Lineup is Not Significantly Worse
Anyone who thinks St. Louis is going to have trouble scoring runs is of questionable intelligence. Their lineup has not been all that diminished by off-season losses, and while that is clear to me, instead of merely saying so, I am going to go out and prove it in a very systematic method. Sit back and be dazzled by my scientific notions of offensive domination. Let's go over what was the typical starting lineup by the end of last season, and for much of the playoffs.
| Player |
2004 |
Career |
| 1) Tony Womack 2B | .307 - .349 - .385 | .274 - .319 - .362 |
| 2) Larry Walker RF | .298 - .424 - .589 | .314 - .401 - .568 |
| 3) Albert Pujols 1B | .331 - .415 - .657 | .333 - .413 - .624 |
| 4) Scott Rolen 3B | .314 - .409 - .598 | .286 - .378 - .520 |
| 5) Jim Edmonds CF | .301 - .418 - .643 | .294 - .384 - .544 |
| 6) Edgar Renteria SS | .287 - .327 - .401 | .289 - .346 - .400 |
| 7) Reggie Sanders LF | .260 - .315 - .482 | .267 - .344 - .488 |
| 8) Mike Matheny C | .247 - .292 - .348 | .239 - .293 - .336 |
I have taken the effort to both bold and italicize the three players who will not be returning to the Cardinals' lineup in 2005. As you can plainly see, Tony Womack overachieved (and at the age of 34, mind you), Mike Matheny just plain sucks and always has (he is also 34), and Edgar Renteria (30 in August) is probably not worth $10 million a season. If you'll kindly direct your attention to the staggering statistical accomplishments of the returning hitters 2-5, you'll note that each and every single one of them, past their prime or not, had a 2004 season right on par (if not better) than their career stats. All four of them are injury concerns, but introduce me to a baseball player who isn't. Cal Ripken Jr. retired after the 2001 season, and just look at the state of his hair. If he'd sustained a healthy injury or two, maybe his hair wouldn't have been death-blizzard-on-Christmas-morning-white when he was 32. An injury here and there is reassuring; means you're not rooting for a team full of cyborgs. Also, Reggie Sanders is no slouch, as he was the only Cardinal to accomplish a 20-20 season.
Now let's take a look at the three players stepping in to replace our dearly departed.
David Eckstein
- SS (.278 - .347 -.353)
Nickname: Squirt (Okay, I'm lying; I don't think he has a
nickname.)
Pros: Roughly as young as Renteria (30), much cheaper (3 years /
$10 million), solid lead-off hitter, doesn't strike out, good hands at short.
Cons: Physically similar to former Cardinal stand-outs such
as Rex Hudler, Joe McEwing, and Bo Hart, limited range and girly arm on defense.
Notes: He is not Edgar Renteria's replacement,
so everyone that tries to compare them should shut up. How often did Edgar
Renteria bat lead-off? He will be fine in the role they have put him in.
Mark Grudzielanek
- 2B (.287 - .330 - .389)
Nickname: Gruds (Unofficially, but I seriously have heard
him referred to as that before.)
Pros: Same career batting average as Renteria, cheap, better defensively
than Womack.
Cons: Old (35 in June), has an annoying last name if you're trying
to mention him briefly and then move on, health concerns the past few seasons.
Notes: No offense Mark, but I was hoping to get Roberto Alomar and
watch as he suddenly remembered he was awesome before the Mets got him; but
you'll do just fine.
Yadier Molina
- C (.267 - .329 - .356)
Nickname: Pudge. (Oh, that one's been taken. Twice.)
Pros: Better hitter than Matheny, better hitter than Matheny, better
hitter than Matheny, very young, already solid defensively, cost $5.
Cons: Pitching staff, seeing as they're not professionals making
millions, will doubtlessly refuse to pitch to anyone who
isn't Mike Matheny.
Notes: Thank God someone else will be catching this season.
Never
mind the .629 OPS. Mike Matheny intimidates
pitchers with his professionalism.
