Bootleg KTE: Cards

[Elster88]

Looper and Wainwright in the starting rotation.

[Frayed Knot]

Most of the change in this year's Cards vs last year's is in the pitching staff. Gone are Jeff Suppan, Jason Marquis & Jeff Weaver. Tim Hudson is on the shelf for a while.

- Wainwright (who we'll miss) was always a starter in the minors and a highly regarded one at that. He was the main bait when the Cards sent JD Drew to the Braves a few years back, it just took him longer to come around than they expected.
- Looper, who will pitch Wednesday against Maine, is another story. This will be his 1st start ever after 9 years and almost 600 games. A lot of Met fans seem downright giddy about facing him because they're (big surprise) obsessing on his 1 bad (and likely injury compromised) year as Met closer, they're ignoring his good year in '04 and his decent one last year (3.56 ERA, 1.3 WHiP) in a setup role.
- Kip Wells brings his very shakey at best stuff over from Pitts & Texas last season and will start Tuesday's game opposite Hernandez. Kip hasn't really been decent since 2003.

Their offensive part of the Cards is virtually the same as last year even down to the bench players.
- Adam Kennedy replacing Ronnie Belliard as part of the 2nd base platoon is the only real change.
- OFer Juan Encarnacion will miss the early part of the season.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

I believe you meant to say that Mark Mulder was on the 15 day DL to start the season for the Cardinals. Tim Hudson is in the Braves starting rotation. Otherwise, a very nice synopsis of the Cardinals' shuffled pitching rotation.

[Frayed Knot]

Yeah, all those ex-Oakland hurlers look alike to me.
Just because Mulder's a 6' 5" lefty and Hudson a smaller righty is no reason why I should keep them straight.

[metirish]

Check out this kid doing his impression of the various Cardinals players,does a great Edmonds,Eckstein and Molina...05 and 06 version....