In the Cards for 2006

There is some unrest in Cardinal Nation this offseason as many fans believe the front office hasn't made enough impact moves to keep the Redbirds at the head of the MLB class. I tend to disagree, and as evidence, I present the projected 2006 Cardinal lineup:

Starters: RHP Christ Carpenter, LHP Mark Mulder, RHP Jeff Suppan, RHP Anthony Reyes, RHP Jason Marquis, RHP Sidney Ponson

If you look at this group the first thing you notice is the absence of Matt Morris, a Cardinal since 1997. Many fans believe the Redbirds should have done more to shore up the starting rotation after Morris's departure in free agency, and there was a fair amount of disappointment when the chase for A.J. Burnett ended in failure, but I believe there is cause for optimism. Carpenter and Mulder are known quantities. Either hurler is capable of a Cy Young caliber year. Suppan is a steady innings-eater who brings his best stuff to big games (remember game 7 in 2004?). the 4th and 5th starters will emerge from the trio of Marquis, Ponson, and rookie Anthony Reyes. Anyone who saw Reyes's major league debut in which he surrendered just 2 runs in 6 2/3 innings must believe he's ready for the show. The hard throwing 24 year old backs up a mid-90's fastball with a wicked slider, and as he gains more control over a blossoming 12-6 curve he could become something special. I'll go ahead and say it now: Anthony Reyes will be the NL rookie of the year in 2006. That leaves Marquis and Ponson to duke it out for the 5th and final spot in the rotation. As of right now, the job is Marquis's to lose, but if Ponson's rehab from alcohol abuse is coming along as well as he claims and he returns to his 17 win form of 2003, it may relegate Marquis to the bullpen. Whatever the case, the starting 5 is sure to have another solid year.

First Base: Albert Pujols

The best player in baseball will have another MVP on his mantle after 2006, and maybe even a Gold Glove to go with it.

Second Base: Junior Spivey

The Cardinals went bargain basement shopping for a secondbaseman for the second straight year, and hopefully this year's purchase will be as successfull as last year's. Spivey had an injury plagued, unproductive 2005, leading to the Nationals' choice to non-tender and release him. Just a few years removed from his All-Star 2002 season, Spivey is a solid defender with good speed who makes contact at the plate. He even has a bit of pop in his bat, having belted as many as 16 homers in a season. It is remarkable how similar the acquisition of Spivey this year is to the acquisition of Grudzielanek last year. Once again the Redbirds are risking that a player with recent injury concerns will return to form to be a productive everyday piece of the puzzle.

Third Base: Scott Rolen

Rolen's 2005 season was wiped out on May 10th after a collision with Hee Seop Choi of the Dodgers left him with a bum shoulder for the rest of the year. Surgery was performed, the outcome was deemed successful, and Rolen should be healthy for the start of spring training. Not only that, but he is sure to be hungry to prove himself after missing out on another playoff run. The return of baseball's best third baseman to his cleanup spot in the order will do wonders for the Redbird offense in 2006.

Shorstop: David Eckstein

The fans in St. Louis love David Eckstein, and why not? The all-out, never-say-die, mighty-mite plays every game like it might be his last. Eckstein will have another solid year at the plate and continue to improve defensively.

Left Field: Larry Bigbie

The acquisition of Bigbie in a trade for Ray King was the first impact move of the offseason for the Redbirds. Bigbie suffered through injuries and posted poor numbers last season, but is just a year removed from back to back solid years with the Orioles in which he hit .303 and .280 respectively. He is a solid left handed batter, and Cardinal fans will be amazed at how similar his stroke is to that of Larry Walker. At only 28, Bigbie's best years are in front of him, and he should produce quite nicely for the Redbirds.

Center Field: Jim Edmonds

At 35 years old Edmonds is no longer a spring chicken in the baseball world. He must realize that his oppurtunities to win a World Championship are dwindling. Also, he has remarked about how dissappointed he was with his "subpar" 2005 in which he batted just .263. However, the slugging outfielder clubbed 29 homers and drove in 89 runs. Edmonds is clearly anxious to return to the diamond in hopes of proving that his best days are not behind him. His patience and versatility at the plate coupled with Tony LaRussa's preference for, "damage," early in the lineup make him a candidate to hit in the # 2 spot vacated by Larry Walker. As usual, Edmonds will take home the Gold Glove in 2006.

Right Field: Juan Encarnacion

After failing to sign Jacque Jones the Cardinals turned to plan B in Encarnacion, a versatile outfielder with the potential to hit .280, 20, 85, AVG, HR, RBI. Encarnacion is a bit of an enigma, however, in that he suffers from an occasional lack of focus. He is prone to lengthy slumps and careless mistakes defensively. Hopefully the veteran presences of Pujols, Rolen, and Edmonds will keep Encarnacion's mind on the game and lead him to realize his high-end potential.

Bullpen:

The retooled bullpen is still taking shape, but most of the key pieces are in place. Isringhausen will return to close, and continue to give me heartburn. The bend-but-don't-break hurler gets the job done, albeit a bit too dramatically for my taste. The addition of Braden Looper is encouraging, as it brings in a solid setup man with closer experience. Lefties Randy Flores and Ricardo Rincon form a solid, though not spectacular duo, and Brad Thompson should improve on his rookie campaign that saw him emerge as a trusted member of the bullpen.

Bench:

There is great depth and talent on the St. Louis bench, despite the departures of Abraham Nunez and the fading John Mabry. So Taguchi will continue to provide good contact and solid outfield defense, and John Rodriguez's power stroke from the left side make him a dangerous pinch-hitter. Infielder Deivi Cruz can play either shortstop or second base, and has a patient eye at the plate. Utilityman Hector Luna has another year or two before he developes into a solid everyday type player, but he is talented and capable of delivering the big hit in the clutch.

Overall the Redbirds aren't so bad off. Sure, there are some injury risks, and a few of the new additions are unknowns, but the core of a very good team returns. If you look down a roster that includes names like Carpenter, Mulder, Rolen, Edmonds, Eckstein, and Pujols, you have to feel pretty good about your chances no matter who fleshes out the roster. Walt Jocketty has made moves to plug holes in a ship that wasn't taking on much water anyway, and the product on the field next year promises to be just as good as 2005.