So you want to a job in Sports Management, eh? The career of the year 2000 huh?

In the off season, the focus was on General Manager Walt Jocketty to improve the 2000 St. Louis Cardinals. Roughly six weeks ago, we chronicled in this space the plight of the Home Team. At that time, we praised the GM's efforts in making the attempt to improve not only the team's starting pitching, but also the second base/leadoff position.

Roughly six weeks ago, while the ball club was settling in at their Eastern Florida retreat center, we listed several concerns for the 2000 Cardinals. Specifically, there was concern about the outfield in general and right field in particular. You may recall these "words of wisdom" penned from this author a few weeks back:

"Eric Davis is penciled in as the St. Louis Right-Fielder for 2000. Will Davis remain healthy for the entire season? This has the Cardinal brass concerned. They should be. It is risky at best, and foolish at worse, to put your hopes on a veteran player with health problems. Right Field may turn out to be the Red Birds biggest concern in 2000."

As it turned out, Jocketty was two steps ahead of us media guys. Fresh off the trade that brought the veteran (or ancient) southpaw Jesse Orosco to the Red Birds, the General Manager pulled off a coup in acquiring the former Gold Glove, All-Star Outfielder, and soon to be Free Agent Jim Edmonds from the Anaheim Angels.

To secure this Angel for the Outfielder, Jocketty sent last year's top pitcher and winner (another All Star and another soon to be Free Agent) Kent Bottenfield and youngster Adam Kennedy to the Left Coast.

Hence, with one swift move, the Red Birds not only have addressed their outfielder void, but have improved their team product and overall chances for the National League Central Division Title. Edmonds is a quality player who was coveted by several other teams. With this trade, the Cardinals have become a better everyday baseball team.

Yet, Edmonds played for an American League team based on the West Coast. Based on the calls from squawk radio, many in the Gateway City are unfamiliar with his talents.

Check out these comments from Peter Gammons, the official Baseball Guru from ESPN:

"The deal pulled off by St. Louis general manager Walt Jocketty on Thursday afternoon may be remembered as the trade that tilted the balance of power in what could now be the most interesting division in all of baseball. Not that this move stands alone, however. Since the end of last season, Jocketty has picked up 1998 All-Star second baseman and leadoff hitter Fernando Vina, an All-Star center fielder (Edmonds); three former All-Star starting pitchers "

"(Edmonds) can run. He is a magical center fielder with the best first step of any center fielder with the exception of Andruw Jones and Ken Griffey, Jr. At the GM meetings last November, a poll named him the player expected to have the best free agent year"

Gammons concluded by saying: "One of the bigger questions now is, can the Cardinals get to the World Series? In a word, yes."

Hence the newer look Red Birds prepare for their trip North. Jocketty has appeased the fans with his player maneuvering. The focus has shifted from his office doorstep.

The focus has now moved to the Manager's office.

Tony La LaRussa enters the 2000 Major League Baseball season with more victories than any other current manager. He holds down the #11 spot in all time Major League Wins. La Russa has led three different teams to post season play, and has won the same number of World Series Championships as Whitey Herzog, Jim Leyland, and Bobby Cox.

But what have you done for us lately? The Cardinals have not been in post season play since the autumn of 1996, when Ron Gant and Brian Jordan patrolled the outfield and when gasoline prices cost considerably less than today.

This 2000 baseball season will be a pivotal and critical one for the Red Bird Skipper. Number 10 must produce the results in the win/loss column this season. He now has the tools; the veteran type tools that he is most comfortable with.

La Russa and his pitching coach Dave Duncan have received an experienced pitching staff that has not just been successful in the past, but also can gobble up innings. In the off season, the Red Birds traded youngsters such as Kennedy, Manny Aybar, Jose Jimenez, and Joe Mc Ewing for these more experienced (and more expensive) players.

Plus, the argument that there is no one hitting behind Mark Mc Gwire can be thrown out the window and over the fence. The trifecta of Ray Lankford, Fernando Tatis, or Edmonds should very nicely eliminate that concern.

Hence, the excuses/problems have been addressed. It's now time to play ball. It's now time for results. The Red Bird skipper thrives on challenges. #10 has got his wish. He has a major challenge now. The focus has been shifted to him.

Over 2.5 million sold tickets will not be very patient if the Red Birds start out of the gate slowly. Nor will the St. Louis ownership group. Nor will Tony La Russia himself. The first two months of this baseball season may determine the final episode of this six-month production. Grab your peanuts and Cracker Jack, folks. The Curtain is ready to rise. All eyes and ears of the audience are now focused on certain stage. Welcome to Spring 2000.

By the way, do you still want to be in Sports Management when you grow up?