What a differance a year makes

In August of '06 I took the family to Pittsburgh to watch a fustrated and weak team get swept by the Pirates. That team ended up world champions. This year we returned to Pittsburgh and saw a weak and fustrated team sweep the Pirates. By the way we went back to Pittsburgh because it is that beautiful! I suggest you go if you have not been.

 I saw some things that gave me hope for next year.

Wellemeyer: I think he pitched well enough to be in the rotation next year. That's right I said it. Well, at least until Mulder/Carp are ready.

Adam Wainwright started out shakey but settled down and got the win. That showed maturity and guts.

Ryan Ludwick took Morgan's double off the wall on the track and almost over threw Eckstein on the SS side of second base. Eck had to leap and extend fully to catch the ball. I bet Ryan could have reached third on one hop. He has a cannon, he can hit, he makes the outfield much better. Duncan, Edmonds, Ankiel with Ludwick and Schumaker on the bench. Our outfield is set, and improved.

 Last year when I suggested moving Duncan all I heard was "How can you trade the pitching coach's son?" Now we do have depth in the outfield in the minors and other than Rasmus we have trading chips. Duncan stays.

 The infield is looking pretty clear to me as well. Rolen, Ryan, Kennedy, Pujols, and Molina with Miles, Speeze, and Bennett on the bench. I would like to see more of a stick at back up catcher, but I'm not willing to pay for it.
 Eck played well this weekend, but I can't see spending money on him. One year 2m is all I would offer. He moves on.

The rotation will be:

FA/trade
Wainman
Looper
Pineiro
Wellemeyer/Mulder

We need to find a front line pitcher. A. J. Burnett scares me because of his injuries. Willis is scarey too. So who is the one guy? That's the 12 million dollar question.
 Well, I know the answer it is not Reyes or Baby Face. Could Reyes and a couple of outfield prospects get Garland?

 Hopefully Carp comes back at the trade deadline, and the Cards don't need to trade for an arm.

 If Thompson and Reyes are not traded to get a pitcher I suggest that we look for SS/3b prospects. I would consider a guy like Angel's Brandon Wood. He has a stick and has played both SS and 3b. I know his D needs alot of work, but he is only 22. One more year in AAA will give him time to work it out. If not him there are a few others out there. The Dodger's have LaRoche, and the Diamond backs have a couple of guys. We certainly should back the left side of the infield. I am willing to let Ryan  start at short, but if he is hitting .200 in June I would like to have some one to call up. Same goes with Scottie in case he gets hurt.

 The pen will be pretty much the same.

 We all believed that the '07 Cards would win this division. I still believe that this team would have if not for the injuries.  Carpenter alone would have made all the differance. He would have won 15 games and been a mentor to Reyes, and the rest of the staff.

 All the Cards need to win this division next year is one top flight starter and infield depth. Oh, and everyone needs to stay healthy.