Kicking Off The Stretch Run

We are just over three weeks from pitchers and catchers reporting.  This weekend's Winter Warm-up helped kick off that last drive to Florida with plenty of newsworthy items.

First off, Chris Carpenter says he's healthy.  This, of course, is the main focus for a lot of Cardinal fans for the upcoming season.  A healthy Carpenter might be the difference between decent and playing in October.

It sounds like everything is good, that a lot of the problems he was having with his elbow have been cleared up with the surgery.  The only issue is whether it will flare up again, something that we won't know until he's pitched for a while.  If he's able to have a regular spring training and be on the Opening Day roster, a lot of people are going to breathe a lot easier.

And, more good news:

General manager John Mozeliak confirmed Saturday that if Carpenter is fit to pitch, the organization prefers he start rather than perform some interim relief role.

Which would seem to make more sense medically anyway, given that a reliever has to warm up and throw often, not necessarily on a set schedule like a starter.

Assuming he's healthy, it's Carp, Wainwright, Loshe, Wellemeyer, Pineiro.  If everyone pitches like they can, it's a pretty solid rotation.  A signing or trade that pushes Pineiro out and Wellemeyer to fifth would be much better, though.

Though I don't think you can take this quote as gospel:

"You hate to project numbers, but you'd think it would be worth 15-20 more wins to have him for a full season," second baseman Adam Kennedy said.

I know where Kennedy's coming from and it's obvious that Carpenter is more valuable to this team than some, but expecting that many more wins from one person is a little on the extreme side.  (Why do I have a feeling Pip is working up a post showing exactly how many more wins Carpenter would be worth right about now?)

Various other points that came up this weekend:

• Colby Rasmus has bulked up.  While it sounds like a good thing and may produce more power, hopefully he won't change his game up too much.  There's a reason he's gotten to where he is in the organization.  That said, more power never hurt anybody except Tim Taylor.
• Chris Duncan is bionic.  He has a new titanium disc in his neck in a surgery no professional athlete has had done before.  So, of course, we have no idea exactly what the Cardinals will get out of Duncan this year.  If he shows he's healthy and still has the power he showed before the injury, he could be an attractive trade possibility.  Right now in St. Louis, though, nepotism conspiracies aside, it doesn't look all that great for him with all the competition.  Though if someone else gets moved, he might be able to play his way into a regular job.
• Chris Perez and Jason Motte are competitive.  While the team still doesn't want to hand them the closer role, it looks more and more likely that one or both of them will be in the ninth a lot this season.  I'm not excited about Ryan Franklin being out there, even if he thinks he'd be "more comfortable" in the role than he was last year.  Sounds like they plan for him to be an eighth inning guy and a mentor to the young guns, which is probably better than many jobs they could have for him.
• Rick Ankiel is healthy, Skip Schumaker doesn't play second, and Brad Thompson does it all.  Hopefully that puts all the "Hey, let's move Skip to second" ideas that were floating around to rest.  With a ground ball pitching staff that Dave Duncan emphasizes, having the best possible defense in the infield is key.  It doesn't sound like Skip would give us that.  As for Thompson, he's got to be used to having no clue when, where, or how he's going to be used.  If he can continue to take that in stride, he provides a valuable service to the club.
• The outfielders have thought about trades.  Skip was sure he was going to be a Rockie, something he discussed with Matt Holliday this winter as the two of them worked with Mark McGwire.  Ankiel has heard the discussions as well.  Will it affect either of them?  Who knows?  I think Rick's been through a lot worse than some trade rumors, so I don't know that they'll be a big deal for him.  And Skip didn't get traded, so maybe that'll give him a boost, feeling that the club appreciates him.
• The Yanks are fond of Robinson Cano.  Apparently when the Cards asked about him, they wanted Adam Wainwright.  Not sure the Cardinals could have hung up any faster.  Is it just me, or is that ridiculous?  There's aiming high, then there is just crazy talk.
• Joe Mather got some infield work.  Looks like Mather may get the chance to be a super utility guy this year.  That might be the best way to get his bat into the lineup on a semi-regular basis.  What he'll do in the field, though, we'll have to see.
• Arbitration is coming.  It looks like the Cards are close on coming to terms with Wellemeyer, Duncan and Thompson, but Ryan Ludwick and Ankiel are going to be harder to lock down.  As Derrick Goold notes in the story, it's been 10 years since the Cards went to arbitration (Darren Oliver, I believe, but heavens, don't hold me to it).  I think it's a positive sign that Ankiel has told Scott Boras he wants to be in St. Louis, so hopefully that will help in getting a contract done.  There are lots of variables for both of those guys, so it'll be interesting to see how it works out.
• Kyle McClellan will do anything.  Nick over at Pitchers Hit Eighth isn't fond of the idea of McClellan starting, but it does sound like it's at least a possibility that the team will look at in the spring.  I think I'd rather seem him continue the good work he started last year, but he probably would be better than Pineiro if he made the rotation.

I'm sure there will be more we can discuss on these stories as the weeks go on.  Keep that countdown running, though!  Baseball is coming!


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