Poll: Going into the 08 season, guesstimate record

by cardwash on Mar 21, 2008 3:23 AM EDT

how do you guys feel about the cardinals' spring training and how they'll start the 08 season?

I'm normally overly optimistic, believing that pujols will hit at least 8 homers in april, ankiel and molina having decent OBPs of .330 and .340, kennedy coming back to his 05/06 numbers and a .350 OBP with Glaus and Duncan having about 5 homers each and OBPs around .355. Izturis being horrible and hopefully replaced by ryan or miles (can't believe miles is better than someone) by the end of the month. And a RF triangle between schumaker, barton and Ludwick depending on if we face a lefty starter/who becomes a good leadoff hitter.

Pitching-wise, Wainwright being an ace with an era around/less than 3 with Looper, Loshe and Reyes doing decently in the 2-3-4 spots (maybe not looper) with the 5th spot being bounced around between either welly or thompson before clement/piniero show up healthy. And the bullpen is the bullpen, izzy will do fine along with the regulars; springer, franklin, flores, villone, with the remaining slots going to younger guys, especially either jimenez or perez.

Poll

How good do you think their April will be?

W-L 19-10 First in the division

12 votes

W-L 16-13 Second

62 votes

W-L 13-16 Third

87 votes

W-L 10-19 Fourth

22 votes

Less than 10 wins

4 votes

187 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

0-29; 0-162 overall

TLR is the debil, Mo is an idiot, and DeWitt won't spend a penny. thus, the Cards lose every single game by at least 10 runs.[/sarcasm]

(srsly: without looking at the schedule, i'll say 78-84 for the season, 12-17 in April .)

by kindred on Mar 21, 2008 3:38 AM EDT reply actions

Odd

That's EXACTLY what I was thinking.

Rasmus or bust.

by Zoop on Mar 21, 2008 4:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Well

the latter, obviously.

Rasmus or bust.

by Zoop on Mar 21, 2008 4:22 AM EDT up reply actions

no matter what

I'll have fun watching them, even if iz2 plays every day.

Said 16-13, btw, though that'll be due to lucky breaks and not true talent if it happens. Should have been an option for 14-15.

by SleepyCA on Mar 21, 2008 3:46 AM EDT reply actions

I'm hoping

they're about 10 games under .500 at the All-Star break. For some reason I'm bullish on what they'll be like in August/September. I actually think they have a chance to win the central (maybe it's just Cubs-phobia). I'm banking on Oquendo improving the infield defense and two of the starters currently in hospital beds making significant contributions.

by vinniefromjersey on Mar 21, 2008 8:00 AM EDT reply actions

and I am an optimist

82-80 third place.

by nybirdfan on Mar 21, 2008 8:55 AM EDT reply actions

Good pitching depth...

Plenty of offense with a great Manager.

Good bullpen.

I say we suprise a lot of people and go 16 - 13 which may be good enough for first if not at least second.

"Why does he keep saying that?"

by Red Blazer on Mar 21, 2008 9:52 AM EDT reply actions

I say the Cards

will come around (or at least I have hopes) and be better than most think, actually compete for the division but I don't expect a strong start.
This team has talent but it is going to take some time for them to meld together as a unit and play good baseball. Too many new faces that haven't played together.

Ordinarily with this situation I would't be optimistic but I think baseball players feed off each other and this team has some players to feed from. Pujols, Glaus, Molina, Wainwright, Izzy, etc. players that have won. Barring injury and with some luck this team could do well. I have hopes anyway.

by ridgesee on Mar 21, 2008 10:16 AM EDT reply actions

This team tops out at

78 wins.

Steriods is...is bad.

by Handsome Jimmy on Mar 21, 2008 11:16 AM EDT reply actions

i'm a little optimist

i'm going to say 17-12 for april and 85-77 for the season good for second place and competing in the wild card race until the last week of the season.

by stlcardinalsfang on Mar 21, 2008 11:18 AM EDT reply actions

79-83

Battling it out with the Redlegs and Astros for the middle of the pack. It all depends on the direction the M.A.S.H. unit we call a pitching staff goes in. If they pitch well, this team could actually be fairly good. If not...well...um...let's just ignore that for now.

"Your Holiness, I'm Joseph Medwick. I, too, used to be a Cardinal."-Joe Medwick, to Pope Pius XII.

by redbirdnation8206 on Mar 21, 2008 12:12 PM EDT reply actions

The April schedule is manageable

3 vs COL
3 vs WSH
3 at HOU
4 at SFO
3 vs MIL
3 vs SFO
2 at MIL
2 at PIT
3 vs HOU
3 vs CIN

My only complaint is there's only 2 off days in there, but it seems like we're facing one of the lighter parts of the sked in April. I said 16-13, but if we could jump out to a hot start, maybe things will fall into place.

Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country

by Mr Redbird on Mar 21, 2008 12:12 PM EDT reply actions

I vote 16-13 ...

Because the April schedule is relatively not that tough ... May is the concern ... I believe the team's chances this year depend largely on Clement's comeback ... if he's got it, well hang around ... if he's a bust, the negative seers' will probably pan out ... Here's hoping for an above average Matt Clement ...

Culture of Winning: 10 World Championships, 17 Pennants, 6 Division Championships ...

by Cardinals4Ever on Mar 21, 2008 12:56 PM EDT reply actions

Birds picked for the cellar, twice...

...by three scouts in an SI article

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/jon_heyman/03/21/heyman.stlbalt/

...and in the Baseball Analysts NL Central preview

http://baseballanalysts.com/

by salvomania on Mar 21, 2008 6:07 PM EDT reply actions

Let's hope all the other teams in the division read this.

Then we can sneak up on them.

It's amazing how lazy these guys are. They really haven't been looking at the team. All the prognosticators talk about the loss of Rolen, Edmonds and Eckstein as if they were the players they were 4 or 5 years ago, not what they were last year.

I personally think we are going to be a lot better than most give us credit for. Not saying we will win the division, but we won't be as bad as advertised.

by O'Fallon Park on Mar 21, 2008 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I tend to agree

The Cards will actually be upgraded at 3B with Glaus and CF with Rasmus. In fact, IF the rotation fully recovers, the only week part of the team would be 2B/SS combo and that could be resolved at the trade deadline if they were actually in it. Alas, I don't think Pineiro, Clement, Mulder, and Carpenter will combine for 75 starts this year so I can see why the prognosticators would pick them last. In fact were a hell of a lot more like likely to get minimum 75 starts from Looper, Wellemeyer, Thompson, and Reyes and that has last place written all over it.

"Ding-dong the wicked witch is dead!" - Wayne Hagin after the cardinals snapped a losing streak

by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Mar 22, 2008 6:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Optimistically

I vote 16-13, and think they'll contend. Maybe 84 wins.

by mikeonthecards on Mar 21, 2008 6:28 PM EDT reply actions

Another optimist

I believe that most are underestimating this team. With Pujols, Glaus, Duncan, and Ankiel, the lineup will score runs. The bullpen is a strength and with the addition of Lohse, I think the starting pitching is kind of average, by which I mean not horrible - even with nothing from Carp and Mulder. Although defense may still be a question mark, but it should be improved. The emphasis on youth should result in less down time for injuries. Lots of reasons to think positive.

by capn crunch on Mar 21, 2008 8:13 PM EDT reply actions

The youth

resulting in fewer injuries is a nice thought Capn. I think Lohse will do fine, along with Wainwright, Wellemeyer, and Pineiro. I'm a little worried about Looper though. I guess if he struggles, one of the other rehabbing pitchers could take his place in the rotation.

by mikeonthecards on Mar 21, 2008 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions