St. Louis Cardinals Baseball

However, will this year's Cardinals squad be worth going to the ballpark to check out? That's the HUGE question that has yet to be answered.

The Cardinals pitching rotation is a big reason for the apprehension going into the 2009 campaign.

Chris Carpenter (the 2005 National League Cy Young Award Winner) is still not all the way back from his surgery in 2007. While reports from the Cardinals' front office indicate that Carpenter is throwing well with no pain in his shoulders and to his nerves, should the Cards really expect anything out of their highly-paid hurler this season? We'll probably have a better idea on Carpenter's condition during Spring Training.

In the meantime, the 2006 World Champions will need to make do with Adam Wainwright (pictured above), Kyle Lohse, Joel Piniero, and an undetermined fourth and fifth starter until Carpenter returns.

The Cardinals finished fourth in the National League's Central Division in 2008 behind the Cubs, Brewers, and Astros with a record of 86-76

To contend in 2009 the Redbirds will be looking to some new faces and younger players for help.

Rookie Colby Rasmus, the Cardinals top prospect in their farm system, is thought to have a real good chance during spring training to show that he is ready to take over in center field.

Manager Tony La Russa is back at the helm in 2009 in the last year of a two-year contract. La Russa has 2,461 career wins -- third on baseball's all-time list behind Connie Mack (3,731) and John McGraw (2,763 going into this season.