An ugly team
January 10th, 2008Unless the St. Louis Cardinals do something dramatic by Opening Day — or a lot of somethings dramatic — their lineup is going to be one of the ugliest lineups I’ve seen in St. Louis in a long time.
Here’s the way it’s looking right now:
1B-Albert Pujols
2B-Adam Kennedy
3B-Scott Rolen
SS-Cesar Izturis/Brendan Ryan
LF-Chris Duncan
CF-Colby Rasmus/Rick Ankiel/Skip Schumaker
RF-Ankiel/Ryan Ludwick
C-Yadier Molina
Rotation: Adam Wainwright, Braden Looper, Joel Pineiro, Matt Clement, Anthony Reyes
Aside from Pujols, the infield is one huge question mark. Will Rolen still be with the team in April? What will his production be like? Up the middle is a nightmare. Kennedy and Izturis? That’s enough to throw me into a fit of convulsions.
The outfield could provide some pop with Duncan, Ankiel and Ludwick, but it’ll also lead the league in strikeouts — probably by far. It’d be great if Colby Rasmus would claim the center field job, but you certainly can’t expect him to tear it up as a rookie.
Wainwright has the makings of an ace, but after him there’s a bunch of nothing in the rotation.
Who in the world is going to get on base ahead of Pujols? He almost didn’t reach the 100 RBI mark this past season. With the players he’ll have around him, he’ll be fortunate to get there in 2008.
Can this team even win 75 games? I don’t see how. Unless things change, my prediction for the season is 74-88 and a fifth place finish.
On the other hand, here in Chicago we learned this morning that the Cubs are super close to acquiring splendid leadoff hitter Brian Roberts http://zonersports.com/?p=1074
The Cards will be up against this:
2B Roberts
RF Fukudome
1B D Lee
3B Ramirez
LF Soriano
C Soto
SS Theriot
CF Pie
P
Gonna be some whuppins!
Oh yeah? Well Fukudome right back at you.
I’m glad I wasn’t the only one thinking that.
well if you really want to go there, I said that his last sounds like an arena where heavy metal concerts are played. Don;t sound it out!
I’m content with this:
2b Kelly Johnson
SS Yunel Escobar
3B Chipper Jones
1b Mark Texeira
C Brian McCann
RF Jeff Francouer
LF Matt Diaz/ (Rookie) Brandon Jones)
CF ???? - Josh Andersen/Gregor Blanco/ Jordan Schaeffer (the future)…. Mark Kotsay???
P - John Smoltz
P - Tim Hudson
P - Tom Glavine
P - Chuck James
P - Jo-Jo Reyes/Jair Jurrjens/Jeff Bennett/Mike Hampton?
I wish Kennedy would just fade away, I could deal with a rotating trio of Ryan, Izturis, and Miles and 2B and SS. I am afraid that Ankiel will prove to be a 4th outfielder and that Duncan still requires a platoon partner. I think Pinero and Clement still have enough in the tank to be salvageable. I think we will see a flash out of the gate, only to fade by all-star break. Sad because there isn’t a ton coming through the farm system — and the Free Agent 2009 Pool looks like - Adam Dunn, John Lackey, Rich Harden, Mark Kotsay, Joe Crede and other than some max guys –IE Johan, Carl Crawford — not a ton coming –
It’ll definitely be a transition year. Maybe Brian Barton (rule 5 pickup) can be a bright spot for them and claim a platoon roll as a righty in the outfield. (Not to be confused with Brian Barden, infielder.)
There were rumors of some kind of a deal involving Bay and Jack Wilson from Pittsburgh, but I doubt they’ll trade within the division, or that we have enough to offer.
…I just saw they just signed Josh Phelps. That changes everything…
Anyone think the Rockies can make the playoffs again in ‘08?
If I could compel, by force if necessary, Tony La Russa to do one thing, it would be this: Start these players…..
LF Duncan
CF Schumaker
RF Ankiel
EVERY DAY UNLESS OR UNTIL ONE OF THEM GETS HURT! I’m tired of this “Duncan needs to be platooned” stuff. Let him play every day. So what if he leads the league in strikeouts? Schumaker can play, and play well, if given a chance. Ankiel should start in RF until or unless he stops hitting.
That said, I see no more than 72-75 wins for the Cards in 2008.
How would Dunc striking out a whole bunch of times be any different than what we’ve gotten out of Edmonds the last several seasons?
Why is Duncan getting dissed in this regard while Edmonds got a pass?
Edmonds is a gold glove defender.
Duncan is a DH playing left field.
I think they get the most out of what they have by platooning and playing for matchups. It may not be fun to watch, but TLR won more games than he should have with last year’s squad, and won the Series with a .500 team.
I agree with Tim, I think the win total will be around 75. My only hope is that the Cards are actually in a rebuilding mode without really declaring it (to all the people who keep shelling out big bucks to pack the stadium every night). I agree with not going the free agent route this year, because none of the really big names were worth the money. But the Cards will have to make a splash within the next couple of years, or make a trade for someone with a hefty salary. But the minor leagues aren’t as depleted as one might think. They have some pretty good prospects besides Rasmus, but they are a couple of years away at best. If Carpenter can be 90% of what he was before the injury, the Cards could be back contending in 2009. But as for 2008, the Cards will take their lumps.
Are you kidding me? This lineup is beautiful. I’m a Pittsburgh Pirates fan. I wish we could field a lineup like that.
Hey Stephen-
Edmonds WAS a gold glove outfielder. And I wonder how many of those he would have won if the award was given by specific position rather than the generic presentation to “outfielders”.
And for all the spectacular plays he made (taking nothing away from him), he also made a lot of simple plays appear outstanding because of his insistance on playing so shallow in center.
In my recollection over the last two seasons, I recall being more “impressed” by the number of times Edmonds struck out in key situations than I was impressed by his defensive prowess.
Edmonds was an 8 time gold glove winner, which is nothing to sneeze at. He’s 37 and in obvious decline, and still more valuable in the field than Duncan. I’m not saying Edmonds hasn’t struck out in key situations, or had a propensity to strike out in general, just presenting a possibility as to why he’s given a pass in those situations where Duncan may not be. If Duncan isn’t hitting, he really has nothing else to offer.
I am a big time Duncan fan, that sad he is absolutely brutal vs. left handed pitching - .215 avg. and strikeout almost half the time (31 in 80 abs.) - That would be a lot of rally killers -