Refocusing

Hey, CATB is back and perhaps better than ever, depending on your opinion of the actual quality here.  Sorry for the delay--most of last week was spent away from the computer coughing up a lung and just wanting to sleep.

Things are picking up now.  By the end of the week, it will be March and the Cardinals will have spring training games under their belt.  We will have some more data points to discuss and be a little more ready to tell whether the glowing, spring-like talk is going to be backed up or not.

The major issue in Cardinal camp right now, apparently, is pitching.  Bernie Mikhasz rails about the staff (and his requisite shots at ownership) in his most recent column.  Heck, even Roger Clemens's name has been floated about, which is completely crazy for more than one reason.  (Well, I thought it was, at least, until the next story.)

Last I checked, Matt Clement's arm didn't actually fly off, knocking down half the remaining starters and putting them all in the hospital.  You can never be terribly sure with the Cardinals and injuries, I am aware, but if Clement and Mark Mulder are ready to go mid-May, having another body in the rotation--and basically, that's all that are available, no one that has a lot of upside or could really turn things around--will cause a number crunch and more wasted money. 

I've mentioned before that I don't think the pitching situation is as dire as some would make it out to be.  The pitching was terrible last year, but a lot of the deadweight is gone and there is some optimism on who is left.  And if the laser surgery did what it seems to have done for Anthony Reyes, there's a nice front of the rotation with him, Wainwright and Pinerio until the rehab corps is ready.  If we have to plug in a Hawksworth for a few starts, it's not the end of the world.

Then, I see where LaRussa thought about buying Bonds.  Got to say, it's nice to see that he doesn't have the rubber stamp we thought he did.  Having the distraction of Bonds is really the last thing the team needs.  I understand the attraction of Bonds's offense, though that is declining as well, but when you put it together with everything else, it's too many cons, not enough pros.  If nothing else this season, let us have a team we can root for, not one that has such a polarizing figure on it.

The rotation for the week has been set up.  Wednesday's game against SLU will be prospects-only, probably not only on the mound but also in the field.  Thursday, the Cardinals open the Grapefruit League against the Mets.  Anthony Reyes gets a chance to show if it's all been talk so far this spring.  Friday, the Cards get the Mets again and thrown Adam Wainwright.  He's going against some guy the Mets got in the offseason, doubt you've heard of him.

We've got games on KTRS and the Cardinal Radio Network this weekend against the Marlins.  Heck, there's even a game on ESPN (non-Cardinals, but still baseball) on Friday.  It's time to get excited!


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