St. Louis Cardinals 2008 review and look ahead

Sep 24, 2008 - 10:52 AM By Ed Kacik PA SportsTicker Staff Writer

Albert Pujols is the St. Louis Cardinals' megastar. The first baseman's glow is so bright others can't help but shine.

Unfortunately, not even Pujols' immense talent was enough to carry the Cardinals to the playoffs in 2008. But St. Louis still can be happy with its season.

Pujols had another stellar campaign and is likely headed for his second National League MVP Award after carrying the team to the brink of contention all the way through to the beginning of September. He could be playing in October if some of his teammates had a little more experience.

Players such as Ryan Ludwick, Skip Schumaker and Rick Ankiel made their mark this season, playing nearly well enough in the outfield to catapult the team to the playoffs.

If these players can find consistency and the pitching staff can avoid injuries, the Cardinals will be back in the hunt before long.

WHAT WENT WRONG?: The Cardinals struggled to overcome inexperience in the field and injuries to the pitching staff, but got a great view of the future in 2008.

Ludwick was outstanding, batting .294 with 35 home runs and 106 RBI, and was named an All-Star for the first time. He appeared to run out of gas, though, as he played in more games this year than in his previous four seasons in the majors.

The 30-year-old right fielder is batting .217 (18-for-83) over the last 23 games with three homers and nine RBI at a time when St. Louis needs to shift into overdrive.

The same can be said of Schumaker, who is hitting .253 (17-for-67) in the final month of the regular season but owns a .303 average overall.

Ankiel, who is in his first full season as a position player after retiring as a pitcher before the start of the 2005 season, has struggled with various injuries and was shut down by the team last week. He logged 25 homers and 71 RBI in 120 games.

Injuries have limited 2005 National League Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter to four games - three starts. Likewise with Mark Mulder, whose career appears to be over after battling left arm trouble and undergoing several surgeries over the last three seasons.

Adam Wainwright, the team's closer during their 2006 championship run who returned to the rotation last season, missed nearly 2 1/2 months with a sprained right middle finger.

Closer Jason Isringhausen was inconsistent at best before his season ended when he went on the disabled list August 22 with a torn tendon in his right elbow. Overall, Cardinals relievers blew 30 saves.

MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: Mulder is not only the most disappointing player this season, but has been a ghost in the clubhouse over the last three years due to injury.

Mulder, 31, was acquired from the Oakland Athletics before 2005 for a package of players that included current Arizona Diamondbacks No. 2 starter Dan Haren, reliever Kiko Calero and current A's first baseman Daric Barton.

Looking back, the Cardinals probably wish they never made the trade.

Mulder has made 21 starts since going 16-8 with a 3.64 ERA in 32 outings during his first season in St. Louis.

Despite having his 2006 campaign cut short when a left shoulder impingement required surgery, the Cardinals signed Mulder to two-year, $13 million contract that offseason. It turned out to be a huge mistake, as Mulder made three September starts in 2007 and had to undergo further surgery before 2008, this time on his rotator cuff.

Mulder made two unspectacular relief appearances this season before suffering a left shoulder strain that ended his campaign on July 9.

BEST PLAYER: Pujols unquestionably gets the nod here as he is arguably the best player in baseball.

Pujols began the season amid debate as he chose to put off surgery on his chronically injured right elbow. The seven-time All-Star was told he needed a "Tommy John" reconstructive procedure to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament, bone spurs, arthritis and swelling in his elbow.

He opted for treatment instead, knowing the surgery would end his campaign before it started.

If Pujols is laboring, it's not showing. He ranks second in the majors with a .350 average and has hit 34 home runs. Pujols also has 108 RBI, going over the 100-mark during each of his eight seasons in the majors.

The accolades go on for Pujols, who missed 16 days with a strained left calf. He ranks second in the NL with a .453 on-base percentage and has 100 walks - second-most in the league.

REASON TO BELIEVE: The Cardinals have all the right pieces to make a push for the playoffs in 2009.

Kyle Lohse was St. Louis' most consistent starter, going 15-6 with a 3.78 ERA with 119 strikeouts in 33 starts during his first season with the team. A free agent in the offseason, the Cardinals should make a strong push to re-sign the 29-year-old righthander over the winter.

Another pleasant surprise in 2008 was righthander Todd Wellemeyer, who went 12-9 with a 3.69 ERA in his first full season as starter.

Pujols will continue to be a force in the middle of the Cardinals' lineup for years to come and will get an added boost after players like Schumaker, Ludwick and Ankiel find their niche.

Wainwright should be back at full strength by next season and will likely join Carpenter to form a lethal 1-2 punch in the rotation - a boost St. Louis believed it was getting this year before the injury bug took a bite out of the team.

FUTURE BRIGHTNESS: The Cardinals don't have the most impressive farm system in the majors but have plenty of key players that are ready to break through.

With Isringhausen's best days in the past, expect Chris Perez to lock down the closer's role full-time in 2009. Perez was named the closer late this season after winning the job over Ryan Franklin.

The 23-year-old righthander posted a 3.66 ERA and logged seven saves in 11 chances. He struck out 39 in 39 1/3 innings while appearing in 38 games.

Mitchell Boggs is another impressive righthander working his way through the minors. He went 9-3 with a 3.45 ERA in 21 starts for the Class AAA Memphis Redbirds.

Injuries forced the 24-year-old into the Cardinals' rotation probably before he was ready. Boggs posted a 3-2 record with a 7.41 ERA in eight appearances - six starts - and may need more time develop.

Center fielder Colby Rasmus is one of the most promising prospects in the game and could push Ankiel to right and Schumaker into a platoon role as soon as spring training. After being ranked as the No. 5 prospect in the game by Baseball America entering the season, the 22-year-old Rasmus hit .252 with 12 homers at three different minor league levels.

The club's top pick from the 2008 draft, third baseman Brett Wallace, rocketed all the way to Class AA in his first taste of professional baseball and could get a look in the majors by the end of 2009.

Third baseman Allen Craig also enjoyed a good year down on the Cardinals' farm. Craig, 24, batted .304 with 22 homers and 85 RBI in 129 games for Class AA Springfield. He added 30 doubles and a .373 on-base percentage.