The Cardinals didn't lose any key players in the off season, and look to have a surprisingly strong starting lineup for opening day.
The lineup for opening day will be lacking the former all-star Troy Glaus, but he is expected to return sometime in May. So, at third base will most likely be David Freese, who according to the Cardinals staff, has had an exemplary spring training and preseason.
So let's go around the horn.
C: Yadier Molina.
1B: Albert Pujols.
2B: Skip Schumaker.
SS: Khalil Greene.
3B: David Freese.
LF: Chris Duncan.
CF: Rick Ankiel.
RF: Ryan Ludwick.
It's hard to find any real holes in this lineup. Yadier Molina has continuously been one of the best defensive catchers in the game with an unbelievable gun to throw out runners. And he's backed by a surprisingly improved offensive season last year, which Cards fans hope continues through this season.
Albert Pujols speaks for himself. Last year's N.L. MVP, Pujols never seems to slow down. He's been in competition for the MVP for numerous consecutive years now, and his numbers are second to none. Add in his solid play in the field and he's the complete package of a MLB superstar.
Skip Schumaker may be the small shortcoming in this Cardinals team. Don't get me wrong, I think Skip is a great player, and I think it was a great move to put him at 2nd, but it may take a lot of time for him to adjust to 2nd base and an everyday role. Nonetheless, time should prove this to be a good move with Skip as a prolific scrappy player with speed the lineup needs.
Khalil Greene was a great pickup for the organization. After losing David Eckstein before last season, the team experimented with a number of shortstops, including Cesar Izturis for a large portion of the season. Now, the team has a consistent shortstop with great defensive capabilities. Last season, Greene's numbers were down a bit from previous season, but don't be surprised to see those come right back up with a new team under a new, and great, pitching coach, Hal McRae.
It's hard to analyze David Freese as a rookie before the season starts. The team has high hopes for him, but most likely Troy Glaus will regain the starting job when he returns. Don't expect any sort of breakout season from the slugger; he's a declining veteran, but the guy can still hit extremely well, and will probably put up the same kind of numbers he did last year—nothing mind blowing, but nothing short of a strong season.
Now, to what I find to be an unbelievably gifted outfield.
Rick Ankiel is a fan favorite in St. Louis. His amazing comeback to the majors story is truly an amazing feat. Furthermore, he's shown great offensive production, although a bit of a streaky hitter, to parallel his superior defensive skills. The whole nation learned about Rick's defensive capabilities when he produced one of last year's best web gems, throwing out two runners at 3rd base, one of them the speedy Willy Taveras, from the warning track. His unprecedented arm strength and flawless accuracy is a true force for the Cardinals taking runners off the bases.
Ryan Ludwick, an all-star last year, has had a rough preseason. As LaRussa said, he was "just a mess at the plate." But Ludwick is a young competitor, and there is no doubt in my mind that he will sort himself out and produce another great season. His fielding is average, but his offensive power and talent could land the slugger among the best hitters in the league.
Finally, Chris Duncan is playing in left field. Duncan did not receive as much playing time as he would have hoped last year, but he is one of the best hitters on this team. Duncan, a towering 6'5", can hit any pitcher, to any part of the field. His power is overwhelming, and when he gets hot, there is no stopping him. St. Louis seems to think he is still a sub-par fielder, because of his 2006 world series blunders. Yes, they were embarrassing errors, but another young competitor on the team, he worked on his fielding the entire off season and while most did not get to see it in his minimal playing time last season, he has become a solid, even above average, defensive outfielder. He is versatile in his ability to play multiple positions. He can play all three outfield positions and first base. If he can realize his potential, Chris could be one of the best players in the major leagues.
There you have the St. Louis Cardinals 2009 starting roster. Pitching may be another story for the team, but Chris Carpenter's preseason success is exciting to fans everywhere, and you never know who Dave Duncan will turn into the next Card's ace. A coach who turns coal into diamonds, Duncan will undoubtedly get the most out of his pitching staff. Cardinals nation is hoping for Skip Schumaker to thrive in his new role, especially because the Cards have not had a consistent 2nd baseman in multiple years. The Cardinals could do a lot better than expected if players like Chris Duncan and Ryan Ludwick perform the way they can, to boost an already strong batting core of Pujols, Glaus, and Ankiel. This could really help with the other scrappy, speed guys in the lineup like Schumaker, and Greene. You can expect great things from the Cardinals and their young talents this year.
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