Don’t look now, but for baseball fans spring training is here and that means if you are a Cardinal fan the question is, what next?
Next, because there is never a dull moment when it comes to the Cardinals and spring training. Be it an injury, loss of a player to free agency or what have you, it is always a good time for Redbird fans to set their hair on fire and panic that the season is in jeopardy when there has not been one run scored that counts for anything.
This season the festivities started earlier with the announcement that the Cardinals will be without veteran pitcher Chris Carpenter for the season due to a lingering nerve issue that saw him sidelined most of last season. While he has been put on the disabled list, there is little optimism that the 37-year-old hurler will pitch in a Cardinal uniform ever again.
There is a silver lining here. If there is one thing the Cardinals have it is pitching – a ton of it, to be honest with you. While they may be young and some got some big-time experience last season, most will tell you this is the organization’s strong suit as we have learned that good pitching is always in demand. Even with the unpredictable, predictable injury that is sure to strike, St. Louis is in better shape than most teams.
Carpenter being on the disabled list could even prove to be a positive as he will still be able to mentor the younger talent in their first full season of being on the front line.
Carpenter: done with knife
For Chris Carpenter it has been one problem after another. He battled to get back and contribute last season after having his eighth surgery. This off-season he thought the worst was behind him, until he started to throw off a mound.
“I started to have a tingling sensation like I did last season,” Carpenter said. “What made matters worse the fact that I had swelling in my hand and it started to turn blue and red, At that point I knew there was a problem.” That was an understatement. At that point Carpenter notified General Manager John Mozaliek that he was not going to spring training until he figured out just what was going on.
“I will wait for all the physicals to take place in spring training and when the doctors get back we will sit down and see what we have here,” said Carpenter. When the question was posed what if it requires another surgery, Carpenter abruptly responded that he was not going to have any further surgeries. That’s certainly understandable, considering the number of times he has gone under the knife and at age 37. One would have to wonder what truly left would be left after another surgery.
One thing Carpenter wanted to make perfectly clear is that he is not retiring. At least not for now. “I will never use that word,” Carpenter said of retiring. He intends to stay in shape and spend time with his family until there is a resolution to the problem. In the meantime, life and the Cardinals will go on as there is a season to be played.
Who’s on second?
The other question: who will be the second baseman? There are at least four players competing for the spot.
The talk of the camp will be of young outfield sensation in Oscar Tavares. Tavares has torn it up at every level in the minors. He has been on every championship team he has played on in the minors. To say he has the title of “can’t miss” would be a reasonable statement. At age 20 he may be ready, but Cardinal manager Mike Matheny will certainly make him earn it as he is old-school when it comes to a player earning the right to be a big leaguer.
In all, the National League will be stronger. Washington loaded up as did Cincinnati. Need I mention the stockpile of talent that Magic Johnson and company have amassed with the Dodgers? Throw in the fact that the Giants are the World Champions and the team to really watch is the Atlanta Braves.
The Braves will run out three African Americans in their outfield for the first time in recent memory. You may have to go back to the early ‘80s when the Montreal Expos played Warren Cromartie, Ellis Valentine and Hall of Famer Andre Dawson.
In any event the Upton Brothers (Justin and BJ) along with Jason Heyward will be more than formidable. As for other teams to pay attention to, Arizona may be interesting, the Pirates will be fun, and there are some other teams that are on the cusp of making a statement to move up in the rankings.
In all this baseball season will not be boring by any means. Yes, spring has sprung and it will be worth our attention.
