The St. Louis Cardinals enter the 2012 season fresh off of a World Championship and an offseason full of turmoil. Gone are the likes of Albert Pujols and Tony LaRussa, replaced by new names who have to fill the shoes of two St. Louis icons. The Cardinals hope that they can copy the success they had last season, but the odds are slim that they'll be able to capture another title, or division championship for that matter.
The best of the best: Lance Berkman. Aside from a small stretch with the New York Yankees, Berkman has flat out hit. The Cardinals desperately need a stabilizing presence in their lineup, and the former Astro fits the bill. Berkman gets on base and provides a patient approach at the plate, something that will definitely help St. Louis this year.
The new guy: Carlos Beltran. Beltran brings a strong pedigree with him to the National League Central, accruing several seasons of top-level production over the course of his career. After losing Pujols, the Cardinals were desperate to find someone who could contribute to an offense that was suddenly lacking a slugger, and while Beltran doesn't have the pop in his bat, he gives the lineup steady production.
The fatal flaw: Too many questions. How will the Cardinals replace Albert Pujols? Is Mike Matheny a good manager? Can Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright stay healthy? With so many problems arising from offseason moves, St. Louis could be in major trouble this season. They'll need healthy campaigns from both Carpenter and Wainwright in the rotation, and they have to hope that the bullpen is as good as it was last year. There's no replacing a star like Albert Pujols, but the hope is that younger players can step up, and that new free agents can help fill the void. The jury will probably be out on Matheny for most of the season.
Down on the farm: Shelby Miller. Chances are good that St. Louis fans will see Miller in the rotation sometime this year. Carpenter and Wainwright aren't 100 percent, so the top prospect in the Cardinals organization is likely to be called up. Miller has top of the rotation talent, and the front office has been patient with him thus far. Still, if the big league club is struggling, they may try and catch lightning in a bottle with the phenom.
Final verdict: The Cardinals can compete in what is essentially a three team division, with the Reds and Brewers. If their pitchers stay healthy, and the offense is slightly above average, the team could be dangerous in the playoffs. Very few major league teams can match the top three of Carpenter, Wainwright, and Jaime Garcia, and the offense is anchored by Berkman, Beltran, and Matt Holliday. Every year the pundits try and write off the Cards, and every year they're in contention. This year is no different.
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