Looking at the 25-Man

With Todd Wellemeyer coming to terms on a new contract, GM John Mozeliak stated that he probably wasn’t going to bring in any more pitchers.  If that’s the case, I think pretty much all the candidates for the 25 man roster are available.  So, who does it look like has a chance to comprise the 2008 squad?

Catchers
Bryan Anderson
Jason LaRue
Yadier Molina*

Infielders
Troy Glaus*
Jarret Hoffpauir
Cesar Izturis
D’Angelo Jimenez
Adam Kennedy
Aaron Miles
Josh Phelps
Albert Pujols*
Brendan Ryan
Scott Speizio

Outfielders
Rick Ankiel*
Brian Barton
Chris Duncan*
Ryan Ludwick
Colby Rasmus
Skip Schumaker

Pitchers
Matt Clement*
Randy Flores
Ron Flores
Ryan Franklin
Jason Isringhausen
Tyler Johnson
Josh Kinney
Braden Looper*
Chris Perez
Joel Pineiro*
Anthony Reyes
Russ Springer
Adam Wainwright*
Todd Wellemeyer

*--Starter

The catching situation is pretty set.  There’s no one in the organization to really challenge the off-season signing of LaRue for Molina’s backup.  Anderson still needs some time down on the farm.

The infield is a little more unsettled.  The corners are locked down, as Pujols and Glaus will be the Opening Day starters there.  Their backups aren’t quite as certain.  Phelps may get a bench job or he may start out in Memphis, waiting to see the condition of Pujols’s elbow.  Speizio probably gets the third base backup slot, though Ryan now has the flexibility to take that as well.

Second base should nominally be Adam Kennedy’s.  He’s on the long-term contract, at least.  However, his disappointing play last season coupled with his recent promotion to head LaRussa whipping boy causes some doubt about whether he’ll take the field to start the ’08 season.  It’s possible Ryan could scoot over there or perhaps Jimenez will play well enough in spring training to earn a trip north.

Shortstop is another position with question marks.  Izturis was signed in the offseason, but his lack of a bat and the play of Ryan in 2007 may make for an open competition when it comes to camp.  The fairly inexplicable signing of Miles may send Ryan to Memphis to start the season.

The outfield has another crowd.  Ankiel and Duncan are guaranteed to get plenty of at-bats, even if Duncan especially doesn’t start against the left handers.  Rasmus will get a long look in spring training, but my guess is that he’ll be sent down to begin the year with a call up sometime in late June.  Barton has to stay on the roster or be offered back to Cleveland and there is enough potential in him, plus the fact that he’s right-handed, that he should stick.

The pitching situation is pretty lined out, though the returns of Mark Mulder (supposedly in May) and Chris Carpenter (August or so) might make for some interesting mid-season rearranging.  Adam Wainwright will be the number one, followed by some mix of Clement, Pineiro and Looper.  Where that leaves Reyes is anyone’s guess.  He may work out of the bullpen, it’s possible he could head back to Memphis, he could even be traded.  I’d lean toward the latter, especially if Mulder makes a strong comeback and none of the other pitchers show signs of injury.

The bullpen is pretty stable, all things considered.  Izzy will be back to close, Franklin will be likely the 8^th-inning man.  My hunch is that Perez makes the team out of Florida and works the 7^th for a while.  Kinney will probably start out on the DL or in AAA to work up some arm strength before he makes it back to the bigs.

So, a little over two weeks out, this is my first guess at the Opening Day roster:

C (2): Molina, LaRue

IF (6): Pujols, Glaus, Kennedy, Izturis, Speizio, Miles

OF (5): Ankiel, Duncan, Schumaker, Barton, Ludwick

P (12): Wainwright, Pinerio, Clement, Looper, Perez, Springer, Percival, Isringhausen, Wellemeyer, Johnson, Ra. Flores, Reyes

I wanted to put Ryan on there instead of Reyes, but knowing LaRussa’s preference for a 13/12 hitter/pitcher split, especially early in the season, I settled on this configuration.  We’ll see how close it is come March 31!

2 Comments

2 Comments | Leave a comment

jackson | February 3, 2008 11:03 AM | Reply

hey c70, that guy percival got a us a supplemental pick. don't go putting him back on our team. My suggestion for the pen if Kinney isn't healthy is Motte. He throws heat and sounds a lot like D Dove of last year.

Cardinal70 replied to comment from jackson | February 5, 2008 9:16 AM | Reply

Wow, where did that come from? I don't know why I pulled Percival out when I did that. He wasn't on my initial list.

That said, it looks like I meant to type Franklin instead, since he's not listed and we are pretty sure he'll be on the team.

Who would you take out of that list to put in Motte?

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