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2008 St. Louis Cardinals Predictions & Season Preview

The Cards have changed a lot since 2006 when they won the World Series. Key players from that team such as Jim Edmonds, David Eckstein, Scott Rolen, Juan Encarnacion, and Chris Carpenter (out injured) will not be on the Opening Day roster. With several other question marks heading into the season surrounding Mark Mulder and Rick Ankiel, can the Cards pull it all together to make a division run? Jimmy Boyd’s 2008 St. Louis Cardinals predictions see it not likely.

Starting Rotation/Bullpen

Mark Mulder underwent another surgery to fix his shoulder and has not been the same for two seasons now. Ace Chris Carpenter will return at midseason if his recovery from elbow surgery goes as planned. In the meantime, Adam Wainwright must continue to hold down the fort. He went back to the starting rotation in 2007 and won 14 games for the Cards with a 3.70 ERA. Braden Looper won 12 games in his first year as a starter and Joel Pineiro showed enough last season to land a contract and a spot in the rotation. Anthony Reyes will get a shot to prove his 2-14 2007 record was a fluke, but I think you’ll see otherwise.

The bullpen was the Cards’ best weapon in 2007. Closer Jason Isringhausen has some lost some pop on his fastball at age 35, but his 32 saves in 34 chances proved he is more than capable when healthy. Ryan Franklin was the best setup man in the league until fatigue swelled his ERA to 3.04. If the starters can hold up better this season, he will be unstoppable once again when his number is called. Russ Springer went 8-1 out of the pen last year and Tyler Johnson and Randy Flores give the Red Birds a pair of reliable lefties.

Batting Order

Centerfielder Colby Rasmus will likely make his big league debut on Opening Day in the leadoff spot after starring at Double-A Springfield. Rick Ankiel will play right field and provide the Red Birds with some power in the two-hole. He hit 43 homeruns and added 128 RBIs at Memphis and St. Louis last season. First baseman Albert Pujols has given us no reason to believe that he won’t produce another 30 homerun, 100 RBI season. The Cardinals’ slugger has hit over .300 and reached those numbers in each of his first seven MLB seasons. Leftfielder Chris Duncan is one of the lesser known clean-up hitters in the league. He had 21 round trippers and 70 RBIs in 127 games last season. A sports hernia injury slowed him down in the second half of the season. Third baseman Troy Glaus has 20 homeruns and 62 RBIs for the Blue Jays last season. I expect his numbers to improve in the weak NL Central. Second baseman Adam Kennedy was terrible in 2007 hitting just .219 before going down with a knee injury. The Cards desperately need production from him in the six-spot. Catcher Yadier Molina can’t be expected to do much except play defense and the same goes for shortstop Cesar Izturis.

It’s going to take Mulder some time to feel comfortable on the mound again and half a season is too long for this team to be without Carpenter. If Adam Kennedy struggles to way he did in 2007 and if Rick Ankiel isn’t for real, the Cards’ offense could suffer. Don’t be surprised if St. Louis falls to fifth place in the Central.

Check out all of Jimmy Boyd’s baseball predictions to get a feel for these teams before the season starts. While it takes some handicappers a month or two to get a feel for the teams they are working with, Jimmy is ready to crush the books from game one because of the extensive research he does prior to the season. Make sure you’re playing the most researched baseball picks in the industry in 2008 with Jimmy Boyd.

Odds to win NL Central: 7/1
Odds to win 2008 NL Pennant: 15/1
Odds to win 2008 World Series: 45/1

Other Predictions for the 2008 Season:

Updated February 18th, 2008