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St. Louis Cardinals
Location: St. Louis, Mo. | Ballpark: Busch Stadium (46,861) | Spring Training: Jupiter, Fla.
Owner: William DeWitt, Jr. | GM: John Mozeliak | Manager: Tony La Russa | World Championships: 10
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Cardinals report: Inside pitch
 

The Sports Xchange
 
 
Inside pitch · Notes, quotes · Roster
 

 

The Cardinals know three-fifths of their rotation for next season -- Cy Young Award candidates Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright and fellow right-hander Kyle Lohse, who was injured often in a disappointing 2009 but is signed through 2012.

The St. Louis starting staff finished 2009 as one of the most effective in baseball with 69 victories and was the only rotation to pitch more than 1,000 innings.

But what comes after Wainwright (19-8, 2.63 ERA), Carpenter (17-4, 2.24) and Lohse (6-10, 4.74)?

Right-handers Joel Pineiro (15-12, 3.49), Todd Wellemeyer (7-10, 5.89) and John Smoltz (1-3, 4.26) all are potential free agents. The first two probably are gone, Pineiro because of projected cost and Wellemeyer because he wasn't good enough.

Smoltz and the Cardinals are said to have expressed mutual interest in having the likely Hall of Famer return as a potential fourth starter.

The organization seems inclined to fill the fifth spot -- and perhaps the fourth -- from within. The leaders in that group probably are left-hander Jaime Garcia and right-hander Mitch Boggs, the latter of whom spent about half a season in the majors this year.

Garcia, 23, spent almost all the 2009 season recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery but pitched well down the stretch for Pacific Coast League champion Memphis.

"From what I've seen of Jaime Garcia, I think he shows the ability to be a major league pitcher," pitching coach Dave Duncan told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "It would take a little change of philosophy on my part and (manager Tony La Russa's) part to seriously consider him as a part of the rotation in 2010. We've never taken that fifth starter spot and rotated it out at times. We felt it was important to stay with five starters to give the others that extra day.

"With Garcia coming back from injury, can you count on him giving what you hope from a fifth starter? You're hoping 180 innings. I don't know if he has shown the ability to handle those innings and pitch effectively."

Copyright (C) 2009 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.

 
 

St. Louis Cardinals Message Board
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:May 9, 2008

November 6, 2009 11:27 am
Well as the free agent filing period begins, the Cardinals have also begun cleaning house, clearing 4 from the 40 man roster, including Brad Thompson, who was released, Joe Thurston, who was outrighted to ...(more)
Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 27, 2009

November 7, 2009 12:14 pm

you know your team is slow when Albert Pujols leads your team with 16 steals.  Now that the PED era is moving behind us, teams are starting to steal bases again.  The Cardinals need to upgrade their team speed to compete in my opinion.  What ar ...(more)

Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 2, 2008

November 3, 2009 8:47 am
The normal Round Two question for the pundits this week was: who is in left field if Holliday leaves?

I found this question intriguing because it has such an impact on the Cards next year.  I just feel that Holliday might just be pushing himself out of budget range of the Cardinals, which will lead to other options. 
...(more)
Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 27, 2009

October 28, 2009 9:11 pm

If they are going anywhere.  Any thoughts on availability inside or outside the organization of a good lefty?

Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Jul 12, 2008

October 15, 2009 7:30 pm
What kind of contract do you think it will take to resign Matt Holliday? How many years do you think he is looking for and how much per year? Is 5 year 100 million going to do it and will the Cardinals pay it? I could be wrong but I think this will be the neighborhood Holl ...(more)
Reputation:91
Level:All-Star
Since:Jul 21, 2009

October 20, 2009 12:54 am

Albert Pujols has made it very clear he wants to play for a winner.  Well no one is more key to this than him.  The Cardinals have a good balance of young talent and very good vetran players right now, they just need a few minor pieces to pull things together ...(more)

Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Apr 26, 2008

September 12, 2009 4:40 pm
(POLL) I'm going to come right out with it, who do we resign at season's end, Mark DeRosa or Matt Holliday? In 44 games with the Cardinals, Holliday has 33 runs, 62 hits, 13 2B, 2 3B, 12 HR, 42 RBIs, 17 BB (4 intentional), stolen 2 bases out of 3 tries, has an ...(more)
Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Sep 4, 2006

October 26, 2009 9:55 am
Mark McGwire Should not be allowed to have any position with any team in MLB or a minor league affiliation until he testifies about his steroid use! Shame on the Cardinals for even considering this cheat to be a hitting instructor and be allowed to tarnish any further their proud history of being one of MLB's best run organiz ...(more)
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Jul 12, 2008

November 6, 2009 12:31 am
Matt Holliday filed for free agency today, let the bidding begin. Jason Bay also filed, I'm sure the Yankees and Red Sox will be major players in ...(more)
Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Jun 2, 2008

November 2, 2009 11:46 am

I realize the content of the following excerpts aren't related to the Cardinals, but with all the talk of Mark McGwire, steroids, performance enhancers, etc, I think this might help to create a different perspective on things.  This story is a few days old, but I've been away so hopefully it's still news to some people.  T ...(more)

Reputation:92
Level:All-Star
Since:Jan 21, 2007

September 9, 2009 10:22 am
Looking at their stats thru 9 full  seasons.  (Albert still has the rest of this year to go to finish his 9 seasons)

Albert has  scored 1,059 runs to Arod's 1,102.
Albert has 1,689 hits to A rod's 1,663
Albert has 363 homers to A rod's 376
Albert has 1,097 rbi's to Arod's 1,075
Albert has 562 strike outs, Arod has 1,064
Albert has an OBP of .427 t
...(more)
Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 9, 2006

October 28, 2009 8:06 pm

Fired St. Louis Cardinals hitting coach Hal McRae is ready to move on.

Here is the complete column by Joe Strauss:

Describing himself as "not a rehash guy," Hal McRae on Tuesday admitted disappointment but offered no regrets over his firing as Cardinals hitting coach, a move largely inspi ...(more)
Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 9, 2006

October 25, 2009 6:10 pm

ESPN is announcing that Tony La Russa will return for a 15th season as Cardinals manager. And that's not all. Hitting coach Hal McRae is out. Replacing McRae is long time La Russa friend and former player Mark McGwire. Yes, the Big Mac has decided to end his boycott and will be our new hitting coach. The rest of the coaching staff will a ...(more)

Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 1, 2006

October 11, 2009 2:16 am
Peeyew! Peeeeeeeyew! Man, you guys stink! Kind of a waste of time, watching the Cardinals all year.  Okay, they won the NL Central.  We all know it's full of top contenders: Pittsburgh, Cinicinatti, Houston, Milwaukee.

Enjoy the frusteration and pain guys; It will last until next October.




...(more)
Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 9, 2006

October 22, 2009 5:39 am
(POLL)

It has now been 11 days since our Cardinals were ousted from post season play and 18 days since Tony and his wonderful family celebrated his 65th birthday (October 4th). And he has now told Joe Strauss that he is in the final chapter of revealing his decision on whether he will return for a 15th year or not.

I know that his month ...(more)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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