Countdown to Opening Day: #12 St. Louis Cardinals

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Lansdale Reporter

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

#12 St. Louis Cardinals: It's always in the Cards

PROJECTED LINEUP
CF John Jay
C Yadier Molina
1B Allen Craig
RF Carlos Beltran
LF Matt Holliday
3B David Freese
2B Matt Carpenter
SS Pete Kozma
P Adam Wainwright

PROJECTED ROTATION
Adam Wainwright
Lance Lynn
Jaimie Garcia
Shelby Miller
Jake Westbrook

PROJECTED BULLPEN

Closer: Jason Motte

Set-up: Mitchell Boggs

Top Prospect: Oscar Taveras (OF)

Shelby Miller

The Cardinals have been a winning ball club 12 of the last 13 seasons. I don't know how they do it, but they do. Every time you think they are due for a down year they end up winning the World Series. They still made the playoffs last year when they let first ballot Albert Pujols go and manager Tony LaRussa retired. Adam Wainwright missed the season after surgery and they went on to win the World Series.
It is not even April 1st yet and the Cards have already lost Chris Carpenter and Rafael Furcal for the season. In other organizations there would panic. In St. Louis they have created so much depth at every position that they will plug in and carry on as usual.
If a rookie rocks the red bird jersey it just feels like they are bound for breakout because it has happen so often. It's not luck folks. It starts at the top with the front office and stems all the way down to the instructors at short-season Single A baseball.
Players are taught to play the Cardinal way so when it is their time to shine at big leagues they can. This year's class of youngster destine to make an impact include pitchers Shelby Miller and Trevor Rosenthal, infielders Pete Kozma and Matt Carpenter, and outfielder Oscar Taveras.

Adam Wainwright

THEY CALL ME MR. SUNSHINE - Imagine if this pitching staff had Chris Carpenter in it. Well he's out and it doesn't, but his replacement Shelby Miller makes strides. In fact Jaimie Garcia stays healthy, Lance Lynn puts a full season together, Trevor Rosenthal is nastiest fifth starter in the game and Adam Wainwright wins the N.L. Cy Young. The Cardinals bullpen is pretty filthy too and they easily finish with the best team ERA in the majors.




REAL TALK - This roster is scattered with some serious impact players, but I question the role players consistency. Hitters such as Allen Craig and David Freese need to perform for a full season and starters Lance Lynn and Jaimie Garcia need to stay healthy. The Cardinals are a playoff team, but even the incredible Cards may not be able overcome the rash of injuries this fragile team may be hit with.

Breakout: Shelby Miller (SP) 

Bust: John Jay (OF)

Fantasy Baseball Sleeper: Matt Carpenter (2B)

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 88-74 (2nd in NL Central)

PROJECTED 2013 FINISH: 85-77 (2nd in NL Central)

**Check back tomorrow for the Toronto Blue Jays**