Starting Gate: St. Louis Cardinals Spring Training Preview

If there was any team that suffered massive aftershocks during the offseason, it is the St. Louis Cardinals. After losing a pitcher to a horrific car accident in the middle of the season, the Cardinals found their dreams of repeating as World Champions go up in smoke with a 78-84 record and a third place finish in the NL Central.

But despite all that, they still think they have enough firepower to contend with the best that the NL Central has to offer. But before they get started on the future, they have to deal with the past.

The Biggest Problem: Management and Inconsistency

Tony La Russa was obviously not a “come over for barbecue, neighbor” kind of guy. Because of that issue, he lost two of his most important players from that World Series Championship team.

Jim Edmonds was a viable reason why the Cardinals outfield was so dangerous. But his playing time was going to be dropped this season, so he asked for a trade. He now plays back in Southern California and hopes to continue to be a part of ESPN’s highlight reel.

La Russa’s war of words with Scott Rolen was more than just a blip on the screen during last season. The war must have been too much for the boss to handle as Rolen was quickly shipped to Toronto in an old school challenge trade.

As far as inconsistency goes, there was no bigger sting than the departure of David Eckstein. Though his offense was just as good as originally thought, his defense dropped massively and his health became a huge issue. Because of that, he joined Rolen in Toronto in hopes of recovering some of the luster he had in 2006.

Solutions Come in Small Packages

The departure of three all stars have not affected the Cardinals’ title hopes, though. In the offseason, they snagged a few legendary names in hopes to relight the fire they once had. One of the biggest names on that list is former all star and slugging nightmare, Juan Gonzalez.

Despite not going deep in almost 4 years, Gonzalez is still well known to be a dangerous deep threat. Even though he isn’t officially on the roster, he would make a good backup to Albert Pujols if he gets his lightning back.

Also looking to bring some fire back is Troy Glaus. He got lost in translation while with the Blue Jays, but will make an even better compliment with the departure of Rolen. Ironically enough, the current lineup has him in Rolen’s old spot right behind Pujols.

If you add in Cesar Izturis, who has had at least one Gold Glove under his belt, the departure of David Eckstein may be a short lived memory. Izturis was a certified professor with his glove, and I won’t be surprised if being with a team that is famous for resurrecting careers gives him back that spark he once had.

The Rise of the Youthful Nation

When age becomes a factor, it’s always good to shop for some young guns. The Cardinals showed that they’re experts in this by picking up some guys with serious potential.

Out of the long list of potential threats, one name on the list has the entire league talking. Colby Rasmus is considered one of the 10 best in the game and is a quality defender. Considering his speed and power, the Cardinals definitely have enough in their arsenal to put the rest of the NL Central on notice.

Also hoping to make his mark with the Redbirds this season is Brian Barton, a player acquired from Cleveland. Barton has speed and is an intriguing player that can be a deep threat or a clutch hitter when it matters.

Three wild cards on the prospect list for St. Louis are Mitchell Boggs, Jaime Garcia, and Chris Perez.

Boggs is a right hander with a cannon for an arm. Though he has a tendency to be inconsistent, he’s still an effective guy who can be a very efficient closer.

Garcia has been nagged by an elbow injury from last year, but he isn’t letting that stop him. If he can stay healthy this season, he’ll be dangerous to have in the lineup.

As for Perez, he’s the Cardinals’ version of Rick “Wild Thing” Vaughn from the Major League movies. He’s the perfect closer if he can learn some control over his dangerous pitches.

 
Initial Prognosis

On paper, this looks like a rebuilding year for St. Louis. The Cardinals have the firepower on offense to get things done, but their defense is going to be their biggest hole to fill.

Depending on which Albert Pujols will show up to Spring Training, how much energy the lineup has, and which side of the rotation will show up, the Cardinals can pose an immediate threat to the NL Central.

Right out of the gate, we’ll see if the departures and arrivals have a positive or negative effect for the Cardinals. Everyone in St. Louis should be playing like it’s the postseason all over again.

Next week, we’ll take an in depth look at each position and give an initial grade for each spot.