The last time we left the St. Louis Cardinals in a meaningful baseball game, they were walking off the field after a bottom of the ninth-inning final game lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round of the National League Playoffs. As it turned out, the D-Backs would dismiss the defending champion New York Yankees in the same fashion: in Game 7 of the World Series to bring the first professional sports championship to the desert.

Optimism is running high for the Home Team in 2002. National publications such as Sports Illustrated and Baseball Digest have predicted good things for the Red Birds. Locally, with the Super Bowl collapse of the Rams and the underachieving display of the Blues, Gateway City sports fans are hoping to hook their wagons onto a successful baseball season.

The Cardinals will open it up for real in 2002 on April 1 at Busch Stadium against the Colorado Rockies. It is somewhat ironic/fitting that the Red Birds open their season on April Fools Day. 2002 will be a season where fans cannot be fooled any longer. This is a World Series or bust season for Tony La Russa and his troops. Anything short would be deemed as unacceptable.

There are several strengths for this baseball team. The quantity of the starting pitching may be at the top of the list. The Red Birds can throw 20-game winner Matt Morris, born-again pitcher Woody Williams, and young left-hander Bud Smith as their 1-2-3 guys of the starting staff. At this writing veteran Darryl Kile is "penciled" in as the team's Number 4 pitcher. We have heard from the Red Bird mouthpieces that Kile will be available for April. Yet, we must remind the Cardinal brass that Missouri is the show-me state. We have heard similar reports/stories in past springs regarding Alan Benes, Mark McGwire and Garrett Stephenson with uneventful results. Kile's name should be written in pencil, not in ink, to join this starting rotation right now.

But this is where the quantity depth helps the Home Team. Both Stephenson and Andy Benes are available for starting duty. This extra arm plus the occasional off-days in April provides La Russa some early flexibility for his staff. Stephenson's work has been encouraging. The older member of the Benes firm will come north with the Cardinals. Bluntly, there are eight million reasons why Andy Benes will be on the April 1 roster. Hence, he is best served on this staff as a possible #5 or long-relief spot starter that could have some trade value later if needed.

Defensively, St. Louis' defense appears solid. At the heart of their defense, the Cardinals have current and past Gold Glove winners catching the baseball. With Mike Matheny behind the plate, Fernando Vina and Edgar Renterria at 2B and shortstop, and Jim Edmonds in centerfield, the Red Birds match up as well as anyone else defensively up the middle. Free agent Tino Martinez should solidify first base defensively. Placido Polanco has played a sound third base: although he wore down last September. J D Drew is scheduled for right field. Defensively, he is sound. But 2002 will be an important season for #7: a make or break year. All of the stories of "unlimited potential" and comparisons to Mickey Mantle have now been exhausted. It's time for #7 to show us in this show-me state strong numbers and a leadership role. Still, Drew's frequent time out of the line-up does give Cardinal fans horrible visions of the return of Geronomo Pena.

Red Bird fans should be thrilled to hear of the decision to play Albert Pujols in left field. Putting last season's Rookie-of-the-Year in left field makes St. Louis a better defensive team: by playing only one player (Pujols) "out of position." Plus, aside from first base, left field is probably the least stressful position to play defensively. (Remember: gold glove legends such as Jose Canseco, Greg Luzinski, Pedro Gurerrero, Lonnie Smith, and Vince Coleman, slipped, slid and occupied space in left field.) Playing #5 in left field should help him focus on hitting. But, a word of caution to Cardinal faithful: Pujol's 2001 season was one of the best rookie seasons of any player in Major League history. It would be foolish to expect him to duplicate those 2001 numbers. Rather, expect for sound production, consistency and durability from Pujols in 2002.

The most dramatic addition for La Russa is the free agent signing of closer Jason Isringhausen. It has been novel for local baseball fans to compare the La Russa era with the legend of Whitey Herzog. Many callers have graced my WGNU airwaves downplaying the "Oakland-east" version of La Russa and praising the local boy-talent of Herzog. Many callers/E mailers have boldly indicated that if "Whitey had La Russa's players, the Cardinals would be stronger team".

You can make a good argument there except in one big area: the Ninth-Inning Closer.

During those wonderful Herzog teams of the 1980s, the Rat had Bruce Sutter, Todd Worrell, Ken Dayley, and to a lesser degree Jeff Lahti at his disposal. When the Red Birds were tied with Chicago in September 1989, Worrell injured his arm and was lost for the season. No one could replace Big Todd as the closer and the Cubs won the division. Herzog admitted as much in the winter of 1985 and in his book declaring the departure of Bruce Sutter made him "forty-five games dumber".

Except when Dennis Eckersley resided in 1996 and 1997, La Russa never had a dominant effective closer for his disposal during his Cardinal tenure. Instead, Jeff Brantley, Ricky Botallico, Juan Acevedo and to a degree Dave Veres entered the game in the ninth to hold the lead while La Russa and the Cardinal faithful held their breath and closed their eyes. It was never more glaring than in 1999 when St. Louis led all of baseball in blown saves.

Enter local hero Isringhausen. According to veterans Jim Thome, Derek Jeter and Joe Torre, Izzy was the best closer they faced in the American League. There might be a difference in the American League versus the National League. Still, it's safe to say Isringhausen is the best weapon for La Russa coming out the pen since Eck. With Izzy, #10 can use Steve Kline as a set-up man or left-handed specialist and Veres and/or Mike Timlin in the same role from the right side. Everyone in that bullpen should have a role and know their role. These are good things.

Gentlemen, it's time to play ball. There is no more time for excuses. The time is now.

The season will open for real on the first Monday of April. Busch Stadium will boast a standing room only crowd in the stands and I will get to see many of my colleagues: some of which I will not see again until opening day 2003 or in October for the playoffs (that is unless the Rams are playing, practicing or providing an open buffet/press conference on that same day).

Hope does spring eternal in April. But this spring, this is next year. Hope is the present for the Home Team and when there is hope: results must follow. La Russa knows many consider his team as tops in the division. The Astros are a veteran team with solid players and a new manager. The Cubs have a solid 3-4-5 punch in their batting order. The Red Birds may be the favorite: but they still have to earn it. Nothing is certain in sports as proven by the Super Bowl losing Rams.

Memo to #10 and his team: Good luck as you embark on the 2002 season that we really hope does not get interrupted with a work stoppage. It is time for you to now put your mark on this franchise and your Cardinal legacy. The tools are available for you to compete and expectations are high. Starting April 1, the goal is clear: the World Series and nothing less.

No fooling.