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Now that the Cardinals have had about a week to recover from their Game 6 World Series loss, they have firmly turned their attention to the 2014 squad.

So far we know that Trevor Rosenthal will be the closer to start next season and Carlos Martinez will get a shot as a starter.

Also, the Cardinals have extended a one-year, $14.1 million qualifying offer to Carlos Beltran, which will result in a compensatory draft pick should Beltran decide to sign elsewhere.

So until Beltran finishes feeling out the free-agency market, the Cardinals are a little up in the air as to what they will do with the outfield.

Assuming Beltran walks, here is the blueprint for what the Cardinals will need to do for a successful offseason.

Acquire an Everyday Shortstop

The shortstop position was not a very productive one for the 2013 Cardinals. Pete Kozma got the lion’s share of the duties with Daniel Descalso being sprinkled in occasionally. Both are severe liabilities at the plate and are slightly above average in the field.

There are those who suggest Troy Tulowitzki may be a fit for the Cardinals. I don’t see it, especially since Tulo is due a guaranteed $130 million through 2020 with a team option for 2021 at $15 million.  Cardinals GM John Mozeliak isn’t one to spend that kind of money on a guy who can’t stay healthy, so I’d be very surprised to see Tulo in a Cardinals uniform.

What makes sense is picking up someone like Jed Lowrie from the Athletics, who is due a substantial raise because he is arbitration eligible and had a great season in 2013. He is a solid defender and has shown he can hit when he is healthy. The Cardinals could probably get him for a few pitching prospects, which the Cardinals are rich in at the moment.

Plan on Oscar Taveras to Start in Center Field

With the good chance that Carlos Beltran leaves via free agency, the Cardinals have the pieces to replace him fairly quickly. No one wants to see Carlos go, but it seems close to inevitable at this point. So, I see Allen Craig moving to right field, Matt Adams to first base and Oscar Taveras to center field. Taveras hit over .300 in his limited time at AAA Memphis last season and is knocking on the door for big league playing time.

Jon Jay just isn’t a long-term solution in my opinion. He was serviceable at best the last two seasons. He has no power and doesn’t have much speed on the bases. Taveras has both of those qualities and hopefully will translate onto the big league scene. Jay is a decent defender, but the Cardinals need more punch from the center field position.

Keep David Freese

I know what you’re thinking, why keep David Freese? Are you kidding me? The guy killed the Cardinals in the postseason by stranding approximately 832 runners.

Granted Freese couldn’t hit the ball if he was swinging a log this postseason, but he does provide some value. Everyone knows All-Star Matt Carpenter can play third base and that Kolten Wong appears to be the heir-apparent to the second base spot. But, by keeping Freese around, it provides some punch off the bench.  Plus, in the off-chance Wong is a flop at second, Carpenter can move back to second and Freese take back over at third.

If Shelby Miller is Traded, Get a Core-Type Player in Return

There have been rumors that Shelby Miller may be traded, especially given the fact he only pitched one inning this postseason.

Miller had a fabulous rookie year, going 15-9 and posting an excellent 3.06 ERA in 31 starts. So why would the Cardinals even consider trading their 2009 first-round pick? Well there are two possible answers to that question. First, Michael Wacha may have stolen his spot with his lights-out late-season pitching. Second, Miller’s value is high as a proven commodity.

So if Miller does get traded, the Cardinals need a core-type player in return. Frankly, that means getting an above-average everyday shortstop or third baseman. With Miller’s success in 2013, his young age and low salary, he should command some serious trade offers.

All in all, the Cardinals are set up very well to defend their NL Central crown in 2014 and play deep into October. A few moves by the team and it would not be out of the question to expect the Cardinals to make a return to the Fall Classic.

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St. Louis’ World Series loss to Boston was disheartening and frustrating.

Despite falling short of their 12th title in franchise history, the Cardinals‘ historic accomplishments shouldn’t go unnoticed. 

The Cardinals’ window for success isn’t closing anytime soon. The future remains bright, but the offseason marks an important period for upgrades and constant evaluation.

That said, cost-effective upgrades are going to play a role this winter. 

The middle infield will undergo a makeover. In 2013, Cardinals shortstops finished 29th in batting average (.222). An addition to the outfield could become mandatory (pending the status of free agent Carlos Beltran), and a power bat off the bench would be beneficial to a club that lacked pop during late-game situations in 2013 (see: 2013 postseason). 

On Monday, Boston gave shortstop Stephen Drew a one-year, $14.1 million qualifying offer, and it’s becoming more likely Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak will pursue other alternatives. 

The most realistic option would be acquiring a shortstop via trade. The question is, at what price?

The Cardinals are loaded with young pitching, which is the most sought-after commodity in the game. Also, according to Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals will benefit from $25 million in national-TV dollars in 2014.

This means Mozeliak won’t be gun shy to land a big-name player if the right opportunity presents itself.

A few names come to mind in terms of the shortstop position.

According to Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals used the better part of the last year scouting the market for suitable candidates. The likes of Cleveland’s Asdrubal Cabrera, Colorado’s Troy Tulowitzki and Baltimore’s J.J. Hardy stood out. 

Cabrera is a foreseeable option. The 27-year-old hit .242 with 14 home runs and 64 RBI last season. However, Cabrera is signed through 2014, where he will earn $10 million, according to baseballreference.com.

Though, money probably won’t be an issue for the Cardinals. The Cardinals will “shed more than $40 million from the payroll,” according to Goold. Tulowitzki, whom the Cardinals inquired about in past years, could come at a heftier price, which would include some of the Cardinals’ top prospects.

According to Rick Hummel of the Post-Dispatch, the Rockies would want “a top-flight young pitcher, a left-handed-hitting first baseman/outfielder and another prospect” in return.

I’m not sold on Mozeliak selling out for Tulowitzki, whose career has been marred by injuries. Not to mention his towering contract that will pay him $14 million next season, $20 million for each of the following five seasons and then $14 million in 2020.

If Mozeliak lands a shortstop, Matt Carpenter will likely shift to third base, and David Freese, who underperformed in 2013, could serve as a nice addition off the bench. The same holds true if the Cardinals re-sign Beltran. Matt Adams will see more time at first base, meaning Allen Craig will shift to the outfield with Matt Holliday, Oscar Taveras, Beltran and possibly Jon Jay. 

As far as the outfield is concerned, the Cardinals officially handed Beltran a one-year, $14.1 million qualifying offer on Monday, which guarantees them a draft pick in return if he signs with another club. Beltran will almost certainly decline the offer and elect free agency. The Cardinals could ink him to a short-term deal, but a multi-year agreement doesn’t appear likely for the aging switch-hitter. 

If the latter holds true, the Cardinals could (and should) promote within. The young Oscar Taveras is waiting in the shadows to begin his big league career. By the same token, another outfielder would add depth, which never hurts.

As Mozeliak continues to evaluate the roster, he will surely sign a significant upgrade or two for next season. If not, this offseason will be a complete bust.

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The St. Louis Cardinals are sure to be wheeling and dealing this offseason.

The 2013 World Series exposed some of their weaknesses—namely production from the bottom of the order and a thin bench. And it’s been clear throughout the season that Pete Kozma is probably not a long-term answer at shortstop.

Luckily, they have one of the most enviable farm systems in all of baseball. But are there bigger names who may become trade bait to help fill in the blanks?

In no particular order, here are the five Cardinals who are expendable and would bring the most talent to St. Louis if traded. (You won’t see Jon Jay on this list, because although it wouldn’t be a big deal for the Cards to lose him, he wouldn’t provide much return.)

Read on to find out which players may leave St. Louis before the 2014 season.

*All statistics are current as of November 2, 2013.*

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Even though St. Louis Cardinals rookie sensation Michael Wacha proved to be human with his struggles in Game 6 of the World Series against the Red Sox, it’s undeniable that his future is insanely bright.

Though he was first promoted the major leagues in late May, Wacha didn’t join the Cardinals’ starting rotation until September. Pitching in the heat of a playoff race roughly one year after the Cardinals made him the No. 19 overall pick in the 2012 draft, the 22-year-old posted a 1.72 ERA, .198 opponent batting average and 28/10 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 31.1 innings (five starts) over the final month of the season.

However, it wasn’t until his final regular-season start that Wacha put himself on the map as one of the game’s more promising young arms.

Taking the mound against the Washington Nationals on Sept. 24, Wacha came within one out of a no-hitter before allowing an infield single to Ryan Zimmerman. As a result of his late-season success, the right-hander was named to the Cardinals’ postseason starting rotation ahead of fellow rookie and 15-game winner Shelby Miller.

The brilliance Wacha showcased against the Nationals carried over into his start against the Pirates in Game 4 of the NLDS, with the Cardinals trailing 2-1 in the series and facing potential elimination. Suffice to say, Wacha stepped up in a big way; he allowed one run on one hit and two walks with nine strikeouts over 7.1 impressive frames. He carried a no-hit bid into the eighth inning before surrendering a solo home run to Pedro Alvarez with one out.

Moved up in the postseason rotation to start Game 2 of the NLCS against the Dodgers, Wacha was dominating yet again with five hits allowed, one walk and eight strikeouts over 6.2 scoreless innings. The 22-year-old outdueled Clayton Kershaw in the Cardinals’ 1-0 victory.

Starting Game 6 of the NLCS as the series moved back to St. Louis, the rookie shut out the Dodgers—and Kershaw, again—for the second time in a week, allowing only two hits and a walk with five strikeouts over seven stellar innings.

Between both starts in the series, Wacha was 2-0 with 13 strikeouts in 13.2 scoreless innings. Needless to say, it wasn’t a shocker when he was named as the NLCS MVP, becoming the second rookie pitcher in baseball history to win the award.

Getting the start in Game 2 of the World Series after the Red Sox thrashed St. Louis 8-1 in the series opener, Wacha allowed two runs on three hits over six innings.

Although he wasn’t as sharp as he had been against the Dodgers in the NLCS, Wacha pitched well enough to keep the Cardinals in the game. They went on to score three unanswered runs—courtesy of two Boston errors—in the top of the seventh inning to win 4-2 and tie the series at one game apiece.

Unfortunately, both Wacha’s hot streak and the Cardinals’ season came to an end in Game 6 of the series on Wednesday night at Fenway Park. Making his fifth postseason start, the promising right-hander was shelled for six earned runs on five hits and four walks, and he was chased from the game after only 3.2 innings.

Overall, he finished his first postseason with a 4-1 record, 2.64 ERA and 33/12 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 30.2 postseason innings (five starts).

While Wacha appears poised for a long and successful career, it’s unreasonable to think the right-hander will repeat his brilliant performance from this September and October over the course of a full major league season in 2014.

As it’s so often the case with young pitchers coming off eye-opening rookie campaigns, Wacha is likely to experience a slight regression next year. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s in store for a sophomore slump.

Velocity: Is it for real?

Although Wacha showcased a consistent low-90s fastball during his final season at Texas A&M in the spring of 2012, velocity has never been the right-hander’s calling card.

However, that quickly changed following his insertion into the starting rotation for the stretch run of the regular season.

After averaging 92.79 to 94.56 mph on his four-seam fastball over his first four September starts (per Brooks Baseball), Wacha’s velocity was consistently above 95 mph in each of his next four outings, including those against the Pirates and Dodgers in the postseason.

Perhaps feeling the effects of a heavy workload toward the end of the season, Wacha’s fastball velocity normalized against the Red Sox in the World Series, as he averaged 93.74 mph in Game 2 followed by 93.94 mph in Game 6.

Although the drop-off in velocity obviously could have been more extreme than roughly two miles-per-hour, it did represent a significant deviation after sitting 95-plus for most of September and early October.

Wacha should still showcase a mid-90s fastball at times moving forward, but his track record as a professional suggests a more realistic velocity range of 93 to 94 mph.

Room for Improvement

Even though Wacha offered an extensive glimpse of his potential as a future staff ace during the postseason, he still has a ways to go in terms of becoming a finished project in the major leagues.

Specifically, the right-hander’s curveball leaves something to be desired as it’s currently his least developed and least effective offering. Compared to the power and downhill trajectory of his lethal fastball-changeup combination, Wacha’s deuce plays too soft comparatively with an average velocity of 75.2 mph (per FanGraphs). Furthermore, the fact that he threw it only five percent of the time this season speaks to his overall lack of confidence in the pitch.

Though it’s already improved significantly since the beginning of his professional career and has proven to at least be serviceable when utilized appropriately in relation to his fastball and changeup, Wacha will need to develop a more consistent feel for the pitch to endure a full major league season at the front of the starting rotation.

The Inside Corner

Amazingly, Wacha was successful this season despite rarely pitching to the inner half of the plate—especially against right-handed hitters.

As you can see in the above graphic, courtesy of Texas Leaguers, the 22-year-old employed a middle-away approach when attacking same-side hitters.

However, the book is now out on Wacha, which means opposing hitters will presumably have a better idea of what to expect heading into the 2014 season.

In order to prevent or at least delay them from making adjustments at the plate next year, the right-hander will have to utilize the inside corner, even if it’s only for show. If Wacha continues to pound the middle and outer portions of the zone with the same frequency he did this season, hitters will increasingly work deeper counts and learn to sit on a specific location.

2014 Projection

In the wake of his overwhelming success and rapid ascent to stardom in the postseason, Wacha should open the 2014 season as the Cardinals’ No. 2 starter after Adam Wainwright.

In terms of statistics, Wacha shouldn’t be expected to be as utterly dominating as he was this past season.

That being said, FanGraphs’ 2014 Steamer projections for the right-hander suggest he’s likely to endure a slight regression in ratio stats such as ERA, FIP, opponents’ batting average, strikeout percentage and left-on-base percentage. However, in the long run it shouldn’t detract from what should an impressive and productive sophomore campaign.

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While nothing has been said about Rafael Furcal returning to the St. Louis Cardinals, if the right deal doesn’t come along, it could be the smartest option.

The free agent market for this year is extremely slim—and there’s little doubt GM John Mozeliak would rather spend dollars (which they have) than prospects (which they cherish).

Scott Boras, the agent of Boston Red Sox shortstop Stephen Drew, hinted to Derrick Goold of STLToday.com that his client is interested in the Cardinals. However, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports that the Red Sox will make a qualifying offer to Drew.

Even if Drew doesn’t accept the offer, he may still go for a price and number of years beyond a range the Cardinals would view as reasonable.

With his injury history, three years would be a stretch to give to Drew.

Among the other free agents available are Jhonny Peralta and Brendan Ryan.

Peralta’s 2013 numbers would make him a solid fit, but there’s still a chance the Detroit Tigers could hang on to him as an outfielder, with Peralta telling John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press he’d like to stay with the organization. With that said, such a fit with the Tigers seems unlikely, having traded for Jose Iglesias.

Most likely, he will be looking for a multi-year deal upwards of $6 million. That doesn’t put him out of reach for the Cardinals, but they would likely be reluctant to pick up a player fresh off of a PED suspension.

Brendan Ryan is also available, but they already tried that. Great glove, no bat. In fact, Ryan batted 20 points lower than Pete Kozma.

In the end, the answer could come with a year (or half year) from Furcal. Here are a few thoughts on the subject.

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The St. Louis Cardinals’ hitters need to shake the rust, and fast.

With a day off in the series, St. Louis would’ve been wise to spend the day in the cage ahead of Game 6 Wednesday in Boston. However, as Los Angeles Times reporter Bill Shaikin noted, airplane problems made that a little difficult on Tuesday:

St. Louis is hitting just .218 and has been outscored 21-13 in its three losses to Boston through the first five games of the World Series. 

Carlos Beltran, the man who had waited 36 years for this opportunity, his first World Series appearance, is hitting 4-for-13. Beltran led the Cardinals with 24 home runs during the regular season, but he has been unable to take Red Sox pitchers yard.

Then there’s David Freese, the St. Louis native who turned into an October legend during the 2011 World Series with his extra-inning, walk-off home run in Game 6 against the Rangers. He is hitting a cool .200 against Boston.

At 5-for-22 through the first five games of the World Series, Matt Carpenter isn’t faring much better.

Allen Craig is leading the charge for the Cardinals by hitting .333 in the series, but he’s been hobbled by an injury to his left foot.

In Game 4, Craig hit a line drive off the wall in right field, usually an easy double, but because of his injury, he was limited to just a single. Two batters later, with Beltran at the plate, pinch runner Kolten Wong was thrown out, ending the game.

The situation is so dire for St. Louis that despite Craig’s inability on the basepaths, manager Mike Matheny elected to dress Craig, who can’t run, in place of Matt Adams, who can’t hit, in Game 5.  

Craig went 0-for-3 in the Game 5 loss, while Adams pinch-hit for pitcher Carlos Martinez in the eighth inning and struck out.

Adding insult to injury is the Boston Red Sox one-man wrecking crew that is David Ortiz. Ortiz is hitting .733 in the World Series with two doubles, two home runs and six RBI.

Ortiz went 3-for-4 on Monday night, helping the Red Sox to a 3-1 win. Ortiz is a lock to be named World Series MVP should the Red Sox win their third title in 10 years.

According to Shira Springer of the Boston Globe, the Red Sox have begun calling Ortiz “Cooperstown” because according to catcher David Ross, “he does Hall of Fame stuff.”

The one thing the Cardinals do have going for them? They roughed up Red Sox starter John Lackey for three runs and five hits in Game 2 to even the series at 1-1.

Lackey gets the ball for Boston in Game 6.

Beltran led the way that night, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. It might be up to the veteran to get it done Wednesday if he wants a shot at that elusive ring.

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The St. Louis Cardinals have struggled throughout the 2013 World Series.  The team’s offense has been nonexistent, the defense has been questionable at times and manager Mike Matheny’s decisions have left many people scratching their heads.  Now they head back to Boston for Games 6 and 7, and even that is anything but routine.

Derrick Goold of StlToday.com reported from Boston about a mechanical failure on the team’s plane that would take them to Boston:

The Cardinals’ charter flight from St. Louis to Boston was delayed more than four hours by a mechanical issue that kept the plane grounded. The team waited for the glitch to be fixed, and eventually had to consider getting a new plane to make their way here for Game 6 of the World Series.

Players and coaches have reported that spirits remain high and that they are thankful the team allows their families to travel with them.  The inconvenience of delayed travel is something most people can certainly be sympathetic to.  The real question remains as to what effect it may have on the team going into a crucial Game 6 against the Boston Red Sox.

Michael Wacha will draw that start and put his stellar postseason performance on the line for one more game this year.  The rookie has been nothing short of phenomenal to this point in October.  He has faced the adversity of a struggling lineup throughout the playoffs but will now face a disruption in his preparation schedule.

Players like Carlos Beltran and Allen Craig have been battling through nagging injuries so far in the Fall Classic.  Sitting on an airplane for hours on a runway cannot be doing wonders for the stiff muscles and bruised bones they have sustained.  Both sluggers will need to be fresh, loose and ready to contribute if the team hopes to force a Game 7 this year.

The good news, according to Goold, is that the Cardinals were not set for a workout today in Boston.  The delayed flight is more of a nuisance than anything.  It will not provide much of a distraction from the plan going forward.

It has been a strange World Series to this point.  Jon Heyman of CBS Sports has gone as far as to call it the “Weird Series” based on the unorthodox incidents in the games to this point.  The Cardinals plane breaking down seems to be just another strange occurrence thus far.

Either way, the Cardinals plane will be up and running in the next few hours.  

Fans hope the offense will follow suit tomorrow.

Follow Bill on Twitter to discuss all things baseball throughout the postseason.

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Allen Craig was one of the most prolific hitters for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2013.  His production at the plate, specifically with runners in scoring position, was a key component in the successful season for the team.  An injury in early September sidelined the first baseman, forcing the Cardinals to rely on young power hitter Matt Adams.

Adams has proven he can handle himself quite well at the plate and defensively at first base.  His production during the last month of the season softened the blow of Craig’s injury.  Even without Craig, the Cardinals kept winning and found themselves headed to the postseason with the National League’s best record.

The postseason brought a slightly different story for Matt Adams.

Through the second game of the World Series, Adams was struggling to produce, with only three extra-base hits in 49 at-bats and a paltry .245 batting average.  His four runs batted in have left the Cardinals hoping for Craig’s return before the 2013 season would come to a close.

The Cardinals’ arrival to the World Series brought some hope regarding Craig.  The series would begin in Boston and allow the team to utilize the designated hitter.

After multiple workouts after the close of the National League Championship Series, the Cardinals announced that Craig would be healthy enough to help the club in the World Series.  He would serve as the team’s designated hitter in Boston and be a competent bat from the bench when the games shifted to St. Louis.

The Cardinals escaped Boston with a split of the first two games.  Multiple sources, including MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch, noted that Allen Craig was taking ground balls at first base during workouts when the team arrived back in St. Louis.  

Does taking ground balls during workouts suggest that Craig is going to return to the lineup over Matt Adams?  Langosch seems to think that we will know very soon:

But the Cardinals continue to work Craig in the field with their eyes set on Game 5, when Boston will next send a lefty to the mound. It would be an ideal time to plug Craig back into the starting lineup.

The Cardinals are anxious to have Craig’s production back in the lineup but continue to progress slowly with the injury.  They do not want to push Craig too quickly, but they do want to maximize their potential for a World Championship this season.  

Craig has hit left-handed pitching better than Adams in 2013.  Adams has posted a .231 batting average while not drawing a single walk against lefties this season.  Craig, on the other hand, has produced a .779 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) and a .278 batting average against lefties.  

While MLB.com does not currently list an announced starter for Boston in Game 5, logic would suggest that Jon Lester would take the mound for the Red Sox.  Lester kept the Cardinals off-balance in Game 1 of the World Series, including Adams and Craig.  The duo combined for one hit and two strikeouts in eight at-bats against Lester in that game.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny has said, according to the same Langosch article above, that Craig will be available both off the bench and as a defensive replacement in games due to the progress he has shown.  Craig provides the team a new dimension of production from the bench and another weapon against left-handed pitching going forward.

At the very least, Craig offers a more intimidating pinch-hitting option than Shane Robinson late in the game.  

A healthy Allen Craig could make all the difference for the St. Louis Cardinals.

All statistics are courtesy of Baseball-Reference.

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With the St. Louis Cardinals only three wins away from the 2013 World Series title, the team and its fans would obviously be disappointed if this October run ended without a championship.

Regardless of the series outcome, however, the franchise’s future is bright. That’s largely because it has dominant rookie pitchers under control for years to come, and specifically, two bullpen arms who have excelled on the big stage: Carlos Martinez and Trevor Rosenthal.

For those of you who slept through/inexplicably chose not to watch Game 2, a 4-2 Cards victory that evened the Fall Classic at 1-1, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports revisits the penultimate inning of it:

Eighth inning, runner on first with two outs, the left-handed hitting Ortiz set to face the right-handed Martinez. The by-the-book move would have been to summon veteran lefty Randy Choate for the platoon advantage, but Matheny stuck with Martinez, who threw 96 to 98 mph and got two of his three strikeouts on breaking balls.

And MLB.com presents the ninth:

Their combination of triple-digit heat, 1990s birth dates and recent success has the baseball world buzzing:

Rosenthal, Martinez throw heat, breathe fire out of #STLCards bullpen. http://t.co/JPCMksm6TN

— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) October 25, 2013

Back in NJ, afternoon run along the Hudson… Still marveling at how strong #STLcards Carlos Martinez and Trevor Rosenthal looked in game 2.

— Dan Plesac (@Plesac19) October 25, 2013

Its pretty clear if the Cardinals have a lead after 7 they are in great hands w/young arms like Carlos Martinez, Trevor Rosenthal in the pen

— Isaac Rodriguez (@isaacfromCT) October 25, 2013

Does the narrative of a pennant winner with standout rookie relief sound familiar to you? It should.

However, we’ve seldom seen performance of this caliber from major league newbies, much less two such pitchers on the same roster.

Here’s how Martinez and Rosenthal stack up against other 21st-century examples of first-year pitchers who were trusted with high-leverage postseason innings:

To be fair, Rosenthal also pitched in the 2012 playoffs when the Cardinals advanced to the NLCS. Because of his limited service time during that regular season, he retained rookie eligibility for another year. Combining his two October experiences, the 23-year-old has pitched 16.2 scoreless innings.

That shouldn’t take anything away from what he and Martinez have been accomplishing.

The past two Cardinals opponents, the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers, were both significantly more productive off right-handed pitching this season. You wouldn’t know it from their recent impotence against this pair. Those offenses have generated a .119 batting average and only one run in 13.2 innings with them on the mound.

Stuff-wise, Francisco Rodriguez and Joel Zumaya used to be electrifying; Hideki Okajima and Adam Wainwright demonstrated awesome command. With that said, Martinez and Rosenthal exceed them all with their ability to combine power and precision.

The question on the mind of every St. Louis fan is whether either of these promising flamethrowers can follow in Wainwright’s footsteps. He has blossomed into the club’s rotation ace. Waino is likely to finish top three in NL Cy Young Award voting for the third time following a summer in which he led the Senior Circuit in innings pitched.

Martinez’s size—6’0″, 185 pounds—may prevent him from completing that transition. The Dominican native possesses a plus curveball to complement his fantastic fastball, but his 106 innings pitched this year is already the highest total of his professional career. There’s understandably some doubt about his body holding up for 30-plus starts.

Meanwhile, MLB.com’s Bernie Pleskoff is of the opinion that Rosenthal should eventually make the leap. His changeup is more refined and his thicker frame dispels any durability concerns.

Regardless of which roles they occupy in 2014 and beyond, the Cardinals should expect effectiveness and a high probability of contending for future champagne celebrations. 

Ely is a national MLB Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and a sportscaster for 90.5 WVUM in Miami. He’s hoping to deepen relationships with his fantastic online audience (that means you) via Twitter.

Follow @MrElyminator

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The World Series is going to be tight. Both the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals are talented but flawed teams. They match up well at nearly every position, which means things like execution and fundamentals could be key.

In Game 2, one play appeared more Little League than major league, allowing a couple of runs that could have been the difference in the game.

In tight matchups such as this one, injuries can be amplified and one to a star like Carlos Beltran can be a game-changer.

However, Beltran’s injury doesn’t appear to be affecting him on the field. The treatment he’s received, his own struggles with previous injuries and a secret weapon might just make Beltran a game-changer in the positive sense.

Beltran injured his ribs running into the outfield wall at Fenway. That wall is iconic, once known as Williamsburg due to how many balls Ted Williams put into it. With that said, the odd angle, short warning track and height make it a unique challenge for right fielders.

In the ALCS, we saw Torii Hunter go up and over. The difference? While their heights are only one inch apart, Hunter has longer legs and was more extended, raising his center of gravity. The difference does explain why Beltran was injured while Hunter was only a bit bruised.

Looking at those pictures would make one think there’s much more than a one-inch height differential between the two.

The momentum of their runs manifested themselves differently.

Hunter’s head of steam took him over the wall, with some of it dissipated by the pinwheel action and some by catching himself on the other side. Almost all of the force went directly into Beltran’s ribs. The total force isn’t known, but it’s reasonable to assume they were moving at similar speeds. 

The ribs are a complex structure. It’s not as simple as a bone issue, even in the case of a fracture, like with Hanley Ramirez in the NLCS. The ribs are interconnected, with both cartilage and muscles in between each and a unique movement that allows for breathing—breathing is good.

It’s exceptionally efficient at protecting the internal organs, as evidenced by both Ramirez and Beltran. Neither has injuries to his spleen or liver, which would be worse than a painful rib issue.

Pain management is difficult because of the function and nature of baseball.

A painkilling injection is difficult because of the complexity of the structure and the enervation. A general painkiller is unthinkable. It’s difficult enough to turn on a 90 mph fastball. Forget it after someone’s popped a couple of Vicodins, let alone the worries about reaction time if one of those fastballs come at his head.

Beltran has experience playing through pain and dealing with limitations. His well-chronicled struggles with a damaged and deteriorating knee have given him experience with this kind of situation. He understands the difference between soreness and pain.

He also clearly has a high pain tolerance, given the damage inside his knee that almost necessitated career-threatening surgery.

Beltran will have the most issues with rotational activities. The problem there is that almost everything in baseball is rotational. Swinging a bat or throwing a ball, two things the Cards need from Beltran, are precisely the kind of activities that will tax him and test his pain tolerance.

The benefit for him might be the gap between these activities. A long at-bat with several fouls or swing-and-miss attempts will likely be the biggest test for Beltran. 

During Game 2, it was apparent that Beltran was wearing some sort of flak jacket under his uniform. Fox Sports’ Tim McCarver noted that it was “kevlar” early in the telecast.

I was able to confirm with multiple sources that Beltran is wearing a garment from Unequal Technologies. Beltran has a high level of protection from another collision or a ball to the ribs. If you’re wondering how effective this type of material is, check the video to the right.

Beltran showed with his Game 2 performance that he can be productive through the injury.

While he does have his limitations, adjustments and accommodations are easy. Getting back to St. Louis will help as well. Beltran is much more comfortable with that park, where the walls are not likely to induce issues and the Cardinals’ medical staff has all of its equipment and facilities.

The toughest game for Beltran was always going to be Game 2. Getting through that without any apparent issue makes it much likelier that he will make it through subsequent games. The bruising and inflammation should subside as well, with both time and treatment, making it possible that he won’t need the kevlar later in the series.

Look for Beltran to continue on with no major difficulties as the Cardinals fight to gain another World Series title.

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