Starting Lineup
RF Skip Schumaker: put together a solid season as a first-time starter in the majors, posting a .302 BA, .359 OBP, 8 HR, and 8 SB; could also move to 2B, which would open up a spot for top prospect Colby Rasmus
CF Rick Ankiel: showed big-time power in hitting 25 HR's in 413 AB's; could be traded or moved to a corner OF spot to accommodate team's top prospect, Rasmus, whenever he is ready
1B Albert Pujols: arguably the best hitter in the majors owns two NL MVP awards and 319 HR's at age 29
LF Ryan Ludwick: has hit 51 HR's and knocked in 165 runs in 841 AB's in two seasons with the Cards
SS Khalil Greene: reliable defender struggled offensively in '08 (.213 BA, 10 HR, 22 BB, 100 K) but he averaged 18 HR's, 72 RBI's, and a .256 BA over the previous four seasons
3B David Freese: 26 year-old had a big season in AAA (.306 BA, 26 HR, 91 RBI) but is stuck behind Troy Glaus and the team's #2 prospect, Brett Wallace, is also a 3B; However, he'll get a shot to at least start the season in St. Louis with Glaus on the DL
C Yadier Molina: 2008 gold glove winner can also hit (.304 BA, 7 HR, 56 RBI)
2B Brendan Ryan: 26 year-old played 2B, SS, 3B, and OF for the Cards in '08 while hitting .244 with 7 SB's; likely starter at 2B unless the Cards sign Orlando Hudson or if Rasmus proves he's ready, which could push Schumaker to 2B
Bench
C Jason LaRue: will continue to be Molina's backup after a season in which he hit just .213 but threw out 8-of-21 attempted base stealers
IF Joe Thurston: signed to a minor-league deal after hitting .315 with 11 HR's and 19 SB's in AAA Pawtucket, he'll also be in the mix for the starting 2B job
UTL Joe Mather: played all 3 OF positions in '08 as well as a few games at 1B and 3B; hit 8 HR's in 133 AB's for the Cards in '08 and 17 HR's in 211 AB's in AAA
OF Chris Duncan: looks like the odd man out in a crowded OF after hitting just 6 HR's in 222 AB's in '08
IF Brian Barden: hit .285 with 9 HR's in AAA Memphis in 2008 and was 2-for-9 after a late-season call up
Disabled List
3B Troy Glaus: caught fire to finish the season with 27 HR's after hitting only 3 HR's in April and May; will start the season on the DL after shoulder surgery
Starting Rotation
RHP Adam Wainwright: 27 year-old was 11-3 with a 3.20 ERA in 20 starts in 2008
RHP Kyle Lohse: had his best season in 2008 with a 15-6 record and 3.78 ERA, his first sub-4.00 ERA in his 8-year ML career
RHP Todd Wellemeyer: another guy that made pitching coach Dave Duncan look like a genius, winning 13 games and posting a 3.71 ERA in his first full season after being converted to a starter
RHP Joel Pineiro: had a 6.05 ERA in the 2nd half of '08 while opponents batted .317 against him
RHP Brad Thompson: swingman could also move to the bullpen if Chris Carpenter makes a healthy comeback to the rotation
Bullpen
RHP Chris Perez: it appears as though the Cards will try to fill the closer role internally and Perez will likely get a shot after saving 7 games and posting a 3.46 ERA in 2008
RHP Ryan Franklin: former starter has had success as a reliever with the Cardinals; he'll likely move to a middle-relief role after saving 17 games in '08
LHP Trever Miller: journeyman posted a 4.15 ERA in 68 games with the AL Champion Rays in 2008
RHP Kyle McClellan: hadn't pitched above AA before winning a spot in the Cardinal bullpen last season, posting a 4.04 ERA and 2-7 record
RHP Josh Kinney: was nearly perfect in seven appearances (7 IP, 0 R, 3 H, BB, 8 K) after missing nearly two seasons with elbow injuries
LHP Royce Ring: former 1st round pick joins his 5th organization and will serve as a lefty specialist
RHP Jason Motte: converted catcher can throw in the high 90's and could be the closer of the future
Other Roster Candidates
RHP Chris Carpenter: 2005 NL Cy Young winner has missed most of the past two seasons with elbow trouble and is preparing for a return to the rotation as early as opening day; LaRussa has mentioned the possibility of using Carpenter as a closer when he returns
RHP Mitchell Boggs: struggled in 6 mid-season starts (7.55 ERA) for the Cards but was very good in AAA with a 9-3 record and 3.45 ERA
RHP Jess Todd: team's #4 prospect, according to BA, will battle for the #5 spot in spring training but will probably benefit from spending at least a half-season in AAA
RHP Clayton Mortensen: team's #6 prospect, according to BA, will also get a look in spring training before likely starting the season in AAA
RHP P.J. Walters: 23 year-old was 9-4 with a 4.87 ERA in AAA but had 122 K's in 122 IP
LHP Charlie Manning: limited lefties to a .203 BA in 2008 while pitching for the Nationals
OF Colby Rasmus: team's top prospect is a five-tool player that will likely force his way onto the roster at some point in 2009
OF Brian Barton: rule V pick in 2008 held his own in his rookie season, batting .268 with a .354 OBP in 153 AB's
IF Jarrett Hoffpauir: 25 year-old second baseman hit .273 with a .352 OBP and 31 doubles in AAA last season
RF Skip Schumaker: put together a solid season as a first-time starter in the majors, posting a .302 BA, .359 OBP, 8 HR, and 8 SB; could also move to 2B, which would open up a spot for top prospect Colby Rasmus
CF Rick Ankiel: showed big-time power in hitting 25 HR's in 413 AB's; could be traded or moved to a corner OF spot to accommodate team's top prospect, Rasmus, whenever he is ready
1B Albert Pujols: arguably the best hitter in the majors owns two NL MVP awards and 319 HR's at age 29
LF Ryan Ludwick: has hit 51 HR's and knocked in 165 runs in 841 AB's in two seasons with the Cards
SS Khalil Greene: reliable defender struggled offensively in '08 (.213 BA, 10 HR, 22 BB, 100 K) but he averaged 18 HR's, 72 RBI's, and a .256 BA over the previous four seasons
3B David Freese: 26 year-old had a big season in AAA (.306 BA, 26 HR, 91 RBI) but is stuck behind Troy Glaus and the team's #2 prospect, Brett Wallace, is also a 3B; However, he'll get a shot to at least start the season in St. Louis with Glaus on the DL
C Yadier Molina: 2008 gold glove winner can also hit (.304 BA, 7 HR, 56 RBI)
2B Brendan Ryan: 26 year-old played 2B, SS, 3B, and OF for the Cards in '08 while hitting .244 with 7 SB's; likely starter at 2B unless the Cards sign Orlando Hudson or if Rasmus proves he's ready, which could push Schumaker to 2B
Bench
C Jason LaRue: will continue to be Molina's backup after a season in which he hit just .213 but threw out 8-of-21 attempted base stealers
IF Joe Thurston: signed to a minor-league deal after hitting .315 with 11 HR's and 19 SB's in AAA Pawtucket, he'll also be in the mix for the starting 2B job
UTL Joe Mather: played all 3 OF positions in '08 as well as a few games at 1B and 3B; hit 8 HR's in 133 AB's for the Cards in '08 and 17 HR's in 211 AB's in AAA
OF Chris Duncan: looks like the odd man out in a crowded OF after hitting just 6 HR's in 222 AB's in '08
IF Brian Barden: hit .285 with 9 HR's in AAA Memphis in 2008 and was 2-for-9 after a late-season call up
Disabled List
3B Troy Glaus: caught fire to finish the season with 27 HR's after hitting only 3 HR's in April and May; will start the season on the DL after shoulder surgery
Starting Rotation
RHP Adam Wainwright: 27 year-old was 11-3 with a 3.20 ERA in 20 starts in 2008
RHP Kyle Lohse: had his best season in 2008 with a 15-6 record and 3.78 ERA, his first sub-4.00 ERA in his 8-year ML career
RHP Todd Wellemeyer: another guy that made pitching coach Dave Duncan look like a genius, winning 13 games and posting a 3.71 ERA in his first full season after being converted to a starter
RHP Joel Pineiro: had a 6.05 ERA in the 2nd half of '08 while opponents batted .317 against him
RHP Brad Thompson: swingman could also move to the bullpen if Chris Carpenter makes a healthy comeback to the rotation
Bullpen
RHP Chris Perez: it appears as though the Cards will try to fill the closer role internally and Perez will likely get a shot after saving 7 games and posting a 3.46 ERA in 2008
RHP Ryan Franklin: former starter has had success as a reliever with the Cardinals; he'll likely move to a middle-relief role after saving 17 games in '08
LHP Trever Miller: journeyman posted a 4.15 ERA in 68 games with the AL Champion Rays in 2008
RHP Kyle McClellan: hadn't pitched above AA before winning a spot in the Cardinal bullpen last season, posting a 4.04 ERA and 2-7 record
RHP Josh Kinney: was nearly perfect in seven appearances (7 IP, 0 R, 3 H, BB, 8 K) after missing nearly two seasons with elbow injuries
LHP Royce Ring: former 1st round pick joins his 5th organization and will serve as a lefty specialist
RHP Jason Motte: converted catcher can throw in the high 90's and could be the closer of the future
Other Roster Candidates
RHP Chris Carpenter: 2005 NL Cy Young winner has missed most of the past two seasons with elbow trouble and is preparing for a return to the rotation as early as opening day; LaRussa has mentioned the possibility of using Carpenter as a closer when he returns
RHP Mitchell Boggs: struggled in 6 mid-season starts (7.55 ERA) for the Cards but was very good in AAA with a 9-3 record and 3.45 ERA
RHP Jess Todd: team's #4 prospect, according to BA, will battle for the #5 spot in spring training but will probably benefit from spending at least a half-season in AAA
RHP Clayton Mortensen: team's #6 prospect, according to BA, will also get a look in spring training before likely starting the season in AAA
RHP P.J. Walters: 23 year-old was 9-4 with a 4.87 ERA in AAA but had 122 K's in 122 IP
LHP Charlie Manning: limited lefties to a .203 BA in 2008 while pitching for the Nationals
OF Colby Rasmus: team's top prospect is a five-tool player that will likely force his way onto the roster at some point in 2009
OF Brian Barton: rule V pick in 2008 held his own in his rookie season, batting .268 with a .354 OBP in 153 AB's
IF Jarrett Hoffpauir: 25 year-old second baseman hit .273 with a .352 OBP and 31 doubles in AAA last season
