Some mysteries endure through the ages. One of those will be how the Boston Red Sox so thoroughly shut down the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.
Between Albert Pujols, Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen, the Cardinals have arguably the best middle-of-the-order combination in the major leagues. The only team that compares is the New York Yankees, who themselves had trouble scoring runs when they needed them against Boston.
Like the Yankees, the Cardinals surround a left-handed run-producer (Edmonds) with a pair of prolific right-handed hitters (Pujols and Rolen). That trio allowed St. Louis to score a National League-high 855 runs a year ago, and returns intact in 2005.
While the Cardinals have questions elsewhere, they know that if they get runners on base, they have men that can drive them in. After all, the Pujols-Edmonds-Rolen trio combined to hit .316 with 122 homers and 358 runs batted last year. No other team had as dangerous a trio of hitters in the middle of its lineup, nor do any figure to this year.
CARDINALS
2004: 105-57
(1st; lost to Boston in World Series)
Mgr: Tony La Russa
Additions:
P Mark Mulder
SS David Eckstein
2B Mark Grudzielanek
C Einar Diaz
P Mike Myers
Losses:
SS Edgar Renteria
P Woody Williams
C Mike Matheny
2B Tony Womack
P Steve Kline
P Kiko Calero
P Dan Haren
OF Ray Lankford
For starters: The underrated Matheny had been the Cardinals’ primary catcher for five years. La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan will be working overtime to help the 22-year-old Yadier Molina and Diaz adjust to St. Louis’ pitchers during spring training.
Fresh face: Elbow injuries slowed the development of Anthony Reyes, who was almost as dominant as a USC freshman as his teammate, Mark Prior. He has looked so good in his 18 pro starts that he could open the season in Triple A, with a midseason promotion possible.
OUTLOOK
Mulder gives the Cardinals an ace, but this is a lot thinner team than the one that surprised the Cubs and Astros last year. Health is a critical issue given Albert Pujols’ continuing problems with his left foot, Mulder’s mysterious fade in 2004 and Matt Morris’ off-season shoulder surgery.
ASTROS
2004: 92-70
(2nd, wild card, Lost to St. Louis in NLCS)
Mgr: Phil Garner
Additions:
LHP John Franco
RHP Turk Wendell
RHP Dave Burba
OF Charles Gipson
Losses:
CF Carlos Beltran
2B Jeff Kent
RHP Wade Miller
RHP Dan Miceli
RHP Russ Springer
LHP Darren Oliver
For starters: Between them, Beltran and Kent scored or drove in 42 of the Astros’ runs in their 12 playoff games. They are going to have to find some way to replace that production, especially with Lance Berkman likely sidelined until May after tearing the ACL in his knee playing flag football. The unproven Jason Lane and Chris Burke will be under the gun, along with third baseman Morgan Ensberg.
Fresh face: Burke replaces Kent at second base. He hit .315 in Triple A in 2004 and .301 in Double A in 2003. He has been compared to a young Craig Biggio and could make a run for Rookie of the Year.
OUTLOOK
Free agency took a huge bite from an old team. These Astros will go only as far as they can be carried by Roger Clemens, Roy Oswalt and the starting rotation. Andy Pettitte’s recovery from elbow surgery is vital.
REDS
2004: 76-86
(4th)
Mgr: Dave Miley
Additions:
LHP Eric Milton
RHP Ramon Ortiz
RHP David Weathers
LHP Kent Mercker
RHP Ben Weber
3B Joe Randa
SS Rich Aurilia
Losses:
SS Barry Larkin
INF Juan Castro
RHP John Riedling
RHP Todd Van Poppel
OF Darren Bragg
For starters: Larkin was not resigned after a 19-year run at shortstop. It’s not clear who will replace him. Felipe Lopez and Aurilia will compete for the job in spring training with Anderson Machado a possibility once he’s recovered from knee surgery.
Fresh face: No rookies are being counted on. RHP Todd Coffey is in line as a possible set-up man if Joe Valentine, Ryan Wagner or veterans Weber and Weathers don’t fill the need.
OUTLOOK
Owner Carl Lindner gave GM Dan O’Brien a little money to spend, and will have a deeper team as a result. The Reds could add more pitching by dealing an outfielder (most likely Wily Mo Pena or Austin Kearns) during the spring.
PIRATES
2004: 72-89
(5th)
Mgr: Lloyd McClendon
Additions:
LHP Mark Redman
C Benito Santiago
OF Matt Lawton
OF Ben Grieve
RHP Todd Ritchie
Losses:
C Jason Kendall
P Brian Boehringer
For starters: A weak lineup gets weaker without Kendall. The Pirates may have to consider trading some of their pitching for a hitter as they are putting a heavy load on the likes of Jason Bay and Craig Wilson.
Fresh face: First baseman Brad Eldred combined for 38 homers in the minors last season but isn’t ready to be considered for the big leagues. He’ll probably start the season at Double A but could come fast in an organization starved for power.
OUTLOOK
The starting rotation could be pretty good with Oliver Perez, Kip Wells, Josh Fogg and Redman, but this team isn’t going anywhere fast. Owner Kevin McClatchy needs to stop whining about the game’s economics and either find a buyer or suck it up to end a losing streak that seems certain to extend to 13 seasons after 2005.
BREWERS
2004: 67-94
(6th)
Mgr: Ned Yost
Additions:
LF Carlos Lee
C Damian Miller
RHP Jose Capellan
RHP Justin Lehr
RHP Ricky Bottalico
3B Russell Branyan
3B Jeff Cirillo
3B Kevin Orie
RHP Julio Santana
Losses:
RHP Dan Kolb
CF Scott Podsednik
RHP Luis Vizcaino
2B-3B Keith Ginter
INF Craig Counsell
For starters: After trading Kolb and Vizcaino, Yost is going to have to find a closer. Lehr, who was acquired from Oakland, is the leading candidate with Bottalico and Brooks Kieschnick in the wings.
Fresh face: Despite missing most of 2004 with a shoulder injury, 22-year-old J.J. Hardy will get a chance to replace Counsell as the starting shortstop. GM Doug Melvin opted not to bring journeyman infielders to camp, leaving Bill Hall as the regular if Hardy goes back to Triple A.
OUTLOOK
With Lee bringing more thump to the middle of the lineup, the development of starters like Capellan, Chris Capuano, Ben Hendrickson and Wes Obermueller can get anywhere near .500 in what figures to be their 13th straight losing season (equaling Pittsburgh’s losing streak).
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WEDNESDAY: THE CUBS
