Cardinals manager Tony La Russa never wants to talk about 2009. Neither does general manager John Mozeliak.
Both men are convinced the ’08 team could contend. So far, the Cards are doing just that, despite suffering myriad injuries.
They are 11 games over .500 and they have staying power.
But projections for the ’09 season ARE intriguing. The Cards will have more payroll flexibility next year, due to several expiring contracts. With several key prospects developing at once, Mozeliak will move into an enviable position.
The Cards’ success with rookies this season makes the forecast for next season even better. Circumstances are forcing the team to test a lot of kids.
OK, fine. This season has been a pleasant surprise so far, but how good could next year look?
Infielder Brendan Ryan, Sunday’s hero, is a potential starter at second base or shortstop. Righthanded power hitter Joe Mather looks capable of balancing a left-centric outfield. Rule 5 addition Brian Barton has shown he can excel as a No. 4 or No. 5 outfielder.
Kyle McClellan, Chris Perez and Mark Worrell have bolstered the bullpen. It’s too early to assess pitcher Mitchell Boggs, but he ascended quickly through the Cards organization after arriving from the college ranks.
The Next One, outfielder Colby Rasmus, is finally hitting in Memphis. Good-hitting catcher Bryan Anderson is making great defensive strides. Both could become factors next year.
When we chatted Friday with Memphis manager Chris Maloney on KFNS, he raved about the potential of third baseman David Freese. The kid has big league defensive potential and a nice bat; when he becomes more selective at the plate, he will move to the front burner.
Maloney also raved about the professionalism of veterans Anthony Reyes and Chris Duncan. Reyes appears to be auditioning for other clubs looking for pitching help. Duncan, who is trying to relocate his power stroke, suffered a setback when he crashed into an outfield wall.
But both players remain assets. As a result, Mozeliak has options.
Sure, the kids have done surprisingly well, and its been a bonus to have Rasmus adjust at the AAA level instead of learning on the job in St. Louis. But, this is the Cardinals we are talking about here. We've never had a "pipeline" of young talent, as long as I can remember. You get one every other year or so, and sometimes they are named Joe Magrane.
Still...man, there are a lot of nice looking prospects down on the farm. However, I don't dare stare. It like looking at the sun.
OK, even if we get positive contributions from our young guys we have to have prohibitive payroll contraints, right?
Juan Encarnacion’s $6.5 million salary will be off the books after this season. Kyle Lohse ($4.25 million), Braden Looper ($5.5 million) and Jason Isringhausen ($8 million) will become free agents. Mark Mulder ($6.5 million) could also exit the payroll, unless the Cards exercise their $11 million option.
Hallelujah!
Pass me the Kool Aid. I'm drinking.
1 comment:
Looks like we'll be drinking one way or the other with the Wainwright news. I suggest a new drink - A quart of Cherry Kool Aid for the Cards hopeful future mixed with a fifth of Curacao to dull the ache of the impending Cubs title. We'll call it The Psycho Girlfriend because of the painful bullshit all of us have endured in the hope of eventually getting laid by some bint whose ass was as perfectly formed as her emotional neediness.
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