2008 St. Louis Cardinals -- Looking to Bounce Back

Several questions abound for the St. Louis Cardinals and their season ticket holders as 2008 season begins. Despite numerous injuries and several key veterans departing during the offseason, the 2008 edition of the Redbirds still promises to be quite entertaining and worth going to the ballpark to check out.
Two important components to the Cardinals pitching rotation Chris Carpenter (the 2005 National League Cy Young Award Winner) and left-hander Mark Mulder are still recuperating from surgeries in 2007. Both pitchers hope to return to the rotation during the season. Mulder is expected back before June while Carpenter may be back around the All-Star break.

In the meantime, the 2006 World Champions will need to make do with Adam Wainwright (pictured above), newcomer Kyle Lohse, Braden Looper, and an undetermined fourth and fifth starter until Carpenter and Mulder return.

Former Chicago Cub hurler Matt Clement, picked up over the winter by new Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak may be in the starting rotation in April, but pitching coach Dave Duncan recently said that he didn't think Clement would be ready.

The Cardinals finished third in the National League's Central Division in 2007 behind the Cubs and Brewers with a record of 78-84. To contend in 2008 the Redbirds will be looking to some new faces and younger players for help.

Newcomer Troy Glaus hopes to regain his power-hitting stroke batting probably fourth in the order behind Albert Pujols. The Cards picked up the slugging Glaus from the Toronto Blue Jays suring the off-season in exchange for disgruntled third baseman Scott Rolen.

Glaus played fewer than 120 games for the third time in five years in 2007, managing just 20 home runs and 62 RBIs before submitting to surgery last September 16.

"I just want to get back to playing every day. Last year was frustrating because I couldn't do that," Glaus said. "I look forward to playing without distractions for 20-25 days in a row. It's tough to get in a groove otherwise; but unfortunately that was the reality of what happened."

As for Glaus, "I think he's in great shape, and he's excited to be here," the manager Tony La Russa said.

Rick Ankiel is looking to take over the center field position vacated when Jim Edmonds was traded to the Padres during the winter. Rookie Colby Rasmus, the Cardinals top prospect, is thought to have an outside chance during spring training to show if he is ready to take over for Edmonds.

Other notables gone from last year's Opening Day squad include 2006 World Series MVP David Eckstein who signed a one-year deal with Toronto, Juan Encarnacion who is still recovering from eye surgery, Preston Wilson, So Taguchi, and Kip Wells.

Manager Tony La Russa is back at the helm in 2008 after signing a new two-year deal. La Russa has 2,375 career wins -- third on baseball's all-time list behind Connie Mack (3,731) and John McGraw (2,763 going into this season.

La Russa from all accounts appears to be in good spirits as the Cards train in Jupiter, Florida. He smiles. He chats. He jokes. Some players think he seems a little more excited this spring than in the past.

"I think I'm as excited," La Russa says. "A couple of times, if spring seems to get here quickly and you're not ready, you have to prompt yourself.

"There wasn't a need this year to have that talk with yourself. I was excited to get down here and create an environment in which the guys could develop into a competitive ballclub.

"I'm excited in a different way. I'm excited because we have some young guys who will be playing for their baseball lives."

Led by the addition of former Gold Glove shortstop Cesar Izturis, the Cardinals hope to perform a defensive revival this season.

"We have to be more consistent" says La Russa. "Our defense was several levels below what we've been accustomed to (last season)."