The ReclinerGM’s 2009 MLB Preview: St. Louis Cardinals

explanation of rankings of other team previews here

2008 Record: 86-76
Offseason Additions: Khalil Greene, Trevor Miller
Offseason Subtractions: Felipe Lopez, Aaron Miles, Braden Looper
Ranks (MLB):
     Line-Up - 9th
     Rotation - 19th
     Bullpen - 24st
     Defense - 3rd tier (out of 5)
     Baserunning - 4th tier (out of 5) 

KEY PLAYER: ALBERT PUJOLS                                                             

Usually I reserve this spot for an unknown quantity, but in the Cardinals case, there is only one player that can go here. Since Barry Bonds “retired” there has been no player that has come even close to meaning as much to their team as Albert Pujols. He is undoubtedly the best hitter in baseball and last year, while injured, carried a weak Cardinals squad to 10 games over .500. In his first 8 seasons in the league, his 162 game averages are as follows: .334 BA, 42 HR, 128 RBI, 45 2B, 124 runs and only 66 K. Only 8 players have put up those numbers in a single season (Ruth, Gehrig, Williams, Klein, Hornsby, Trosky, Helton and DiMaggio) and Pujols has done it for 8 seasons combined. It’s absurd for Ryan Howard to think that he deserves to be paid as if he in the same realm as a player like Pujols. Pujols, along with hitting for an elite average without striking out, is an elite baserunner and defender, making him the most well rounded player in the league. 

PLAYER TO WATCH: RYAN LUDWICK                                                         

Before last season, the 30 year-old Ludwick had 28 HR and 96 RBI…in his 6-year career. Last year alone, he hit .297 with 37 HR, 113 RBI and only Pujols and Manny Ramirez had higher SLG %’s. I’m not going to say the guy was using some drugs, because I don’t think that’s the case. But I will say that I don’t think he can do it again. This season will show whether or not he simply had one of the biggest fluke seasons in MLB history, or whether he is a legitimate ball player. I’m thinking the former, but it wouldn’t be the first (or 100th) time I was wrong. 

PHILLY ANGLE                                                                                                         

The Anti-Philly Fans Sour

When the media takes their shots at our fanbase, they will often use the St. Louis Cardinals fans as the yin to our yang. The Cardinals fans have long been some of the most positive and supportive fans out there. The most close to home example of this was when Scott Rolen pushed (and was pushed) out of town and landed on his feet in the wonderful town of St. Louis, who welcomed him with open arms. Yes, the Cardinals fans are the best around…that is, of course, until they feel their ownership is pinching pennies or their team isn’t winning as many games as they would like. Read this article by Jerry Crasnick, and you will find that the Cardinals fans are just like all others. Here’s an excerpt that gives you the jist…

“The fan base seems angry,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz wrote earlier this month. “On the talk shows and in the blogosphere, where the rage bubbles into a rapid boil, there’s chatter of a boycott, of customers giving up their season tickets. They question the commitment to winning. They are tired of excuses. They won’t spend another dollar until things change.” 

Which makes you wonder: Have Cards fans ever pondered what it must be like to follow baseball in that alternate universe known as Pittsburgh?

This, by the way, is a team that won the World Series two years ago! Not to mention that their ace has been injured this entire time. The lesson as always, is that 95% of whining fans have no idea that there are 29 other teams with the same goals, and same issues. Only 1 team takes home the trophy. 

QUICK HITS                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Worst Contract: Chris Carpenter (5 yrs, $63.5 million, ends in 2012)
Best Pitch: Adam Wainwright’s Curveball
Best Player in a Contract Year: Rick Ankiel, OF
Top Prospect: Colby Rasmus, OF
Best Individual Season: Stan Musial, 1948 (.376 BA, 39 HR, 131 RBI, 46 2B, 18 3B, .450 OBP, .702 SLG, 135 runs, 429 total bases, MVP)
Worst Uniforms: 1956
Where’d They Come From?

          - Free Agent, 7 (most in MLB)
          - Draft, 5
          - Trade, 2
          - Amateur FA, 0

2009 OUTLOOK                                                                                                       

3rd NL Central, 11th NL, 19th MLB

The Cardinals may make another move or two (starting pitcher?), but either way, I don’t see them as a playoff team this year. They really could use a bat to compliment Pujols and a closer would be nice as well. But King Albert will do his thing and have this team in the hunt, just like Bonds did with the Giants at the beginning of the decade. If they can get anything from Carpenter, that would be great, but I doubt it will happen. I’ll be out there in July to check out their new digs, and unless Adam Wainwright is pitching or Pujols is hitting, I’ll probably spend most of my time checking out the concessions. 

Related posts:

1. 2008 MLB Preview: St. Louis Cardinals
2. Louis Williams Signs a 5-year Deal to Stay with the Sixers
3. Evaluating the ‘07-’08 76ers: Louis Williams