Redbird Report: Rotation Edition
In Cardinal country, the pitching staff does things slightly different.
When looking to the Cardinals ‘07 pitching staff, you be confused, considering that 12 total pitcher started a game and out of those 12, 8 of those players had also been a reliever in the recent years. The ace, Chris Carpenter, only started one game. The pitcher who started the most games, Kip Wells with 34, had a 7-17 record with a 5.70 ERA. And the pitcher who was in his first full season of pitching, Adam Wainwright, ended up winning 14 games and was the only pitcher on the team to have at least 200 inning.
So after a season of uncertainty in the rotation, the Cardinals had plenty of work to do in the offseason. One big question about the ‘08 rotation is “who will be in it?”. So I’ll take my shot and answering that.
Out of the starters from ‘07, Adam Wainwright, Braden Looper, and Anthony Reyes will all be back for ‘08. Joel Pineiro will also be back after he resigned for two-years worth $13 million total dollars. Also, pitchers Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder will be back sometime in mid-season, after they recover from their injuries.
You can add Matt Clement to that list as well, after he signed a one-year deal last month.
So even with all those names in the mix, some other pitchers should not be forgotten. Brad Thompson, Todd Wellemeyer each have a chance, for they did some starting in ‘07, and also Ryan Franklin, who has had plenty of starting experience in the past.
So, when you add all those players up, there’s a total of 10 pitchers competing for 5 jobs in the rotation.
This is how I see it, even though the rotation will be greatly effected by their spring training performance, the opening day rotation is predicted to look like this:
#1 starter, Adam Wainwright
#2 starter, Braden Looper,
#3 starter, Joel Pineiro
#4 starter, Matt Clement
#5 starter, Anthony Reyes
Now, those first 4 spots are probably right, but that #5 slot is is still up for grabs, so don’t be surprised if one of the other pitchers is in there.
By mid season, assuming no pitchers have been injured, the rotation could look like this:
#1 starter, Adam Wainwright
#2 starter, Braden Looper,
#3 starter, Joel Pineiro
#4 starter, Matt Clement
#5 starter, Chris Carpenter/Mark Mulder
Since to date when Carpenter and Mulder will be fully recovered from their injuries is unknown, this rotation is not certain.
So, obviously there are still many questions that can rightfully be asked about the ‘08 Cardinals, so pull up a seat, there’s a little over 50 days until opening day.
(c) Copyright 2007. K.B. is a writer and founder of the International Association of Baseball Writers.
Comments: 13
Untitled Comment Posted by redsox24
i waz hoping Santana would go elsewhere den NY......
Untitled Comment Posted by redsox24
maTt CLemENt???
NOOOooOoOOooo!!!!!!!!!!!
Untitled Comment Posted by redsox24
hey!
lol....my mom iz nutz LOL
jk
i SHOULD erase it.
;LOL!!
Untitled Comment Posted by shootingstar
I'm bad at bowling 2!! = )
~*Smiley*~
<em>Untitled Comment</em> Posted by Peterpanda35542
Untitled Comment Posted by Stardust
:) Happy you remembered!!!!!!!!!!! ~smiles big~
~Kristi*
That is total... Posted by rainstar13
Hey! Posted by rainstar13
Untitled Comment Posted by playerx5
Untitled Comment Posted by Chris
Untitled Comment Posted by myfathersdaughter92
Untitled Comment Posted by Randomer
Just thought I'd drop by to say hi...well, hi, and bye.
JK as you could see I haven't been around in a while...computers really freaking out all the time now.
Untitled Comment Posted by redsox24
ah u like fen way huh?
=)