St. Louis Cardinals
2010 Record: 86-76
736 RS, 641 RA, Pythagorean Record: 92-70
Manager: Tony LaRussa
GM: John Mozeliaik
Free Agents:
Lance Berkman, OF (1, $8MM); Gerald Laird, C (1, $1MM); Trevor Miller, RP ($2.25MM Club Options); Albert Pujols, 1B ($16MM Club Option); Nick Punto, SS (1, $700k); Brian Tallet, RP (1, $750k); Jake Westbrook, SP (2O, $16.5MM; $8.5MM Mutual Option).
Minor League FA:
Miguel Bautista, P; Freddie Bynum, 2B; Wilson Matos, P; Ronald Ramirez, SS; Rich Rundles, P; Ian Snell, P; Raul Valdes, P; Ramon Vazquez, 2B.
Rule V Pick:
None
Trades:
Received Maikel Cleto (P) from the Mariners for Brendan Ryan (SS); Received Ryan Theriot (SS) from the Dodgers for Blake Hawksworth (RP).
Waiver Claims:
Bryan Augenstein, P (from the Diamondbacks).
Players Lost:
Yorbel Alcala, C; Joe Babrick, OF; Brian Broderick, P; Moises Colorado, P; Mark Diapoules, P; Jon Edwards, OF; Pedro Feliz, 3B; Anthony Fonseca, OF; Ruben Gotay, 3B; Trey Hearne, P; David Kington, P; Josh Kinney, P; Jason LaRue, C; Travis Lawler, P; Mike MacDougal, P; Evan MacLane, P; Joe Mather, OF; LaCurtis Mayes, P; Aaron Miles, 2B; Matt North, P; Chris Notti, P; Matt Pagnozzi, C; Brad Penny, P; Oneli Perez, P; Rich Racobaldo, 3B; Dennys Reyes, P; Alberto Rivero, OF; Matt Scherer, P; Colt Sedbrook, 2B; Houston Summers, P; Jeff Suppan, P; Randy Winn, OF.
Top 15 Prospects
1. Shelby Miller, RHP
2. Zach Cox, 3B
3. Carlos Matias, RHP
4. Allen Craig, OF
5. Tyrell Jenkins, RHP
6. Lance Lynn, RHP
7. Eduardo Sanchez, RHP
8. Seth Blair, RHP
9. Oscar Taveras, OF
10. Dan Descalso, 2B
11. Matt Carpenter, 3B
12. Jordan Swagerty, LHP
13. Adam Reifer, RHP
14. Joe Kelly, RHP
15. Nick Longmire, OF
Before the season, the Cardinals had Shelby Miller and a bare system; now they’ve had a few guys step forward and a few more added that help the depth. Miller is a top of the rotation pitcher; definitely top 10 pitching prospects in the game. Carlos Matias (or Martinez) should be as good as Miller; he’s 18 and already hitting the high 90s. Zach Cox looks like an everyday player; I still think his bat fits better at second base. I still think Allen Craig has the ability to be an everyday player.
2010 Review:
2010 was going to be the Cardinals year again; the division didn’t look better and the Cardinals had the same team that got them to the playoffs in 2009. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out that way.
Brad Penny looked great coming out of the gate, until he threw his back out hitting a grand slam; Penny missed the rest of the season. Add in the ineffectiveness and injury of Kyle Lohse, and the rotation took a large hit. Jeff Suppan, Blake Hawksworth, and Adam Ottavino all unsuccessfully took a crack at the rotation. A mid-season trade for Jake Westbrook stabilized the rotation; it only cost the Cardinals Ryan Ludwick.
Ludwick wasn’t hitting like he was 2 years before, but he was a great “locker room” guy. Essentially the offense took a hit by losing him and Jon Jay cooling off.
The highlight for the team was Jaime Garcia; Garcia won a rotation spot out of spring training and was one of the best rookie pitchers in the league.
The Reds looked much better and pulled away down the stretch.
2011 Preview:
I wasn’t crazy about this team before Adam Wainwright went down with Tommy John Surgery; I’m even less enthused now.
The team downgraded the infield by trading Brendan Ryan and acquiring Ryan Theriot; they are the same with the bat, but Ryan is head and shoulders above Theriot in the field. They should have focused on upgrading second base, since Skip Schumaker isn’t the answer.
The pitching looks good, even without Wainwright. I like Kyle McClellan as the replacement for Wainwright; he’s not going to be an ace, but as long as he can stretch out and use his 4 pitches, he should be OK. The bullpen is a mess with Miguel Bautista and Brian Augustein taking spots; they’d have been better off with one of them and Fernando Salas. Plus, I’m not confident in Ryan Franklin as closer.
From the Bloggers:
Bill Ivie, i70baseball and Ivie League Productions (Note – this was written prior to Wainwrights injury): The Cardinals Season Is Up In The Air
It really just doesn’t seem right, does it? For the first time in recent memory, the St. Louis Cardinals have gone to Spring Training with every major roster spot (the starting eight, the starting rotation, the key bullpen pieces) well in place. They know who they will turn to when and, for the most part, even have a “standard” lineup to work from. Yet, despite all of that, the 2011 season is a bit of a mystery.
Did the Brewers improve enough to make a run? Were the Reds a one shot wonder that cannot climb to the same pinnacle again? What do the young Astros have in store for the league?
Personally, I think the Cardinals are in the thick of it late into October. The upgrade of Lance Berkman (should he bounce back) and a solid starting rotation suggest that the team is poised for a run at the top. Last year’s team underachieved and disappointed regularly. This year’s team has the ability to rectify that.
My Prediction: Cards win the NL Central by less than five games before dropping the NLCS to the Phillies.
Prediction:
3rd Place