Don't Count The Cardinals Out

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Don't count the Cardinals out yet

By Buster Olney
ESPN Insider
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There are few players, if any, who would be missed more than Adam Wainwright will be missed by the St. Louis Cardinals. He's one of the best half-dozen pitchers in the majors, and there really is no way to replace what he does.


But the notion that the Cardinals might be starting to think about how to abandon their 2011 ship is laughable, because this is not a franchise that is built that way. The loss of one player in February is not going to prompt Tony La Russa to wave the white flag on this season, and general manager John Mozeliak is not going to suddenly call other teams and start offering his most marketable players.


You can bet that Wednesday and Thursday were very difficult days for the Cardinals, who know their pursuit of the NL Central title just got a whole lot tougher. The Cincinnati Reds won the division last year and they're a young team that seems to be getting better. The Milwaukee Brewers' rotation looks like it could be exceptional -- and with significantly more depth than St. Louis'. Mike Quade, now installed as the full-time manager of the Chicago Cubs, has his players drinking the Kool-Aid: Carlos Zambrano says he's never going back to being what he was before, and Aramis Ramirez is in great shape and appears more dedicated. Even the Houston Astros are quietly confident in what their rotation could accomplish, considering how strongly it finished last year.


But the Cardinals do have the game's best player, Albert Pujols, who has been extraordinary in every year in his career and has a whole lot at stake for 2011, before he hits free agency. Matt Holliday is coming off a year in which he hit .312, with 28 homers,103 RBI and a .390 on-base percentage. Colby Rasmus might have grown from what happened last year. The Cardinals think David Freese is going to hit. Chris Carpenter is still a front-of-the-rotation pitcher, and Jaime Garcia was the NL Rookie of the Year front-runner on Aug. 1 of last year.
<OFFER>St. Louis still has plenty of weapons, certainly enough -- if some things go right -- for it to win the NL Central. And above all else, it would be really bad business for the Cardinals, who are in the business of selling tickets, to pack in their hopes for this season in February.


Fans and media like to think about "what-if" scenarios. But St. Louis is a long way from doing that, a long way from getting ready to dump Carpenter or Ryan Franklin or other important parts of its team.


Kyle McClellan is a real weapon, says Tony La Russa.


The Cardinals have a couple of concerns about position players:


Lance Berkman got a day off, because of a sore elbow that may or may not be related to all the throwing he's doing as he prepares to play the outfield. David Freese is being eased into action.


• Major League Baseball extended a loan to the New York Mets. Their debt is enormous and it's growing, at a time when their expected attendance is down.


It's time for the Wilpons to fess up, writes Mike Vaccaro.


Adrian Beltre is hurt, and Michael Young will now step in at third base.


The injury proves that Young could play a major role for the Rangers this year, writes Jeff Wilson.


Young has told reporters he is no longer talking about his trade demand, but he seemingly hasn't taken it off the table, either. Here's what appears to have bothered Young the most: After he agreed to shift to the DH/super utility role, the Rangers made a sincere and earnest effort to sign Jim Thome, and then traded for Mike Napoli, and in their negotiations with Thome they promised the slugger a high number of at-bats. At least some of that playing time would have come at the expense of Young, who thought the issue of where he was going to play, and how much, had been settled. It probably appears from his vantage point that there was a bait-and-switch.


• The Miguel Cabrera situation has overshadowed all else going on in the Tigers camp, which has been pretty good, according to general manager David Dombrowski. Detroit doesn't have any lingering health issues, he said Friday, and they are seeing great progress in two important members of their pitching staff. Reliever Joel Zumaya -- who suffered the seemingly horrific elbow injury June 28 -- is "throwing the ball as well as he ever has," Dombrowski said. And Rick Porcello, whose development will be crucial for the Tigers' rotation, is showing a great sinker this spring, after pitching better in the second half last year, lowering his ERA to 4.00 from 6.14 before the All-Star break.


Andy Oliver and Jacob Turner pitched Friday, as Michael Rosenberg writes.


Cabrera joined the Tigers in a workout for the first time, and is looking forward to playing in a game. He weighs 270 pounds, but says the weight is muscle, and not flab, as Tom Gage writes.


Dombrowski spoke cautiously about Cabrera, about how his problem is one that needs day-to-day attention, but he also said this: "I think he's committed to making the program work."


Cabrera was greeted warmly by teammates, writes John Lowe. Tigers fans have a right to be skeptical about Cabrera, writes Jamie Samuelsen.


Dings and dents



1. Brandon Webb is set to throw a bullpen session Sunday for the Rangers. He is behind the other Texas pitchers, but not by much, at this point. Texas is taking this day by day.


2. Chipper Jones could play Sunday after passing a test. I don't know what number of games he has in mind for this year, but you'd have to think the Braves would be thrilled if they got 125-130 games from him.


3. Brian Roberts has now missed four straight workouts.


4. Michael Cuddyer is bothered by a wart, as La Velle Neal writes.


5. Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis are not feeling any pain, writes Peter Abraham.


6. Cla Meredith reinjured his back.


7. The Phillies are saying that Chase Utley has routine soreness, and he won't play today, as David Murphy writes.


8. Padres reliever Joe Thatcher is dealing with a sore shoulder.


9. Reliever Alberto Arias has suffered a setback, writes Zachary Levine.


10. As Jake Peavy continues his comeback, he'll have a light session today.


11. Rich Harden could be cleared to throw on Sunday, as mentioned in this Susan Slusser notebook. Cliff Pennington has been told to not dive for balls, writes Joe Stiglich.


The Battle for Jobs



1. The real work starts for the Tampa Bay bullpen candidates today, and Jake McGee has been told to work on his slider, writes Roger Mooney.


2. The Angels are still unsettled behind the plate, as Mike DiGiovanna writes.


3. Here's a refresher on how the Royals' roster is shaking up, from Bob Dutton.


4. Paul Janish, who appears to be the front-runner to be the every-day shortstop for the Reds, is anxious to start playing.


5. Luis Valbuena is trying not to throw away another chance. Lou Marson is battling for playing time, writes Sheldon Ocker.


6. Leo Nunez is thinking that a revamped slider will help him keep his job as the Marlins' closer.
7. The Dodgers could be a looking at a platoon in left field, as Dylan Hernandez writes. Check out Jay Gibbons' classic pitcher pose in the picture taken of him.


8. Garrett Mock is out to win a job in the Nationals' rotation.


Moves, deals and decisions



1. Carlos Gonzalez has been given a set position: left field. Dexter Fowler is center to the Rockies' plans and hopes for this year, writes Troy Renck.


2. Travis Wood is getting the ball Sunday for the Reds.


3. If Kosuke Fukudome is in the lineup, it looks like he could hit leadoff.


4. Carl Crawford will be left out of the first couple of Red Sox exhibitions because of personal business.


Friday's games



1. Tim Lincecum felt good in his spring debut. Sergio Romo has been working on a sinker, as mentioned within this Andrew Baggarly piece.


2. Joe Saunders was pleased with his debut, as Nick Piecoro writes. Within the same piece, there is word that Xavier Nady is not throwing the ball well.


3. John Jaso did what he usually does in his first at-bat of an intrasquad game, and this pleased his manager.


Other stuff



• There are no lingering effects from Danny Valencia's kangaroo court experience from last year, writes Jim Souhan.


• The Braves' Jair Jurrjens is healthy and happy, as David O'Brien writes.


• The Twins have a whole bunch of pitchers in their camps, writes Kelsie Smith.


Craig Counsell is waiting for his moment to shine.


• Tyson Gillies wants to rehab his image, as Matt Gelb writes.


• You can expect Ryan Braun to continue being vocal.


• The Padres' Will Venable will be shifting into high gear on the bases, writes Tim Sullivan.


Reed Johnson is a feel-good outfielder for the Cubs, writes Gordon Wittenmyer.


Mike Stanton put on a batting practice show, as Joe Capozzi writes.


Nick Swisher is not happy with the way last season went for him.


Mark Prior was once baseball's greatest pitcher.


• A couple of Mariners are living up to their advance billing so far, writes Geoff Baker.


Brandon Morrow is looking to hit new heights this year.


• The Rays are seeking subtle clues this spring, writes Marc Topkin.


• The White Sox are working on fundamentals, as Mark Gonzales writes.


Stephen Drew is impressing others.


• The Astros' new hitting coach did a Q-and-A.


Jason Kipnis has an unusual stance.


• Vanderbilt will play at LSU today, as it tries to rebound from that ugly home loss to Tennessee.
 

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