Okay, I'll start the thread.

Schumaker at 2nd? Is this really going to work?

How many outfielders can we get into one lineup card?

Is Carpenter really going to be able to pitch all year?

Will Ludwick/Lohse play like 2008?

Who pitches the 9th?

Is Yadi clutch? Wait... I can answer that one.

I'll start with one answer:

No

I will enjoy watching Pujols

really don't know what else to say right now

i think its gonna be a long season. much respect for the cardinals fans though i've never seen a fan base give a standing ovation to a player when he hits a homer down by 10 until i went to cardinals mets 2 years go.

So you're saying they'll improve then!

Ludwick is the real deal imo. I expect another great season. Maybe a slight regression, but not major.

Clutch Yadi obv best catcher in MLB.

If we get through the season with both Carpenter and Wainwright healthy, we will be in the wildcard hunt. Division not out of the question, though obv a longshot.

Cards look like slightly the 4th best odds to win the NL, albeit a distant 4th and barely ahead of 5th. That said, I think that bodes well.

There are reasons to be optomistic. Keep in mind how bad we ran last year with all the blown saves, all without Carpenter.

No predictions yet, but clearly the goal is to make the playoffs.

Clark: fwiw I almost made the thread title "Clutch Yadi's Club"

It's so sick that we were a league average closer away from being in October.

Yeah, and that was a season where I was baffled that the o/u was something "absurdly high" like 77 IIRC. Shows what I know. It'll be interesting to see this year's season total line.

yadi molina best catcher in mlb? where can I get whatever you are on?

noob

Lohse will not, but he'll still be solid enough for a back-end starter.

Ludwick will still mash. His average will drop a bit I'm sure, but he has tons of pop. He will constantly have people on base with Pujols in front of him.

Is Rasmus cut out for the 2-hole?? Lord knows how TLR loves having a lot of power in front of Pujols.

Schumacher/Ryan (wish Skip could hit lefties)
Rasmus (for now...probably drop when Glaus is back)
Pujols
Ludwick (or Glaus)
Ankiel (Glaus when he gets back...Ankiel goes 2-hole)
Molina
Freese
P
Greene?? (Rasmus when Glaus is back...Khalil to 7-hole?)

Post your lineups.

easy to have some really great fans when the franchise has been as good as the Cardinals have been over numerous generations

It's really not as simple as you think. If the Yankees ever started losing consistently like they did in the 80's you will see empty seats there. You would never see that in St. Louis imo.

A healthy rotation should give us a goal of 89 wins imo. At least that is what I think we should shoot towards as well as the wild card. Holding out for the divisional title but not holding my breath. I live in Chicagoland so I'm trying to find me some tickets to the April weekend series.

Cards/Mets ST on the MLB channel right now

Cardinals have a camaraderie that is unmatched in baseball, never underestimate the value of a team that really cares about each other.

Why so optimistic? He definitely hammered the ball last year, but when someone has a 62BB/146SO profile and still cobbles together a .299 batting average that screams luckbox. I think he'll probably hit in the high 20s or low 30s in HR, but his hits (and RBI) will likely come down substantially. My guess for his triple crown figures would be about .270-28-85

Plus he's aging and has never hit like in his life?

o/u for wins according to one Vegas sportsbook is 84.

Dennys Reyes one time?

This should be an interesting year. Not much has changed from last year's team, with the exceptions of Khalil Greene at SS, Schumaker making the move to 2B, and a fresh bullpen.

Positive signs:Obviously Pujols should contend for an MVP repeat, and Wainwright could have his best year yet. Isringhausen leaving is addition by subtraction, and the addition of Trever Miller should help our 2008 struggles against left-handed hitters. Anything is better than Izturis and short, and Greene's numbers away from Petco suggest he can bounce back. The offense was pretty good last year, and projects to be as good/better in '09.

Cause for concern: Several players should regress from last year (Ludwick, Lohse, Wellemeyer), Glaus is out 2 months, and Greene/Schumaker roaming the middle infield is a significant defensive downgrade from Izturis/Kennedy.

This team can contend if Carp stays healthy, Motte can prevent the blown-saves fiasco of 2008, and Ludwick puts up adequate power numbers. If all goes according to plan, the Cards could make some noise...

Just saw the Opening Day lineup. LOL

1. Brendan Ryan, 2B
2. Rick Ankiel, CF
3. Albert Pujols, 1B
4. Khalil Greene, SS
5. Ryan Ludwick, RF
6. Yadier Molina, C
7. Chris Duncan, LF
8. Brian Barden, 3B
9. Adam Wainwright, P

LaRussa is a crazy bastard.

good lord that just makes no sense

wtf greene cleanup

He did rake in spring training, but it's really stupid nonetheless.