I still like the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central. Who cares if the Cubs have spent like drunken sailors?
The Cubs have thrown money around the last three winters, and all it has gotten them is more disappointment. Does anyone think Milton Bradley is going to decide a division race?
Besides, the Cardinals have something the Cubs don’t: depth in the minor league system.
Hmmm... minor league system depth as trump card. I'm not sure I buy it completely. for example, the Minnesota Twins have traditionally had a pretty good farm system which has largely kept them respectable (or more than respectable), but I'm not sure any of the teams in their division have the deep pockets the Cubs are showing off. The main division rivals of the Twins (the White Sox, Indians and Tigers) basically have to construct teams the same way the Twins do.
The Cubs, on the other hand, seem to be positioning themselves to take the Yankees/Red Sox model for the foreseeable future. Just ask the rest of the American League East; farm system depth can only do so much.
The Cardinals might win 90 games or lose 90. They don’t have as much money as the Cubs, so they have to count on more kids. Counting on kids is risky business. But if the kids don’t get overwhelmed, they bring an energy to the clubhouse that a Milton Bradley simply can’t.
The Cardinals have done things right in player development, so even with little payroll flexibility, they’ve got a chance to contend.
Check out the National League Central. The Brewers and Astros have gotten worse, and the Reds and Pirates are still building.
The Cubs could still make the playoffs without adding another piece. At worst, they seem to be competing with the Phillies, Mets and Braves for the NL wild-card berth.
Sure, St. Louis fans may want the team to add Manny Ramirez or Adam Dunn or Ben Sheets. They’re all still unsigned, and as the market continues to spiral south, the Cardinals may decide they need one of them.
Then again, if the Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright both stay healthy, the Cardinals could again end up atop the National League.
Neither player is certain to avoid the disabled list. Carpenter has made just four starts the last two seasons, and even though medical reports about his recovery from elbow surgery are positive, it’s impossible to know what he has until he takes the mound.
Wainwright started and ended last season as the Cardinals’ ace. In between, he was sidelined almost three months with a finger injury. He, too, will be healthy on the first day of spring training.
No National League team is better than the Cardinals if those two are healthy.
Sheesh, this seems optimistic, but I'm willing to drink the kool-aid as long as it is the color red.
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