St. Louis Cardinals
Spring Training Review
by Cardinal Vinny

The #1 question coming into spring training this year for the St. Louis Cardinals was how will Scott Rolen’s shoulder handle the grind that is a major league baseball season after two major shoulder surgeries in a span of 10 months.  Manager Tony La Russa stated that he would bring Rolen along slowly and cautiously.  The Cardinals are plainspoken about the significance of his return. "There isn't anything more important," manager Tony La Russa said during the winter. "You're talking about a guy who's a potential Hall of Famer, so if he plays like he's played his whole career, it's a terrific boost for our club."  The Grapefruit League season is almost over and the perennial all-star 3B has said he feels good and is ready to get the regular season started.  No doubt the Cardinals missed him last year in the National League Championship Series.  Even though some of the Cardinals won’t say it, you can bet they feel if they had Rolen in the NLCS last season, the outcome would have been much different. 
 
Valuable with a glove or bat, Rolen could be the difference between a championship and another playoff fizzle.

With the questions that hover around Scott Rolen, one thing you can be sure of is the starting rotation of the Cardinals.  Four out of the five starters return and newcomer Sidney Ponson has solidified the #5 spot in the rotation.  Ponson has been a pleasant surprise in spring training and it seems all the alcohol troubles he has last season are a thing of the past.  The ace of the staff, Chris Carpenter, should have another stellar season and has been money all spring.  Mark Mulder should have another productive season and Jeff Suppan and Jason Marquis are steady as they come as the 3^rd and 4^th starters on this staff.   The bullpen is still in wait and see mode.  Last season’s bullpen was the best in the senior circuit.  But with a lot of new faces in this year’s version, those faces have not shown they will continue the trend as the best bullpen in the NL.  One constant however is the closer Jason Isringhausen.    But there could be a bright spot here in Adam Wainwright. He has had a stellar spring and even though he got beat for the #5 starter job, he will be a key factor in that bullpen this season.  Look for good things from this young stud.  
 

One thing we probably Cardinals fans don’t have to worry about is the offense that this lineup displays Yes fan favorite Reggie Sanders and Mark Grudz gone, Larry Walker retired but lineup should still be pretty viable.  The Cardinals signed Juan Encarnacion during the off-season and he has had a good spring and will replace Walker’s bat and position.  His defense is not as good as Walker’s but he will get the job done.  But with Rolen back in the fold this season, the constant factor in this lineup obviously will be the 3-4-5 hitters, which is anchored by the reigning NL MVP Albert Pujols.  He looks to lead his team back to the playoffs and this time to the World Series and winning it.  CF Jim Edmonds looks to rebound from an average 2005 season.  For most of last season he developed some bad habits at the plate mainly by pulling the ball all the time.  He has said that he got away from his strengths, which was hitting the ball to all parts of the field.   Even with Spring Training over, the LF situation is still not determined.  This will be a platoon job throughout the season unless the Cardinals deal for a LF before the July 31^st deadline.  So who will contend with the Cardinals in the NL Central?  The Houston Astros who have started a great rivalry with the Cardinals will not have Roger Clemens for at least the first 2 months barring a comeback.  Jeff Bagwell is pretty much done but was a non-factor last season.  If Clemens indeed comes back this season, look for the Astros to threaten the Cardinals for the division.  They might not have enough to win the division, but they are the only team who can pose a minor threat.  The Brewers will be improved but are still at least a year away for fighting for the wild card spot.  The Reds and Pirates as always will be non-factors.  
 

The NL West like last year will be weak and as far as the NL East, The New York Mets at least on paper look like the team that can give the Cardinals some concerns for the NL Pennant.  The Atlanta Braves will be in the mix as well but there team doesn’t come close to the Mets or Cardinals.  I see the Cardinals, Mets, and Dodgers winning their respective divisions and the wild card team being the Houston Astros once again only if Roger Clemens comes back.  If he decides to stay retired, then I see the Atlanta Braves taking the wild card.  Whether or not Rolen comes back fully, St. Louis remains a prohibitive favorite to defend its division title. It has the game's best right-handed hitter in first baseman Albert Pujols, the league MVP in 2005, and it possesses a deep, at times overpowering, rotation. The Cardinals must find a replacement for Matt Morris, who signed with the Giants as a free agent after winning a total of 79 games the past five seasons, but the combination of Sidney Ponson -- a 29-year-old retread who can eat innings, especially now that he has the benefit of a potent offense behind him -- and prospects Anthony Reyes and Adam Wainwright should get the job done. Winning the World Series, however, the only achievement that has eluded this club so far, will require everyone, including Rolen, at full strength. Should be a fun season.   
 

If you have questions relating to the Cardinals please email me at varora1977@gmail.com and Cardinal Vinny will answer your questions here on the site.