in the majors as well. I would like to see how Manning does in Spring Training this year because I think that he could make the major league roster if he pitches well. Garcia and Ostlund are two younger guys that might make the roster if they have an amazing Spring Training, and they just can’t be left off the roster. Dave Duncan has been quoted by saying that Ostlund might surprise a lot of people in Spring Training. Other than that, I see both of those guys starting the season in AAA. They both might make appearances for the Cardinals this year, if one of the two lefties doesn’t work out or if someone goes down with an injury.

Right Handed Reliever:

This one is messy. There are really only two guys who are shoe-ins for the bullpen as righties: Ryan Franklin and Kyle McClellan. The great (sarcasm there) thing about both of them is that they might be used for other roles in the club rather than relief pitching. Franklin could end up the closer, and McClellan could be groomed as a starter and therefore starting the season in AAA Memphis. Dave Duncan has stated that McClellan will get at least three starts in Spring Training to see how he handles the role as a starter. Other than those two, who knows? I see both Chris Perez and Jason Motte having a legitimate shot at breaking the opening day roster, but both of them need some refinement on their pitches in order to be truly effective. Perez must get control of his slider in order to be where Duncan and LaRussa want him to be, and Motte needs to develop a better off speed pitch to counteract his blazing fastball. After that, I have no clue what the relief pitching is going to look like from the right side. It’s ugly, that’s all I know, but how bad can it get after witnessing the bullpen from last year? I don’t think it can get any worse… I hope.

Potential Starters:

SP – Chris Carpenter (R)
SP – Adam Wainwright (R)
SP – Kyle Lohse (R)
SP – Joel Piñeiro (R)
SP – Todd Wellemeyer (R)

Potential Relievers:

RHP – Brad Thompson (Starter if Carp isn’t healthy)
LHP – Trever Miller
LHP – Ian Ostlund
RHP – Kyle McClellan
RHP – Ryan Franklin
RHP – Chris Perez
RHP – Jason Motte
RHP – Josh Kinney

Closer – Someone from above… I have no clue

With all of this interpretation that I have written, I still don’t know a lot about how the Cardinals will fare in this year’s season. I would like to think optimistically, but I would like to be realistic about it. Therefore, I am going to say that this year’s Cardinals club will, most likely, finish in third place in the Central Division, behind the Cubs and the Astros. However, I think that this will be another great year for teams in the Central, as I can see this Cardinals club finishing the season with almost 90 wins. If the lineup can produce as they did last year, I think that the bullpen can only improve from what is was last year. Also, the addition of Chris Carpenter to the starting rotation is always good to hear. Hopefully it comes true. All in all, I am very excited to see the 2009 Cardinals in action, and I cannot wait for the first pitch of the season to be thrown! Go Cardinals!