The road to World Series title number 11... (A Cardinals franchise) - stlchamp10's Blog

stlchamp10's Blog

The road to World Series title number 11... (A Cardinals franchise)

Posted on March 24, 2011 at 11:23 AM.

Welcome to my St. Louis Cardinals franchise of 2011...

Tony LaRussa has returned for one more year along with his entire coaching staff to hopefully bring World Series 11 back home to the gateway city.

GM John Mozeliak wasted no time in making deals, deals, and more deals. He signed Lance Berkman to a one year deal and most likely play RF for the redbirds.

The winter meetings came and went and the Cardinals went crazy making trades to better fit the team and put enough people around a walk year in Pujols.

Mozeliak traded Jaime Garcia, Colby Rasmus, Kyle McClelland to Toronto for Ricky Romero, Aaron Hill, and Yunel Escobar.

In a suprising block buster trade, the people in St. Louis were shocked to see their future star in Jaime Garcia get traded along with a future all-star in Rasmus and a proven top reliever in McClelland. In return people can be happy to see the arrival of possibly the best and most strongest up the middle defensive players the Cards ever had in Escobar and Hill.

Also receiving a future all-star/super star young pitcher in Ricky Romero. There's alot to be excited about the ball club moving forward with young talent that can compete year in and year out.

Mozeliak also delt a pitching prospect and catcher Steven Hill to Seattle for Brandon League that will replace McClelland and to bulk up the bullpen.

Ben Sheets was also signed to a long relieve role in the bullpen to make it that much stronger. Nick Punto was also signed to platoon in the infield and beef up that Cardinal bench. Along with Gerold Laird to back-up Molina.

Other notes Blake Hawksworth was also traded for IF Ryan Theroit to also platoon and come off the bench.

Spring training also came and went and positions was won and loss, which is why Lance Berkman who was just signed in the offseason didn't make the team because he could not handle RF. Allen Craig played flawlessly to win that spot so there was no room for Berkman and he requested to be traded and Mozeliak granted his wish.

Berkman was dealt along with another pitching prospect to the white sox for home grown fan boy Mark Buehrle. Which really excited Cardinals fans since Buehrle has been quoted for wanting to play for the Cardinals before he retires.

Here is the opening day line-up for the St. Louis Cardinals:

CF - Jon Jay
SS - Yunel Escobar
1B - Albert Pujols
LF - Matt Holliday
3B - David Freese
2B - Aaron Hill
RF - Allen Craig
C - Yadier Molina
P - Pitcher Spot

Bench:
C - Gerald Laird
SS/UTIL - Nick Punto
SS/UTIL - Ryan Theriot
OF - Skip Schumaker

Starting Rotation:

SP - Adam Wainwright
SP - Chris Carpenter
SP - Mark Buehrle
SP - Jake Westbrook
SP - Ricky Romero

Bullpen:

LR - Kyle Lohse
LR - Ben Sheets
MR - Trevor Miller
MR - Miguel Batista
MR - Mitchell Boggs
MR - Brandon League
SU - Jason Motte
CL - Ryan Franklin

On paper the Cards look to contend with teams like Philly and that REALLY bolstered their rotation, and others. As in baseball you have to play the games instead of reading papers.

Opening day - Game 1:

Latos (0-0) vs Wainwright (0-0)