A recent article on ESPN.com had an interesting take on the St. Louis Cardinals. Players on the current team were interviewed as to who they thought would take the lead in the clubhouse now that Albert Pujols and Tony LaRussa have moved on.
A simple question was askedâ€"who is the new face of the franchise after 11 years with Pujols?
Pujols signed with the Los Angeles Angels, a move first baseman Lance Berkman called "hard to imagine." Former manager Tony LaRussa retired after the World Series triumph. Young outfielder Allen Craig gave his skipper the ball from his catch that was the final out of Game 7. It was a fitting tribute to a manager who has been a manager for 33 seasons.
Who will fill the void?
I agree with the concept that the entire team will step up. There were many heroes in the 2011 postseason, and not all of them were named Pujols. Craig's pinch hits were crucial in two games of the World Series before he earned the starting nod in Game 7. Berkman had key hits that started rallies late in the epic Game 6. Catcher Yadier Molina had some long balls that also ignited the offense.
Of course, there is MVP David Freese as well. No one will ever forget what he did in the NLCS or in the World Series.
The pitching staff is one place to find solace. Adam Wainwright will be back from last year's elbow surgery. Chris Carpenter pitched three games in the World Series and was pivotal to the team's postseason success.
Everyone stepped up huge in the postseason, including the now-gone Pujols. The same will be true for games throughout the 2012 season. Sure, there will be some games that slip away. The keys to the long MLB season will be winning one-run games and consistent pitching. If the starting rotation stays healthy, an NL Central title will be a sure thing.
Bats have to stay healthy too when the pitching is down. Craig won't be back from having knee surgery until perhaps June. Freese will have to avoid his frequent injury bugs to be effective. Aging veterans such as Berkman and even Molina will have to stay in the lineup to help their team win.
On paper, the 2012 Cardinals look great. We'll find out just how good they are when the season starts in late March.
William Browning was born in St. Louis and is a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan. He currently resides in Branson, Mo.
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