2012 MLB: Amid seeming uncertainty, Cardinals kick off the season – Part 1
This is a series of seven articles on the St. Louis Cardinals' performance in 2012 Major League Baseball season.
The 2012 Major League Baseball might not have an eminently resounding conclusion for the St. Louis Cardinals. However, the ability to thread their way through the post-season games after a seemingly tumultuous start manifested the clear distinction the Redbirds have as a competing rival.
After all, they had won the World Series title the past year after beating the Texas Rangers in a hardly fought best-of-seven games. The 2012 season kicked off with the Opening Day encounter against the Miami Marlins on April 4.
The past year, they had a 90-72 record, fighting for the Wild Card berth. All the same, they had second finish in the National League Central as they won the 11th World Series title, they were a force to reckon with this year.
However, like stated above, theirs was a start which was probably not as forceful as was being predicted. That which did not go to the Cardinals’ favour was the ace pitcher Chris Carpenter’s being out of the line-up as he was to undergo Tommy John surgery.
Carpenter had proven his credentials as an ever dependable starter in 2011, emboldening the rotation and making it one of the strongest in the league. In 34 starts that he had, he maintained 3.45 ERA, having an 11-9 record.
But his ability to completely alter the outlook of the post-season games for the Cardinals was what made a significant difference. Having been a productive starter, he was being touted as equally instrumental part of pitching this year. That did not materialise, though.
With him being out, the way Adam Wainwright was out from the whole season due to the same Tommy John surgery, the Cardinals appeared quite vulnerable as far as the rotation was concerned.
Carpenter seemed mentally prepared for the challenges this year:
“I think the toughest thing this year is going to be to continue to do what I did last year, and that's being mentally strong every fifth day and to be able to be consistent. Am I going to win as many games? I don't know. But I believe the mental part of the game, if I continue to do the things I did last year, the success I had was because of that.”
But little did he realise what lay ahead. Diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome, he was to be out of the lineup– as it was initially told, for rest of the season. That brought about an uncertainty that had to be dealt with ably least it would render the rotation completely vulnerable.
Continued..
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