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“He’s excited.”

That’s how St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny characterized RHP Chris Carpenter as he continues to make his way back to the major leagues.

Carpenter has been sidelined for the entire season following complications with a nerve condition he received an operation on last year.

In February, it was largely believed by Carpenter and the Cardinals that his career was likely over. Recurring pain and numbness during long toss and other offseason baseball activities left him discouraged and defeated.

For the first time in his 15-year career, Carpenter did not even attend spring training. He just needed to step away.

After a couple of months, a game of catch with his son sparked yet another “against the odds” comeback for the 38-year-old right-hander.

While the comeback itself has been the victim of a couple minor setbacks, the chances of seeing Chris Carpenter on a major league mound improve every time he throws a baseball.

His Monday evening start with the Springfield Cardinals, while a bit shaky, showed the Cardinals several things they needed to see.

Carpenter’s fastball velocity was clocking in around 94 mph which is faster than he was getting in 2012 during his brief return. His sinker also had better movement on it than in the past.

Of course, the start didn’t turn out well. Carpenter surrendered two earned runs and a home run in 2.2 innings pitched.

However, five of his eight outs came via strikeout.

The most important take away from this has little to do with his baseball abilities—it’s the fact that he’s not hurting.

“He feels good,” Matheny said prior to Friday evening’s game against the San Diego Padres. “He felt good last time out, too.”

While he hasn’t necessarily progressed quickly, Carpenter has progressed steadily.

After 2012, Carpenter nor the Cardinals’ front office want to rush him along, and that’s the right call.

There is nothing for either to gain by rushing him into a situation he’s not yet prepared for.

“Overall, he’s doing exactly what we need him to do,” Matheny said. “He’s continuing to progress.”

Carpenter’s July 20 start will take place with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds—not in Springfield.

Does that mean they felt he pitched well enough to warrant a promotion?

“Don’t read too much into Triple-A over Double-A,” Matheny said, noting that Memphis’ schedule was more on pace with the schedule the Cardinals want to see Carpenter move toward.

In short, the move had to do with pitching against the right competition.

“He’s a big league pitcher, and we want to get him the best competition so we can get him back here,” Matheny said.

Carpenter will presumably make three to four minor league starts. During that time, the Cardinals will be evaluating the best way to use him.

After his final bullpen session at Busch Stadium prior to the All-Star break, Carpenter made it clear that his goal is to get back to where he once was as a dominant starting pitcher.

He also knows that rushing things is not there.

When asked how he was going to get there, Carpenter’s answer was simple.

“One throw at a time, one step at a time.”

All quotes obtained firsthand by the author.

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The bat that St. Louis Cardinals backup first baseman Matt Adams packs at the plate has a reputation that precedes it.

Adams has demolished balls at every level of professional baseball. His lightning fast bat speed, combined with a tight swing and a good eye, is what have carried Adams to where he is today.

Little has been said of his glove—until now, that is.

The last couple of weeks, thanks to an abundance of interleague play, have given the oft-underplayed Adams a much needed period of consistent playtime. The Cardinals have benefited from having him in the lineup both offensively and defensively.

A series of key defensive plays in the series against the Los Angeles Angels and the Miami Marlins has brought his underrated glove to the forefront.

“I’m surprising myself,” he said following Friday night’s victory over the Marlins. “Last year I wouldn’t have got to those balls I got to the past two nights. It’s just the work I put in this offseason and the work that Jose [Oquendo] has been doing with me since spring training.”

Any mention of his defense is quickly turned around with ample credit to third base coach Jose Oquendo.

“He’s a great guy to have for our infield guys,” Adams said in a pregame interview while he prepped for the night’s game. “He positions us where he thinks the guys are going to hit, and that helps out big time.”

Part of that training, he said, has dealt with changing the defender’s angles of attack by better positioning.

He said the key to good defense is paying close attention to Oquendo to see where he wants him on the field. Sometimes he can be seen checking not just between batters, but between pitches.

“It cuts down a couple steps,” Adams said. “He’s very, very smart in the way he goes about things with the infield guys.”

Manager Mike Matheny said he thinks Adams has been underestimated defensively for quite some time because of his size. Those people may be eating their words this week.

“He’s quicker, too, than what people are going to give him credit for being a big fellow,” Matheny said. “But he’s made some real nice plays going side to side.”

Adams’ defensive growth is a big benefit to the Cardinals because it means bringing him into a game isn’t offering up offense at the cost of defense. The young man, called ‘Big City’ by his teammates, is the whole package.

“He really moves well,” Matheny said. “You talk to Jose Oquendo, and he really likes the way [Adams] catches the ball, the way he moves, his first step, and just his instincts over there.”

Don’t be misled by his relaxed, country demeanor either. Adams has a sharp baseball mind. He doesn’t just show up at the park with his bat hoping to smash home runs―he does his homework.

That’s not easy for a guy who doesn’t know if he will be playing from one game to the next.

“I just come to the park, get my workout in the gym, go down to the cage and get my early swings in and then hit the video room,” Adams said of his normal afternoon routine.

That’s his everyday routine. It goes different directions, however, depending on whether he’s starting or will be working off of the bench.

“I check to see if my name is in the lineup and then check out the starter that day,” he said. “If my name’s not in the lineup, I just go through the bullpen and see what their pitchers’ tendencies are.”

Adams checks out each reliever’s individual pitches and when they like to use them. He wants to know what they will throw to a left-handed batter on a 2-2 count before the pitcher knows.

So far, it’s worked for him.

The humble 23-year-old from Philipsburg, Penn. is quick to divert the credit for his accomplishments to those who help him every day.

“Our staff as a whole has a lot of guys who had great MLB careers and know a lot about the game,” Adams said. “So, I mean it’s rubbing off on the players and you can see it. The guys take to the field, play their best and want to get the ‘W’ that night.”

For him, that means working hard to stay fresh both offensively and defensively.

“I just keep taking ground balls,” he said. “So, the days I’m not in there, I just have to stay fresh with that so the glove stays smooth, and I’m ready for when the games pick up.”

Adams’ swing has been smooth from day one. That’s partly due to his maturity as a hitter. Adams is not a power hitter―he’s a consistent hitter who has serious power.

That can carry a player a long way in this league.

One thing is certain. If he keeps it up, ‘Big City’ won’t be headed back to the country any time soon.

All quotes obtained firsthand.

Follow @coreynoles

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The St. Louis Cardinals will spend Independence Day in 2013 remembering the day Albert Pujols became independent from their team.

This week’s three-game series against the Anaheim Angels will mark the first time ever that the Cardinals will take the field against the man once deemed to be the organization’s successor to Stan Musial.

His departure sent Cardinals Nation reeling as fans wondered how the team would get by without their superstar first baseman. The answer to that question has been quite obvious: just fine.

The Cardinals weathered not only the loss of Pujols, but the absence of iconic manager Tony La Russa and longtime pitching coach Dave Duncan as well.

No one could have predicted that in the year after those three losses and during the rookie season of manager Mike Matheny, the Cardinals would come to within one win of their second World Series appearance in as many seasons.

Despite the fact that there were seriously hurt feelings on both sides when Pujols left, the chance to play against him for the first time should bring about a sense of nostalgia.

Sure, most were upset to see him go, but at the same time, we should remember that during the Pujols era, the Cardinals saw more amazing feats accomplished than some organizations see in a lifetime.

Following are 10 of the top highlights from Pujols’ career as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals.

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The Texas Rangers (42-32) defeated the St. Louis Cardinals (47-37) 6-4 at Busch Stadium on Friday night.

Neal Cotts (4-1) earned the win in relief, Trevor Rosenthal (1-1) suffered his first loss and Joe Nathan tallied his 23rd save of the season.

Nelson Cruz led the way with three RBI and Derek Holland recovered from a rough start to throw seven innings and receive a no-decision.

Holland gave up four runs on four hits in the first two innings, but would settle down and retire the final 12 hitters he faced. He walked three and struck out four in a strong finish. He also went 0-for-2 at the plate with a walk and a run scored.

Tyler Lyons started for the Cardinals but only lasted 1.2 innings giving up four runs on three hits with three walks. Lyons is now winless in his last four starts. The Cardinals have the best record in baseball, but are just 5-5 in their last 10.

Allen Craig added a two-run double to increase his season total to 57 RBI. Carlos Beltran earned his 46th RBI in the first inning, but flew out to the wall in left-center field to end the game.

This was the Rangers’ first regular season trip to Busch Stadium and the first since Game 7 of the 2011 World Series.

The Rangers lost games six and seven in Busch Stadium en route to their second consecutive World Series loss. It was the Cardinals’ 11th World Series title.

Saturday’s Game 2 is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. and features Martin Perez (0-1) against Shelby Miller (8-4).

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With the MLB First-Year Player Draft set to kick off Thursday evening, the St. Louis Cardinals are no doubt busy with their own mock drafts.

Touted for several years now as having one of the best farm systems in the MLB, the Cardinals‘ front office takes its drafts quite seriously.

The Cardinals have already seen a glimpse of what their top pick from 2012 can do at the major league level. Now it’s on to the future.

Will the Cardinals continue their tradition of chasing pitching in early rounds or will they find themselves in search of a position player?

Either way, the Cardinals could see the need to address multiple issues including pitching, middle infield depth and even replenishing outfield prospects with Oscar Taveras expected to be on the big league roster before season’s end.

Following are two picks the Cardinals could find themselves chasing on draft day and what makes them the right choice.

Round 1 (Pick 19)

Name: Chris Anderson

Position: RHP

School: Jacksonville University

Ht./Wt.: 6’4”/225 lbs.

Why this pick fits? Traditionally, especially after the steal they made with the 19^th pick in 2012, one could easily expect the Cardinals to snag another power arm that is reasonably close to being major league ready.

There’s little reason to expect them to stray from a plan that seems to be working. If by some chance he’s still available, 20-year-old Chris Anderson would be a good fit.

Anderson projects as a possible number two starter at the major league level. He has solid low-mid-90s fastball velocity with a sinker that could be his meal ticket to the big leagues.

The real question with Anderson is whether he will still be in the mix at 19. If he is, he may very well be their first pick-up.

Round 1 (Pick 28)

Name: Eric Jagielo

Position: 3B

School: Notre Dame

Ht./Wt.: 6’3”/215 lbs.

Why this pick fits? For their second pick in the first round Thursday evening, the Cardinals may well need to look toward something other than high-end pitching talent.

With Kolten Wong nearing his rise to the major leagues, Pete Kozma cementing his place on the big league roster and Matt Carpenter’s All-Star worthy early season performance, the Cardinals are getting thin on top notch infield talent.

Eric Jagielo could be the perfect fit for the team’s direction for the future. While there is a lot of contention regarding where he could be drafted, there’s no doubt this left-handed power bat could find his future in St. Louis.

There has been some debate about his glove, particularly at third base, but his bat makes him a viable candidate in the outfield or even at first base.

Regardless, the Cardinals could stand to start replenishing some minor league power and Jagielo, if he’s still around for the Cardinals second first round pick (28), may be just the man they need.

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The St. Louis Cardinals entered the quarter-season mark of 2013 with the best record in baseball.

To say that exceeds the expectations of some is quite the understatement. Many, arguably most, baseball writers had the Cincinnati Reds picked as clear favorites to win the National League Central Division.

With the Cardinals estimated to end the season in the 85-win range, the fact that the team has amassed 25 wins by May 15 puts them well above expectations.

While it is extremely early to be thinking about the end of the season, the Cardinals are currently on pace to win 100 games.

Will they keep up this pace? That remains to be seen.

Every team has its slumps and streaks—the 2013 Cardinals will be no exception. Remember, even a team with an amazing 102-win record still loses 60 games a year.

With that said, the Cardinals have a lot of things on their side in 2013—most notably, their depth.

That depth has made all of the difference in where the Cardinals find themselves in the standings in mid-May.

Following is a breakdown grading the Cardinals on each aspect of their game.

All stats gathered from MLB.com.

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A broken-bat bloop from Colorado Rockies right fielder Eric Young Jr. is the only thing that separated Shelby Miller from a perfect game Friday night.

The St. Louis Cardinals No. 5 starter got his fifth win, but that statement doesn’t even touch the gravity of his performance.

Miller dominated from the moment he took the mound. He owned the entire strike zone with ridiculous control and maintained his velocity through all 113 pitches, topping out with a four-seam fastball clocked at 97 mph.

He didn’t look like a 22-year-old rookie who was still a little rough around the edges. He looked like a seasoned veteran, well-poised and on a mission.

As Miller stepped back onto the field for the final three outs of a game many big league pitchers will never experience, you could sense the energy. His team wanted it for him as much as he wanted it for himself.

In the end, he sent 27 straight batters back to the bench with their heads hanging low.

While he’s only made seven starts this season, Miller is the real deal, and he’s just getting started.

Friday’s start showed people outside of St. Louis that this kid is the top early contender for NL Rookie of the Year honors.

Here are a few notes regarding Miller’s early-season performance and why it’s time to take notice.

Low ERA

On the surface, finishing with a 1.58 ERA may not be a big shock early in the season, but major league hitters simply aren’t hitting him.

Even when they do hit him, they’re not stringing together hits. As a result, in 45.2 innings, he’s given up only eight earned runs on 29 hits.

In Friday night’s game, the frustration in the eyes of the batters said everything you need to know about Miller’s start to the season.

Walk-to-Strikeout Rate

Miller has racked up only 11 walks to go with 51 strikeouts. That point I mentioned a moment ago? This number also illustrates it quite well.

While strikeout pitchers haven’t been the norm for the Cardinals in recent years, they definitely have one in Miller. The lesson on pitching to contact was one Miller must have missed.

His 13 strikeout performance tied an all-time Cardinals record for most K’s in a game by a rookie.

While the strikeout numbers are flashy and fun to look at, the walk total says a lot about this young man’s control. He keeps the ball over the plate but works the corners well.

On a side note, of his 11 walks, four of them came in his first start of 2013. He has only seven over the remaining six starts.

That’s crazy good.

Deep Pitch Counts

Miller has crossed 100 pitches four times so far, and thrown 113 pitches three times.

Even on the occasions that he didn’t go deep into a start, Miller is still getting deep pitch counts.

Never this season has Miller thrown less than 95 pitches in a start. Sure, strikeout pitchers will throw more, but a rookie who is averaging more than 100 pitches per start is the exception and not the rule.

This isn’t a trend I would expect him to keep up all season, because the Cardinals don’t want him to run out of gas too early. However, there has been no talk of an innings limit or a need to shorten his appearances.

So far in 2013, manager Mike Matheny has shown a strong willingness to let his pitchers go deep into games. Some of that has to do with bullpen concerns early in the season, but it must have more to do with a strong faith in his pitchers.

He depends on them (and catcher Yadier Molina) to let him know when it’s time to sit down. If they tell him they’re good to go, he’s taking them at their word.

It seems to be working—and Miller is responding to that trust.

Team Respect

Miller knows the role his team plays in his success, and he respects it. The reputation that arrived in St. Louis ahead of Shelby Miller didn’t lend one to expect a humble young man who knows his place, but that’s exactly what we’ve seen from him.

In postgame interviews, Miller doesn’t spend much time talking about “his” performance and “his” control. He does, however, love to talk about “his” catcher, Yadier Molina.

The right-handed rookie from Houston knows that there is much more to this game than just what he brings to the table. He always credits Molina, even before himself, with every win.

He’s quickly learned the true value of an elite catcher, and it’s helping him grow as a pitcher.

With that said, Miller deserves the credit for Friday night. A catcher can put down fingers all night, but if the pitcher misses his location, the team doesn’t win.

It’s as simple as that.

All that said, don’t expect him to keep up this pace all year. Even the great ones have their struggles from time to time, so to expect a rookie to keep this up isn’t realistic. Or is it?

Regardless, after Friday’s start, there’s simply no debating Shelby Miller is the clear front-runner in the NL Rookie of the Year race.

Kudos to Miller for one of the greatest starting pitching performances I’ve witnessed—ever. Something tells me we’ll be seeing a lot of fireworks in St. Louis during this young man’s career.

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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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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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As the St. Louis Cardinals reflect on the unfinished business of 2012, they have to feel proud and disappointed at the same time.  Being one win from the World Series was not something Cardinals fans thought would have been possible in mid-August.

However, the Cardinals showed their teeth like a back-alley Rottweiler and made their push into the playoffs.  Now as 2013 is upon us, the Cardinals are poised to improve on their 88-74 record from last season.

The Cardinals have a lot going for them.  Keith Law of ESPN ranked their farm system as the best in baseball. They are rich with talent and have flexibility when it comes to settling on a rotation with all the young arms in the cupboard.

It is my opinion that the Cardinals opening day rotation will be as follows:

1. Wainwright
2. Garcia
3. Westbrook
4. Lynn
5. Miller

That leaves the bullpen in a strong position.  Joe Kelly and Trevor Rosenthal are being given an opportunity to nail down the fifth starter spot, but they will most likely end up in the bullpen.  The bullpen was a sore spot last season. But with the addition of Kelly and Rosenthal to the bullpen and adding them to Mitchell Boggs and Jason Motte, the bullpen should be a strength this year.  

The 2013 version of the Cardinals offense should also be a bright spot.  It has been suggested by Derrick Goold of The St. Louis Post-Disptach that the Cardinals also boast baseball’s best offense coming into 2013.  The Cardinals return five hitters—Beltran, Freese, Holliday, Craig, and Molina—who all hit 20 or more home runs last season.

It is not out of the realm of possibility that Beltran, Holliday and Craig will all crush 30 or more home runs this season.  Knocking at the door and chomping for an opportunity to bring some offense to St. Louis is phenom Oscar Tavares.  

Tavares has impressed so far in spring training.  He is hitting .292 with six RBIs in seven games.  He crushed a grand slam last week against the Miami Marlins and has shown he deserves a longer look. Bernie Miklasz of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch makes the case for Taveras to make the opening day roster.

The only real issue hanging out there for the Cardinals is the middle infield.  It has been reported that Rafael Furcal is not progressing with his elbow injury.  Playoff hero from last season, Pete Kozma, may be the everyday guy at shortstop to start the season.

Second base is wide open as well. Prospect Kolten Wong is getting a long look, but so far hasn’t hit well in spring training.

Thus far Wong is batting .200 in his 15 spring training at-bats.  Hopefully he’ll turn it around, otherwise he’ll be at AAA Memphis to start the season.  At this point, either Daniel Descalso or Matt Carpenter will find their way into the lineup starting at second before it’s all said and done.

So to sum it all up, once the middle infield is solidified, the Cardinals don’t really have any holes. Which leads me back to the article heading.  What will the Cardinals record be this season?

With a much better than average starting rotation, a lineup that should produce a ton of runs and a bullpen that can hold a lead, the Cardinals should finish 96-66 and win the NL Central.

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