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Baseball season is still a few months away but in the mist of Rams hysteria, the Cardinals are quietly building a team that could contend for the N.L. Central Division title. With the acquisition's this offseason of Pat Hentgen, Darryl Kile, Andy Benes, and closer Dave Veres, Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty has totally rebuild his pitching staff. Each one of these moves has been a positive, but questions still linger as to whether the Cardinals have improved enough to overtake the Houston Astros and Cincinnati Reds in the Central Division.
While Hentgen, Kile, and Benes do upgrade the starting rotation, they are all coming off subpar seasons. The hope is that a new environment and the work of pitching coach Dave Duncan can revive their respective career's. Duncan already had a lot of success with Benes in his first stint with the Cardinals which began in 1996. That season Benes won 18 games for the Redbirds in leading them to the division crown. Prior to that season Benes struggled with inconsistencies in San Diego and Seattle. Duncan had a big hand in reviving his career. He hopes to do the same thing again, not only with Benes, but with Kile and Hentgen as well.
The projected starting rotation for the Cards entering spring training will have Hentgen, Benes, Kile, Kent Bottenfield (an 18 game winner in 1999), and rookie phenom Rick Ankiel. Ankiel's chances of making the starting rotation were increased with the acquisitions of Kile, Benes, and Hentgen. Those guys ability to pitch deep into ballgames will keep the bullpen well rested, allowing the Cardinals to pull Ankiel after 5 or 6 innings so he doesn't put too much stain on his young arm by throwing a lot of pitches. This rotation has the potential to be every bit as good as the 1996 rotation that led the team to their first postseason berth in nine years.
The bullpen will definitely need some shoring up before the season starts if the Cardinals are to truly contend. Middle relievers Mike Mohler, Heathcliff Slocumb, Scott Radinsky, and Paul Spoljaric don't exactly cause excitement among fans. The wild cards, however, in middle relief are Garrett Stephenson, Mark Thompson, and Alan Benes (Andy's younger brother). Those three righthanders were supposed to compete for spots in the starting rotation, but with all the acquisitions of starting pitchers, they now will have a good shot at upgrading the Cardinals middle relief depth.
Stephenson was especially impressive late last season as a starter, winning 6 games and gaining the confidence of the organization. Thompson also had a shot to become the club's 5th starter (and still may), and Alan Benes will need pitch well in relief after his severe shoulder injury before he can ever hope to resume his career as a starter. The performance of these three guys will be something to watch in spring training. Still, starting is a different mindset from pitching in relief, and the Cards need to acquire another veteran middle man. Veres had 31 saves last season in Colorado, and many observers believe he is the real deal as a closer. If so, the Cards will have their first true closer in four years.
Looking at the starting lineup, it seems to be set at this time. The key acquisition was second baseman Fernando Vina from the Milwaukee Brewers. Vina will also double as the Cardinals leadoff hitter, something they have lacked in recent years. With Mark McGwire, Fernando Tatis, Ray Lankford, Edgar Renteria, and J.D. Drew, the lineup should be able to produce a lot of runs. If the Cards get anything out of the rightfield spot, which is expected to be occupied by veteran Eric Davis (barring another injury), then their lineup will be downright explosive. The only week link is the catcher position which features the light hitting duo of Eli Marrero and Mike Matheny. Both of these players are excellent defensive catchers, but neither one will strike fear into opposing pitchers.
The Cardinals are far from a lock to win the Central Division this season. The acquisitions they have made are interesting, and will almost certainly improve the team from 1999. But questions remain, and those questions will start to be answered late next month when the team reports to Jupiter, Florida for their first spring training of the 21st Century.
Let's hope it marks the start of a fun summer of winning baseball at Busch Stadium.
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