St. Louis Cardinals
2015 Win/Loss Record:
100-62, 1st in National League Central
Last Postseason
Appearance: 2015
Last World Series
Championship: 2011
Key Arrivals: Jedd
Gyorko (INF), Mike Leake (P), Brayan Pena (C)
Key Departures: Jason
Heyward (OF), Jon Jay (OF), John Lackey (P)
Manager: Mike
Matheny, 5th Year, W/L
375-273
Overall Review: Having the best record
in baseball and home-field advantage throughout the National League playoffs
meant nothing to the Cardinals last season as they fell in the NLDS to the
Chicago Cubs in five games. However, for a team that in the last 20 seasons has
seen the postseason 13 times, won ten division titles, four NL pennants and two
World Series, you’d forgive their fans for being disappointed when the Cards
don’t reach the high expectations they’ve set for them.
Unfortunately, the window of
opportunity for St. Louis may be closing, if it hasn’t been shut already. The
core of all-stars is getting older or were let go during the offseason and not
much has been done to replace them. As far as trades and free agency go, all
the Cards acquired in the offseason was a utility infielder, a back-up catcher
and a back-end of the rotation starting pitcher.
Offense: Yadier Molina will be back for
his 13th season with the Cardinals, and the All-Star catcher will
continue to lead the team offensively and defensively. While his numbers have
diminished over the years (his average has dropped from .319 in 2013 to .282 in
2014 and .270 in 2015, while his homers have shrunk from 22 to 12 to seven to
four since 2012) he can still be counted on for big hits when his team needs
them. There isn’t a better catcher, defensively, in all of baseball but the
wear and tear of being the behind the plate for a dozen years may start to catch
up with him physically.
Matt Carpenter will play at
third and will be pencilled in as the lead off hitter. In 2015, he batted .272
while leading the team with 28 home runs and 84 RBIs. Left-fielder, Matt
Holliday, will be looking for a comeback year. Limited to 73 games due to
injury, he only four home runs and 3 RBIs. Holliday, at 36 years old, is in the
final year of his contract and will need to have a good season if he wants to
cash in once more before his career is over.
Pitching: Losing John Lackey is going
to hurt the rotation. Adam Wainwright will be the ace of the staff. Wainwright didn’t pitch in 2015 due to injury, so how long he remains the ace
will most likely be dependant on how healthy he is. Michael Wacha will be next
in line, and in 2015, he impressed with a 17-7 win/loss record, while recording
a 3.38 ERA and struck out 153 batters. Carlos Martinez (14-7, 3.01, 184), Jaime
Garcia (10-6, 2.43, 97) and free agent signee Mike Leake (11-10, 3.70 while
splitting time with the Giants and Reds) will round out the rotation.
In the bullpen, closer Trevor
Rosenthal returns for his third year in that role. After recording 45 saves in
2014, Rosenthal did even better in 2015 by notching 48. He also had a 2-4
record out of the pen, with a 2.10 ERA while striking out 83 batters. Jordan
Walden will add some relief help as well. In 2015, Walden pitched in only 12
games, but showed glimpses of greatness with one save and a 0.87 ERA while
striking out 12 batters in 10 1/3 innings.
 |
| Catcher Yadier Molina |
Prediction: While the Cardinals should
be competitive again, they are not the Cardinals of the last dozen years or so.
They will start to fall in the NL Central and will finish third behind the
Pirates and the Cubs. Unlike 2015, the NL Central will not have two wild cards
this year, and the Cards will be the odd team out.
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