Cards' Roster Set

As spring training draws to a close, everything appears ironed out for our beloved defending National League champion Cardinals. The Cardinals announced their roster on Wednesday, March 30. All in all, it looks like another strong group for 2005. I’m not expecting 105 wins again during this regular season, but I am expecting another trip to the playoffs. Hopefully this time the outcome will be even better. Here’s the opening day roster, complete with 2004 stats:

C - Yadier Molina (.267/.329/.356, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 0 SB in 135 AB)
C - Einar Diaz (.223/.293/.302, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 2 SB in 139 AB)
1B - Albert Pujols (.331/.415/.657, 46 HR, 123 RBI, 5 SB in 592 AB)
2B - Mark Grudzielanek (.307/.347/.432, 6 HR, 23 RBI, 1 SB in 257 AB)
3B - Scott Rolen (.314/.409/.598, 34 HR, 124 RBI, 4 SB in 500 AB)
SS - David Eckstein (.276/.339/.332, 2 HR, 35 RBI, 16 SB in 566 AB)
IF - Hector Luna (.249/.304/.364, 3 HR, 22 RBI, 6 SB in 173 AB)
IF - Abraham Nunez (.236/.275/.319, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 1 SB in 182 AB)
LF - Reggie Sanders (.260/.315/.482, 22 HR, 67 RBI, 21 SB in 446 AB)
CF - Jim Edmonds (.301/.418/.643, 42 HR, 111 RBI, 8 SB in 498 AB)
RF - Larry Walker (.298/.424/.589, 17 HR, 47 RBI, 6 SB in 258 AB)
OF - So Taguchi (.291/.337/.419, 3 HR, 25 RBI, 6 SB in 179 AB)
OF - Roger Cedeno (.265/.327/.375, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 5 SB in 200 AB)
OF - John Mabry (.296/.363/.504, 13 HR, 40 RBI, 0 SB in 240 AB)

P - Mark Mulder * (17-8, 4.43 ERA, 140 K, 83 BB in 225 2/3 IP)
P - Matt Morris (15-10, 4.72 ERA, 131 K, 56 BB in 202 IP)
P - Chris Carpenter (15-5, 3.46 ERA, 152 K, 38 BB in 182 IP)
P - Jason Marquis (15-7, 3.71 ERA, 138 K, 70 BB in 201 1/3 IP)
P - Jeff Suppan (16-9, 4.16 ERA, 110 K, 65 BB in 188 IP)
P - Jason Isringhausen (4-2, 2.87 ERA, 71 K, 23 BB, 47 SV in 75 1/3 IP)
P - Ray King * (5-2, 2.61 ERA, 40 K, 24 BB in 62 IP)
P - Randy Flores * (5-7, 3.82 ERA, 99 K, 46 BB in 122 2/3 IP) **
P - Julian Tavarez (7-4, 2.38 ERA, 48 K, 19 BB in 64 1/3 IP)
P - Bill Pulsipher **
P - Cal Eldred (4-2, 3.76 ERA, 54 K, 17 BB in 67 IP)
P - Al Reyes 0-0, (0.75 ERA, 11 K, 2 BB in 12 IP)
*left-handed
**did not play in 2004
***AAA stats

Most of the decisions regarding the Cardinals’ roster were pretty clear-cut from the start of spring training. The only real battles going on were for bench and bullpen positions. Coming into this week, there were basically two offensive spots left on the roster and four players left to fill them. The remaining players were infielder Hector Luna, infielder Abraham Nunez, catcher Cody McKay, and outfielder Rick Ankiel. (I really hate typing ‘outfielder Rick Ankiel’). With no reserve middle infielders on the roster, it was fairly evident that Luna and Nunez would be the choices. Additionally, Cody McKay really can’t hit at all and Rick Ankiel remained only for sentimental reasons.

The pitching staff was also almost a lock, with two bullpen spots remaining and three pitchers vying to fill them. The pitchers in question were lefties Randy Flores and Bill Pulsipher, and right-hander Kevin Jarvis. Jarvis turns 36 this season and was the odd man out. He also has failed to pitch well since…ever. Pulsipher impressed the Cardinals this spring with his “homeless” look and hot start. Pulsipher managed to hold opponents scoreless in his first nine innings of the spring. As for Flores, he’s a minor league journeyman that St. Louis picked up after the 2003 season. He was passable in Triple-A Memphis (3.82 ERA, 99 K/46 BB in 122 2/3 IP) and will hopefully equal that as a major leaguer.

Bill Pulsipher's rugged appearance is part of the
reason why he made the big league roster.