Major League Baseball Special: What to expect from St. Louis Cardinals in 2012...?
Last year’s World Series Champions, the St. Louis Cardinals are once again roaring and feeling optimistic for the next Major League Baseball season. No one in the MLB and outside as well guessed as the Cardinals will go all the way and win the title. The Wild Card qualifiers, the Cardinals stunned their critics by crushing the Texas Rangers in their finals best-of-seven clash.
This year once again the Cardinals are preparing for the title shot. Their active 40-man roster is looking in great shape as they also just completed their 2012 Major League Spring Training. The Cardinals’ 2012 projected line-up includes some of the best hitters in the game. Yadier Molina along with Lance Berkman, Tyler Greene, Rafael Furcal, David Freese, Matt Holliday, Jon Jay and Carlos Beltran are warming up for the big event.
Though the Cardinals have not yet announced their probable line-up for the next MLB season, but these players in some baseball experts’ view will be making their way into the regular season for sure. On the other hand, their 2012 rotation includes Chris Carpenter with Adam Wainwright, Kyle Lohse, Jaime Garcia and Jake Westbrook.
Some two weeks ago a former international baseball player and current agent with the condition of anonymity told the local media in St. Louis that the Cardinals’ key to success in this particular season will be their rotation. Though hitters also play an important role in any team’s consistent success, but this time around the Cardinals need some well crafted pitchers who can lead the way forward.
Another factor of bullpen outlook will also determine the level of consistency in the Cardinals franchise. Like last year, the bullpen is not much different, but with new manager Mike Matheny, it will be slight difficult to show good and consistent output. However, Matheny, after taking charge has showed his commitment with the recent stint in the Spring Training.
Recently he has also said in the media and told the reporters about the way he is looking towards things and how he will try his best to compete well in the next season. Matheny said, "I've got a job to do, and for me to get focused on trying to be somebody else, it's a waste of all our time, You can talk about pressure, you can talk about whatever you want, and it can become a distraction to these guys if it's continually jammed down their throat." If you want to sit and dwell on all these other issues, all these different ideals that you can conjure up, you're going to be worthless, So, I'm not going that way.”
Experts believe that the only damaging thing that happened lately to the Cardinals was Albert Pujols’ signing with Los Angeles during the offseason. Pujols was comfortable here with the Cardinals, but demanded a long term contract with the team. The Cardinals management never considered him a long term player and decided not to sign while eventually he left the franchise joining anther for his better future.
On contrary to Albert Pujols’ signing with the Angels, the overall situation in the Cardinals’ franchise seem normal and they are on right track hoping for a good beginning once again.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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