st louis cardinals history
st louis cardinals history
So it was back to the drawing board for Tony LaRussa and his Cardinals after being eliminated by the Houston Astros last fall. Nobody predicted that outcome, especially those loyalists who regularly purchase St. Louis Cardinals tickets. But as sure as winter turns to spring, sullen disappointed fans turn hopeful in anticipation of another baseball season. It happens all over the country. Every team feels it has improved enough to take that extra step, to win that extra game, to close out that extra series. Of course, as the cycle continues, only one team prevails and round and round it goes. In St. Louis, the question is, has Cardinal management done enough?
So, we know that pitching wins pennants (see 2005 ChiSox). The Cardinals will trot out Chris carpenter, Mark Mulder, Jason Marquis, Sidney Ponson, and Jeff Suppan; not bad, not bad at all. The Achilles heal of this group is Ponson but if he gets serious about his career and shapes up, he can be formidable. Additionally, every staff has a guy like Jason Marquis; a .500 pitcher that always seems ready to take that next big step, ala Jon Garland of the aforementioned White Sox. If this staff pans out, Matt Morris will not be missed.
The Cardinal bullpen experienced a boatload of change during the off-season. Gone are Julian Tavarez and Ray King. Al Reyes and Cal Eldred were bid adieu as well. Jason Insringhausen will once again anchor the pen with help from newly acquired Braden Looper, who spent last year with the Mets. Looper, who is recovering form off-season surgery, must come through if the Cardinal bullpen is to continue as it has in recent years. If not, LaRussa and Company could be in big trouble. Ricardo Rincon, Brad Thompson and Randy Flores will contribute as well, but Looper is the key.
Tony LaRussa will be keeping all his fingers AND toes crossed hopes that Scott Rolen’s injury problems are behind him. If Rolen rounds back into form, the offense will be solid, as long as Albert Pujols is drawing a breath. But gone are mainstays like Reggie Sanders, Larry Walker and Mark Grudzielanek. If you purchase St. Louis Cardinal tickets this year, you’ll have an opportunity to get to know Larry Bigbie, Juan Encarnacion, Junior Spivey and Aaron Miles, who will fill some gaping holes. Cardinal brass is reaching a little on the last two. If it works, Walt Jockety is a genius; we’ll see.
So what do we know for sure? The Cardinals have undergone some off-season, changes; the Cardinals have some question marks and the Cardinal have a new playground in which to work out these issues. New Busch Stadium should be a wonder and if you have purchased St. Louis Cardinals tickets, it should prove to be the price of admission. However; the glitz of a new ballpark will only buy Cardinal brass so much love because the only thing that will make Cardinal fans happy is a National League pennant flying from the highest pole.
