Kuzul

Baseball is a game with many faces. Pitchers, catchers, big bats, managers…There are so many intricate parts to a great team, and the St. Louis Cardinals are historically one of the greatest teams.

Making one’s mark as a player is not easy, and unfortunately some slip through the cracks, never truly getting the attention they deserve.

In no particular order, I’ve picked out 5 players from Cardinals history who I would consider underrated.

Each of these individuals has given 10 or more years to the Cardinals organization. None of them ever received any high honors, the exception being All-Star bids. And none of them are currently on the team. (Sorry, Allen Craig! We don’t know where your superstar status will be been you eventually retire.) Lastly, almost all of them were overshadowed by other players.

The definition of the word “underrated” implies a player who’s name doesn’t often come up in conversation, so there are so many more I have missed. Comment below with your favorites!

*All stats are current on baseball-reference.com as of April 26, 2013*

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This season has a familiar tune to it. It’s a lot like 2011, when the Cardinals lost Adam Wainwright for the season.

However, this time around, the Cardinals are dealing with the loss of one of their most effective relievers, Jason Motte—the hard-throwing closer who will likely undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery to repair his flimsy elbow—who tied for the National League lead with 42 saves last season.

Just 13 games into the season, Motte’s absence has already caused reason for alarm. The Cardinals are struggling to close games. Their late-inning arms are failing with the game on the line.

Is it time to panic? Not hardly.

We’re talking about a bullpen that allowed the seventh-fewest earned runs in the NL (205) last season. It’s essentially the same group that tied for the third-highest strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.64) last season.

The season remains young, and manager Mike Matheny is still deciphering which players are most effective in every role out of the bullpen.

Here are three reasons why the Cardinals can overcome the loss of Motte.

Mitchell Boggs, RHP

A lot of you will disagree with me, but I firmly believe Boggs has the stuff to close out games.

Yes, he has struggled at times. He blew the save against Arizona April 3. The right-hander came on in the bottom of the 12th inning, with the Cardinals clinging to a 9-8 lead. Here’s how Boggs fared: single, hit batter, sacrifice bunt, sacrifice fly and a run scored.

The Cincinnati Reds rocked him during the Cardinals’ home opener April 8. Manager Mike Matheny called on Boggs to work the ninth inning of a 4-4 game. Here’s Boggs’ series of unfortunate events: walk, flyout, wild pitch, intentional walk, double, intentional walk, walk, infield single and an error. When the smoke cleared, the Reds had tagged Boggs for six earned runs on just two hits. What was once a close game was written off as a blowout.

“[That was] the worst outing of my career,” Boggs said, courtesy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “I don’t think you can put it any other way. I wasn’t any good. There’s no other way to say it, there is no excuse.”

Moreover, the Brewers cracked him last Sunday. Once again, Boggs was called on to save the game for starter Jaime Garcia. But Carlos Gómez and Yuniesky Betancourt had other plans for the unconfident Cardinal closer. Boggs was ahead 1-2 on Gómez, the leadoff man, before the center fielder roped a line drive single to right. Boggs jumped ahead 0-1 on Betancourt, before the third baseman yanked an RBI double to right-center.

“This game was there for us to take,” Boggs said, courtesy of the Post-Dispatch.

Indeed, the Cardinals had a 3-0 lead in the eighth; though the contest was even when Boggs trotted in from the bullpen.

“The bottom line is I had a chance to get the win for us and I didn’t get the job done,” Boggs said, courtesy of the Post-Dispatch. “I can sit here and talk about it all I want to, but until I start going out there and doing the job, it’s not good enough.”

No argument there. 

We’ve seen the agony of Boggs’ ninth-inning meltdowns. However, he’s been dealt with some harsh luck, too. It’s not as if I’m saying Boggs should be let off the hook. He certainly shouldn’t. It’s his job to shut down opponents late in games.

Boggs hasn’t allowed a home run. He’s been tagged for six singles, most of which were harmless bloopers, and two doubles.

On the other hand, Boggs has had trouble firing strikes. Thus far, he has issued seven free passes (three intentional) in 7.1 innings of work.   

There’s no question Boggs has the stuff. He led the NL with 34 holds last season, while opponents hit just .211 off him in 73.1 innings.

As the season continues to unfold, Boggs will continue to adjust to his new role. After all, he prepared to enter the season as the eighth-inning man, not the closer. It’s a completely different mindset.

Trevor Rosenthal, RHP

Trevor Rosenthal is in the midst of his first full season as a big leaguer. There was talk of the fireballer being inserted into the starting rotation. When Shelby Miller earned the gig, Rosenthal was stowed away in the bullpen.

So far, Rosenthal has shown signs of encouragement. He’s shown signs of power, with his blistering heat.

Rosenthal is tied for sixth with 10 strikeouts among active major league relievers—a key stat for any late-inning arm. His fastball has reached triple digits—an important component for a late-inning reliever.

According to FanGraphs, his fastball averages over 97 mph. 

“It’s definitely fun to…have that special ability,” Rosenthal said, courtesy of the Post-Dispatch.

The 22-year-old right-hander, however, has also struggled.

He’s made seven appearances thus far, and has allowed four earned runs on eight hits in just eight innings and has two blown saves. 

On April 8, the Reds tagged him for two hits and a run in the top of the eighth to tie the game, 4-4.

Six days later, Rosenthal surrendered a two-run home run off the bat of Ryan Braun to bring the visiting Brewers within a run in the top of the eighth.

Rosenthal got away with his overpowering fastball for a few games. However, he’s relied on it too often. If you’re consistently one dimensional, trouble will find you.

Rosenthal continues to develop his secondary pitches to accompany his heater, which is vital for success.

He’s still young, and rather green. In time, Rosenthal will blossom into the pitcher the Cardinals expect him to be.

Whether Matheny opts to lean on Rosenthal for the ninth inning remains a mystery. The youngster is more than capable of handling the role, but his off-speed pitches are crucial in keeping hitters off-balance at the plate.

Mike Matheny and Derek Lilliquist

The Cardinals have an abundance of resources—powerful arms capable of working any late-game situation.

Matheny is confident in Rosenthal and Boggs in the eighth and ninth innings. Both pitchers possess the appropriate mechanics and pitches to get the job done. The results are lacking. 

Matheny isn’t naïve, nor is pitching coach Derek Lilliquist. Expect them to tinker with the bullpen if problems continue to arise. Matheny is a former catcher, and a darned good one at that. He’s able to read pitchers in ways the average fan cannot. 

Historically, Cardinals’ closers have a long history of freakish injuries.

Closer Todd Worrell blew out his right arm on September 4, 1989. Manager Whitey Herzog filled the void with Dan Quisenberry. The experiment turned disastrous. The Cardinals went 11-15 over the final stretch of the season, and Quisenberry posted an alarming 4.66 ERA. The Cardinals finished third in the NL East.

The results were far better in 2006, when ninth-inning man Jason Isringhausen landed on the disabled list September 6 with a hip injury that ultimately required season-ending surgery. Manager Tony La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan inserted rookie starter Adam Wainwright into the ninth-inning role, where he prospered en route to winning the franchise’s 10th title.

Winning without Motte can be done, but it’ll be up to Matheny and Lilliquist to determine the proper course of action over the remainder of the season.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The 2013 season is now in full swing.

After 10 games, the St. Louis Cardinals are in sole possession of first atop the NL Central with a 6-4 record. But how have they gotten there?

By comparing each major player’s current statistics to their 2012 numbers, I’ve attempted to measure their success against what is expected of them. 

We don’t know what the future has in store for the Cardinals, but if these grades have set a precedent, we may be seeing great things.

Read on to find a grade and explanation for each position player. 

*All statistics are from stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com and are current as of April 12, 2013.*

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Friday night’s game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers was destined to be an interesting game. Not because of a division rivalry, but because of the story behind the two men taking the mound.

The battle of veteran pitcher vs. rookie stud in many ways went as it should.

The veteran looked solid, kept his count low and pitched deep into the game. The rookie showed his flash, but at the same time made it clear that he belongs with the big league club.

Former St. Louis pitcher Kyle Lohse received a warm welcome from the Cardinals fans, and Yadier Molina even stepped out from behind the plate to give him a moment to acknowledge the applause. It was a classy move by both the fans as well as Molina.

That was where the hospitality ended for the Brewers.

If Cardinals rookie pitcher Shelby Miller was intimidated by facing his predecessor on Friday night, one certainly couldn’t tell.

Miller dominated the Brewers’ lineup, at one point setting down 17 batters in a row while giving up only one hit.

Pitch count was a problem for Miller early, with several batters taking him deep into counts. A 25-pitch first inning was his biggest hiccup, but he was dominant from there on—lasting seven full innings, throwing 113 pitches (87 for strikes).

Several batters took him deep into at-bats, but he kept coming out on top.

After a leadoff hit to start the game, Miller settled in. The only thing he gave up from that point on was a badly bruised hand to Alex Gonzalez in the second.

Aside from his eight strikeouts, Miller had 10 ground-ball outs and only two fly-ball outs. He managed to keep the hitters off balance to the point where they simply weren’t able to get the barrel of the bat on the ball to make solid contact.

Miller worked fast and smooth, relying heavily on his fastball throughout the game. He threw in the occasional curveball, but only with two strikes when he was chasing the out. He stayed ahead in the count.

Basically, he pitched like he was the veteran in the matchup.

Just one year ago, Miller was in Memphis struggling with his control and giving up huge run totals. After some minor corrections and a little time to mature, Miller returned to the game with a vengeance.

After getting back in his groove at Memphis, he was called up to St. Louis for the first time in his career. Most likely that will also be his last call-up.

For anyone who was still wondering whether the Cardinals should have re-signed Lohse instead of moving Miller to the rotation, now you have your answer. Sure, it’s still a small sample size (yeah, I know), but the talent is there, and it’s ready to face major league batters.

Ask Ryan Braun about Shelby Miller. Or Rickie Weeks.

Miller still has some growing to do as a pitcher. His changeup still needs a little work, but his curveball already looks good.

His biggest hurdle will be learning to be more efficient with his pitches as a starter. For a strikeout pitcher, which Miller is, that’s often a problem.

Pitchers who look for contact tend to get out of innings with fewer pitches. With that said, they also tend to give up more runs than strikeout pitchers like Miller or Trevor Rosenthal.

Don’t expect every outing from Miller to look like Friday night. He will have his struggles and hiccups just like every other pitcher.

When he does struggle, though, remember that game and know that the future is bright for him.

For Lohse to put up a solid effort at Busch Stadium, and lose, was a very fitting way for the organization to move forward from that era. The Cardinals are no doubt grateful for the solid years he gave them but are also looking forward to the future.

The pitchers are growing younger and the fastballs are coming faster. The pitching staff is evolving from one of finesse and experience to a rotation of power and youth.

While the names may change and the styles will shift, the winning nature of this organization is still in full force. A new crop of young Cardinals is ready to show that they have what it takes to keep that tradition alive.

That’s exactly what you saw from Shelby Miller Friday evening. The next generation is here.

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Once the Cardinals finish up their West Coast swing through Arizona and San Francisco, they’ll find themselves smack-dab in the middle of a duel against their fiercest competition for the NL Central crown, the Cincinnati Reds.

Over the last few seasons, this has developed into a bitter rivalry.  David Schoenfield of ESPN said in 2011 the Cardinals and Reds has become the best rivalry in baseball.  

There have been some tense and exciting moments over the last few seasons between these two teams. From Brandon Philips igniting the fire with his inflammatory remarks over Twitter a few years back to the infamous brawl that ended backup catcher Jason LaRue’s career, this rivalry has taken on a life of its own.

Now fast-forwarding to 2013, the NL Central race will most likely come down to the Reds and the Cardinals.  

The Cardinals have not started off the 2013 campaign the way they had hoped.  Ace Adam Wainwright did not pitch well on Opening Night in Arizona and the Cardinals fell, 6-2, to the Diamondbacks.  

After playing well in game two of the series and taking down the D-Backs 6-1, the bullpen killed the Cardinals in game three, blowing four leads before losing in 16 innings, 10-9.

On Friday, the Cardinals’ left their bats in Arizona and were blanked by the Giants, 1-0.

The Reds, on the other hand, have started out the season well. They have posted a 3-1 record and taken two-of-three from the offensive juggernaut known as the Los Angeles Angels, to go along with thrashing the Nationals in their series opener, 15-0.

Last season the Cardinals held a slight advantage against the Reds with an 8-7 record. This season, the Cardinals will need to improve upon that record if they want to win the NL Central. They will need to create separation from the Reds by winning the head-to-head competition.

Game 1 Pitching Matchup

The first game of the series features Jaime Garcia against Mat Latos.  Garcia pitched very well against the Diamondbacks in his first start this season.  As he starts the home opener for the Cardinals, fans should know that Garcia has a 8-2 record in his career against the Reds in 11 career starts.

Latos will have to face his demons in Busch Stadium.  He is 1-3 there with a 13.50 ERA  Hopefully for Cardinal fans, that trend will keep up.  

Game 2 Pitching Matchup

In Game 2 of the series, the Cardinals will send Lance Lynn out to face Bronson Arroyo.  Lynn hasn’t seemed to overcome his postseason demons from last season.  He only lasted four innings in his season debut and gave up four runs, walking three and serving up a home run.  

Arroyo has made 31 career starts against the Cardinals and posted an 8-13 record with a 4.56 ERA. In 2012, he was 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA when pitching against the Cardinals.  

Game 3 Pitching Matchup

Jake Westbrook will lead the Cardinals into the final game of the first 2013 series against the Reds. He’ll be opposed by Homer Bailey.

Westbrook owns a 3-2 record agains the Reds in his career in nine starts.

Bailey hasn’t pitched very well against the Cardinals in his career.  He has a 3-7 record with a 5.00 ERA in 13 career starts.  That said, Bailey shut down the Nationals’ lineup in a 15-0 shellacking on Friday night.  He allowed two hits and no runs in six innings of work.

Predictions:

Game 1: With the Reds hitting the ball like they have a vendetta against it, it will be tough for Garcia to keep them in check.  

However, he is quite capable of doing so and with the Cardinals’ success against Mat Latos, game one should go to the Cardinals.

Game 2: I don’t have much faith that Lance Lynn will get out of the fourth inning against the Reds’ prolific offense.  He hasn’t had much luck in 2013 between spring training and his first start of the season.  

If the Cardinals’ offense doesn’t show up against Bronson Arroyo, it could be a long day for the Cardinals and their bullpen.  Game two goes to the Reds.

Game 3: If Jake Westbrook can get his sinker to do what it is capable of and the Cardinals can get to Homer Bailey early, it could be a good day for the Redbirds.  

With the way Todd Frazier (.471 batting average, three home runs at time of writing) and the Reds’ bats have come out of the gate, it will be a tough assignment for Westbrook. 

This one will be a tossup.  Whichever club strikes early will probably get the win.  Neither Westbrook nor Bailey are prone to make it past the sixth inning, so it will come down to the bullpens.  Both clubs are expecting their bullpens to be a strength this season, and this will be an early test.  

With the history that has been built over the last few seasons between these clubs and the lack of love for one another, it should be a great series to watch.  

Hopefully there will be some fireworks to set the tone for the rest of the season when these two clubs hook up down the road.

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When it comes to classy organizations, the Cardinals remain perched at the top of the pecking order.

Adam Wainwright’s new five-year, $97.5 million contract extension further justifies the claim.

The deal also upholds the abundance of benefits the Cardinals continue to garner without Albert Pujols.

Initially, many may have been under the impression the Cardinals would flounder after being outbid by the Angels for then-free agent Pujols.

We all know how that tale ended; Pujols darted for greener pastures out West, where he signed a 10-year, $254 million mega deal with the Angels.

El Hombre packed up and left the city that was so devoted to him for so many years. He bolted St. Louis after saying he wanted “to be a Cardinal forever.”

But Pujols and Wainwright are on opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of professionalism and class.

Wainwright was in the same boat as Pujols. Entering the final stanza of his original four-year, $15 million deal signed in March 2008, and as one of the game’s most legitimate pitchers over the last five years, the 31-year-old Wainwright could have opted to test the market in November. 

He had reason to; Having won 19 and 20 games respectively in 2009 and 2010, Wainwright finished second and third in the National League Cy Young Award balloting. He also boasts the lowest ERA (3.161) among active starting pitchers with at least 1,000 innings pitched.  

But he didn’t.

He could’ve milked every last cent from the deep pockets of owner Bill DeWitt Jr. Wainwright could’ve been immature about his then-ongoing contract negotiations like his former brethren Pujols.

But he wasn’t.

And his professionalism and loyalty further establishes the “Cardinal Way.”

The Cardinals have benefited tremendously without Pujols.

Rather than being on the hook for a $220 million-plus contract over the next decade, DeWitt Jr. and general manager John Mozeliak were able to lock up vital core players.

After Pujols departed, the Cardinals and slugger Carlos Beltran agreed on a two-year, $26 million contract.

Last year, Yadier Molina signed a five-year, $75 million contract extension—a deal that keeps the best backstop in the industry under the Gateway Arch through 2017.

In January, Mozeliak inked hard-throwing closer Jason Motte to a two-year, $12 million gig—one that ensures the ninth inning will be in the appropriate hands over the next two years.

Last month, emerging slugger Allen Craig signed off on a five-year, $31 million extension that will solidify the first base position for years to come.

With multiple veteran pieces in check, the Cardinals can afford to let their young birds—Oscar Taveras, Carlos Martinez, Kolten Wong, Michael Wacha and Carson Kelly—develop in the minors.

Moreover, the Cardinals will boast considerable cap space flexibility in the coming years. According to Baseball Prospectus, the Cardinals are on the hook for $76,325,000 next season, $52,575,000 in 2015 and $43,200,000 in 2016.

That’s considerable leeway for an organization that continues to strive in the right direction. If Pujols remained in St. Louis, you can certainly forget about signing Molina, Craig, Beltran and Wainwright. The funds wouldn’t be sufficient enough to outbid other wealthier organizations. The Cardinals would’ve handcuffed themselves by dishing out a contract to a player who is on the downside of his career.

His stats speak for themselves. In 2008, Pujols hit .357, with a .462 on-base percentage, a .653 slugging percentage and a 1.114 on-base plus slugging percentage. Last season, Pujols managed .285/.343/.516/.859. 

In order to compare the effects Pujols has had on the Cardinals, look no further than how the Angels did in 2012. According to Forbes, the Angels lost $12.9 million last season on revenues of $239 million. Moreover, according to Forbes, the fans weren’t as excited as owner Arte Moreno was when he inked Pujols. Home attendance dropped three percent and local television ratings sunk by one percent.

On the flip side, according to Forbes, the Cardinals garnered a profit of $19.9 million while operating with the same amount of revenue as the Angels. Not to mention the Cardinals were one game shy from the World Series last season, while the Angels failed to even reach the postseason.

Better yet, Angels attendance declined by 104,551 last season with Pujols in the everyday lineup, while Cardinals attendance ascended by 168,155. 

As Pujols begins the second season of his 10-year contract with the Angels, the Cardinals continue to prosper in every facet of the game.

Wainwright’s contract extension further justifies the Cardinals’ formula for continued success. 

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With Shelby Miller preparing to make an impact at the major league level to start the season, the focus on prospects within the St. Louis Cardinals farm system will continue to shift toward the next generation.

Two of the hottest commodities within reach of the major league club, outfielder Oscar Taveras and RHP Michael Wacha, might be closer than you think.

Taveras is the gem of the organization. The 21-year-old outfielder has been named the No. 3 prospect in all of MLB, and with good reason.

He’s a consistent .300-plus hitter whose patience at the plate is far beyond his years. There has been little concern about Taveras with a bat—the majority of his continued development has to do with defense.

He’s a solid defender and has shown multiple times during spring training that his arm is no joke.  

The question is, when will he arrive in St. Louis? There’s little doubt he’ll be there in 2013, but it’s tough to say when.

With the success first baseman Matt Adams has seen in Grapefruit League play, the Cardinals are also left to find a way to get him into the lineup. Given that he is further along in his development, the season will likely begin with Adams in St. Louis sharing time at first base while Allen Craig allows other outfielders a chance to rest.

The reason that matters to Oscar Taveras is because that could potentially have been him filling in where Allen Craig likely will. But remember, there’s no need to rush Taveras.

Having people in place where he would play just gives the Cardinals the opportunity to allow him to continue his development. Taveras has never played a game in Triple-A. While he’s likely capable of skipping it altogether, if the team isn’t in desperate need of him he should at least spend a little time at that level.

It’s also important at this stage in his development that he be in the lineup every day. Sitting on the bench in St. Louis won’t benefit him in any way. If he’s in St. Louis, he will be getting regular playing time.

How long? It could be as little as a few weeks or as long as three to four months, but he will undoubtedly make his debut this season. Whether it comes as an injury replacement or a basic roster move, Cardinals fans have something to look forward to this season.

To date he has never played on a professional team that did not win a championship, and that’s a streak the Cardinals, no doubt, would like to see him keep alive.

Another rising star in the Cardinals farm system who wasn’t known by anyone before June 2012 is Michael Wacha. Those who didn’t know the name before spring training won’t be forgetting him anytime soon.

Wacha made a rapid rise through the farm system from draft all of the way to Double-A Springfield in just the second half of 2012. In 11 appearances and 21 innings, Wacha gave up only eight hits and two runs with 40 strikeouts.

He has a career 17.1 SO/9 ratio. To expect him to keep that number up is a stretch, but he has what it takes to be an impact pitcher at the major league level.

Wacha showed it again this spring when he out-pitched, well, just about everyone. He threw 11 innings over five games this spring and surrendered seven hits and one unearned run. He struck out 15 of the 44 batters he faced and walked only one.

While the Cardinals have an abundance of right-handed pitchers, Wacha stands out among them all. Whether his future is as a starter or reliever, he has the potential to go far.

He has a powerful fastball and continues to develop his off-speed deliveries, which are apparently the only thing keeping him from the major leagues at this point.

He’ll start the season at Double-A Springfield where he finished, but it’s likely his time there will be brief.

When will Wacha arrive in St. Louis? The chances are high that he could make an appearance this season, but there are no guarantees. If he keeps up at his current pace, he will make it hard for them not to promote him.

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If there’s one young hitter capable of making a successful jump from Double-A to the major leagues, it’s Oscar Taveras.

After batting .386/.444/.584 with 40 extra-base hits in 78 games for Low-A Quad Cities in 2011, the St. Louis Cardinals offered Taveras an aggressive assignment to Double-A Springfield for the 2012 season. And just as he’d done at every previous minor league stop, the 20-year-old outfielder thrived as one of the youngest players at the level.

Despite facing considerably advanced pitching, the left-handed hitter batted .321/.380/.572 with 67 extra-base hits, 10 stolen bases and 56/42 K/BB in 124 games.

More importantly, Taveras—Prospect Pipeline’s No. 3-ranked prospect headed into spring training—started to tap into his raw power and belted a career-high 23 home runs. While his bat has always projected to be a plus tool in the major leagues, the emergence of his above-average-to-plus power distinguishes Taveras the best hitter in the minor leagues.

But what exactly makes Taveras’ bat so special?

Well, the left-handed hitter features an explosive, yet well-balanced, swing that enables him to keep the bat head in the zone for an extended period of time. As a result, he seemingly always achieves a favorable point of contact, while his extension through the ball allows him to generate backspin carry to all fields.

However, it’s Taveras’ unparalleled hand-eye coordination and bat-to-ball ability that separates him from other highly regarded young hitters. Additionally, the 20-year-old’s ability to drive the ball the other way is already more advanced than a lot of big league hitters, and only stands to improve with additional experience against top-notch pitching.

Amazingly, that’s only part of what makes Taveras such a promising young hitter.

Over the last two seasons, the 20-year-old has drawn an increasing number of comparisons to Vladimir Guerrero due to his aggressive, free-swinging approach, as well as his knack for consistently centering pitches throughout (and even outside) the strike zone. Taveras simply hits everything: fastballs, breaking balls, off-speed pitches, same-side pitching, pitcher’s pitches—you name it and he can barrel it, effortlessly.

And while his approach may be challenged more at the major league level, Taveras should always make enough contact to the point where strikeouts are a nonissue.

So, could Taveras make the jump from Double-A to the major leagues this year? Absolutely.

However, unless he has a path to everyday playing time in the Cardinals’ outfield, it’s simply not going to happen. Taveras is going to hit in the major leagues regardless of when he arrives. That being said, there’s no reason for the organization to alter his course of development out of preference.

If one of the team’s outfielders suffers an injury this spring and is considered doubtful for Opening Day, then his promotion to the major leagues would be out of necessity.

Either way, Taveras is poised to make his big league debut at some point this season. Like any young hitter, he’s bound to struggle at times against more advanced pitching. However, the 20-year-old’s swing and approach make him virtually slump-proof, and his ability to make swift adjustments at such a young age only lends to his already insanely high ceiling.

With the potential to be one of baseball’s top players in his prime (possibly sooner), it makes no difference whether Taveras opens the 2013 season in Double-A, Triple-A or the major leagues.

He’s going to hit the snot out of the ball because, well, that’s what he does. Therefore, the Cardinals will let their prized prospect continue his natural ascension through their immensely talented farm system. But once he arrives in the major leagues, Taveras will be there to stay.

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As the spring begins to wrap up, things that were once question marks are becoming clear for the Cardinals.

Going into spring training, there were a few position battles to be had.  However, as spring training wore on, a new everyday spot became available at shortstop with Rafael Furcal never getting healthy from last season.

As the Cardinals hold auditions for a fifth starter, a second baseman, a fourth outfielder and a shortstop, there are some excellent competitions.

Fifth Starter Spot

The fifth-starter competition has come down to Shelby Miller and Joe Kelly.  Neither one has really blown the socks off Cardinals skipper Mike Matheny, to date.  Miller has posted a 2-0 record with a 4.63 ERA in his four appearances.  To his credit, he does have the two wins and has struck out 11 in 11.2 innings, plus batters are hitting only .234 off Miller this spring.

Joe Kelly likewise has been very mediocre.  He has not posted a record in his four appearances and has a 4.91 ERA this spring.  He has only struck out two in his 11 innings while hitters are batting .302 against him.  

Matheny says he hasn’t made his decision yet, however, I expect Miller to get the nod to start the season as the Cardinals’ fifth starter.  

Second Base

The Cardinals had a merry-go-round last season at second base.  Everyone from Tyler Greene, Daniel Descalso and Skip Schumaker had a chance to take the position, but no one could do it.

This spring the Cardinals have looked at Matt Carpenter, Daniel Descalso and briefly Kolten Wong.  Matt Carpenter was the Cardinals super utility-man last season.  However, of all the positions he logged time at, second base wasn’t one of them.

Carpenter has impressed this spring.  He is hitting .400 with a .491 OBP and eight RBI this spring in 16 games.  He has also fielded his position well according to Matheny.  

Descalso has actually hit this spring, which makes the competition a bit harder.  Descalso has an excellent glove, but his weak bat has limited his playing time.  He is hitting .327 with two home runs and five RBI this spring, but it probably isn’t enough to get him the starting job.  

With Carpenter’s performance in the field and at the plate, expect him to be the opening-day starter at second.

Fourth Outfielder

This has been my favorite competition to watch.  With Matt Holliday, Jon Jay and Carlos Beltran already cemented in their starting roles, the fourth outfielder spot was up for grabs.

All Cardinal fans have been excited to see what top prospect Oscar Taveras would be able to do this spring.  Taveras has had exciting moments, including a grand slam against the Marlins. Taveras has been very solid this spring posting a .296 average with two home runs and 10 RBI in his 16 games.

Shane Robinson knew he would be up against Taveras and his hype this spring.  Robinson came prepared and brought his A-game. Robinson has pounded the ball in the Grapefruit League, posting a .465 average with three home runs and 12 RBI in 16 games.  

With Taveras only having played at AA thus far and Robinson having filled the fourth outfielder spot last season, I expect Robinson to be the opening-day fourth outfielder.

Shortstop

This spot wasn’t supposed to be up for grabs because the Cardinals thought Rafael Furcal would be healthy.  But with Furcal out for the season after having Tommy John surgery, the position was unsettled.  The Cardinals brought in veteran Ronny Cedeno for a look, but he didn’t work out and was released.  

Now the position will fall to either Pete Kozma or Daniel Descalso.  As mentioned earlier, Descalso has had a pretty solid spring.  Kozma has also done a nice job this spring at the plate.  He is batting .318 with two home runs and seven RBI in 15 games.  

Given Kozma‘s late season success in 2012 and that carryover into spring training, I think it is his spot to lose.

Descalso can play shortstop, second or third, so it is likely he’ll be the utility man going into 2012.

Now the Cardinals just need to find a spot for Matt Adams and their bench should be complete.

It should be an exciting 2013 for Cardinal fans.  With the battles for open positions coming to a close, the Cardinals should be in contention all season.  Here’s to another playoff run.

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The coming celebration for Oscar Taveras’ promotion to the big leagues will be historic in St. Louis.

John Hart, the former general manager of the Indians and Rangers, compared Taveras to former Giants slugger Barry Bonds, according to MLB.com.

Last October, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak went even further in evaluating Taveras by saying he is “the most prolific hitter I’ve seen in this organization since, probably, Albert [Pujols],” he said, courtesy of MLB.com.

But Taveras doesn’t look much into comparisons. He quietly goes about his business. 

“I know that people compare me to other players, but I don’t pay much attention to it,” Taveras said, with catcher Tony Cruz translating, courtesy of MLB.com. “I just go out there and play my game aggressively.”

Taveras is coined the No. 3 prospect in all of baseball, according to Baseball America and MLB.com. The latter also has him rated as the Cardinals’ best prospect heading into the 2013 season.

At 6’2’’, 180 pounds, Taveras doesn’t fit the prototypical left-handed power hitter capable of making a big splash.

Oh, how size undermines overall talent.

Just watch him during batting practice—his smooth swing, flawless mechanics and ability to drive the ball to all directions.

‘It just doesn’t look like there’s a pitch that shows up that he’s not prepared to hit,’ Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said, courtesy of MLB.com. ‘As soon as he walks into the box, he has a presence. Just watching his timing and recognition—he has something that you really can’t teach.’

First-year hitting coach John Mabry said Taveras possesses everything necessary to become a star in the big leagues:

‘I’ve seen enough of him to know that he’s a high-quality hitter,’ Mabry said, courtesy of MLB.com. ‘Mechanically and fundamentally, he has a pretty swing. He does things naturally. He has the ability to square the ball up. He has quick hands, everything is fluid. He’s got all the equipment to succeed.’

Taveras is just 20 years old, and played his first professional season at 17. He spent last season at the Cardinals’ Double-A Springfield affiliate, where he earned Most Valuable Player of the Texas League’s regular season, posting a .321 mark with 23 home runs and 94 RBI. He was also named MVP of the Texas League All-Star Game.

A native of Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Taveras is a superstar waiting to be unleashed.

In his first at-bat of spring training—Feb. 28 against Miami—Taveras came to the plate with the bases juiced and one out. Honing in on Marlins hurler Jacob Turner, Taveras waited patiently for his pitch. Down 1-2, Taveras choked up on the bat, and drove the next pitch over the right field fence for a grand slam, giving the Cardinals a 5-1 lead.

“Oscar stands out,” Matheny said, courtesy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “It’s like he knows he’s close.”

Just how close?

For the immediate future, the Cardinals need Taveras as soon as possible.

Taveras is just a kid. He’s still extremely raw in terms of talent and ability. Certainly Mozeliak and Matheny want to be cautious when projecting the right time to give Taveras the green light.

That’s all understandable. It’s justifiable for Mozeliak and Matheny to closely monitor Taveras’ progress.

But the Cardinals are in dire need of Taveras, if not in the everyday lineup, then certainly off the bench.

By the looks of it, the Cardinals will enter 2013 with Matt Carpenter, Ty Wigginton, Shane Robinson, Adron Chambers, Ronny Cedeño and Tony Cruz on the bench. 

Aside from Carpenter, the Cardinals lack a true pinch-hitter capable of coming off the bench in a late-game situation and delivering a clutch hit.

When serving as pinch-hitters last season, the aforementioned group combined to hit just .215 with 12 extra base hits, two home runs, 21 RBI, 17 walks and 52 strikeouts.

Would you rather have Wigginton or Taveras at the plate with the game on the line? I’ll go with the kid, instead of the aging veteran who hit .235 for Philadelphia last season.

Moreover, Taveras could spell injury-prone outfielders in Matt Holliday and Carlos Beltran. Holliday dealt with back and leg-related issues last season, while Beltran suffered knee soreness.

There’s also the fans—the ones who are fully devoted to their beloved team. Cardinals fans will more than likely be eager to watch their youngest player succeed at the highest level. That’s why they pay the big bucks for season tickets. That’s why they consistently fill the stands at Busch Stadium year in and year out.

The reasons why Taveras needs to be called up to begin the season are black and white. He provides the type of bat that could heavily impact a season. He’s the type of player that leaves teams foaming at the mouth.

The time for Taveras is now, and the Cardinals need to act upon it.

Cardinals fans were hung out to dry when Pujols walked. It’s time for them to fall in love their youngest sensation. 

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