With my favorite day of the year approaching, St. Louis and Cardinal fans all over the world are getting ready to bleed red for the best team in the entire world. The roster is slowly shrinking and the rotation is solidified, and the keys to our boys success are slowly starting to make themselves known.
1. 1982
Ok so it's not really a key but I wish it could be true. The last time St. Louis received this much snow was in 1982. We can only hope the magic of what happened in that snow can happen again this year. Resulting in the 12 world championship for our boys. We can only hope! :)
2. Shelby Miller
This pitching superstar surprised this Cardinal fan by making the rotation. Just slightly. I remember his almost no hitter the last game of the season last year but I never imagined that he was ready for the big leagues already. I'm always wary when they pull young pitchers up because I'm afraid it will ruin their arms but we will have to see what happens. Also my mind was a little blown when I realized that he was my age. Kinda puts things in perspective and kinda smacks me upside the head a little.
3. Pete Kozma
I've kinda noticed lately that people are starting to notice that Kozma is proving his worth. I mean today he hit a grand slam I mean that only happens a couple times during a career and to happen his second year in the big leagues? Kind of a big deal. I have already made it known on this blog that I think he's pretty awesome but I think he's gonna be huge this season. As long as Furcal is out Kozma will be productive, he proved that last season when he got hot his first two months of his career. I think only Pujols and Stan the Man can claim they've done that. He is a huge key this season.
I think it's pretty safe say that Furcal is done for the season. Tommy John surgery as we all know is season ending so he won't be a big deal for our success but he might be helpful for Kozma to mature into a good short stop. Same goes for Carpenter, he tried coming back last year with the same injury and we thought it was awesome but... well... he just didn't have his usual stuff. He just wasn't the same. We couldn't have won in 2011 without either of these guys but I think the chapter of the Cardinals history with these guys is slowly coming to a close.
The other two guys on the DL are the ones who are going to make or break the teams success. Even though there is plenty of back up for the Cardinals at third base, who doesn't love a home town hero? When I heard how Freese injured his back I couldn't help but laugh because that sounds like something I would do. I was quite a clutz when I played softball and although I was never seriously injured I still had some interesting cuts and bruises from them. It doesn't seem like its such a bad injury so hopefully he will be back soon. Finally the same with Motte. A huge key to the Cardinals success will be him rebounding quickly and having no serious issues. I know I will miss him coming into games. His walk up music is so perfect for him. It warns the other team "Hey guys, games over." Like in the playoff run in 2011, the bullpen was so powerful that when LaRussa pulled the starter you knew it was all over. These minor injuries should put these guys back in the line up quickly but it is the Cardinals and we all know how they work.
4. Carlos Beltran
The last key to the Cardinals success is the guy currently in right field Mr. Beltran. Not only is this season a key to Cardinals success but also a key to his career in St. Louis. We saw what happened to Berkman this offseason when we ran out of room for him, this is why the NL needs the designated hitter, and we had to let him go. If he stays healthy and has a great season the Cardinals front office is more likely to re-sign him even though there are plenty of minor leaguers ready to go. And I don't know about the rest of you but I really would like him to get that World Series ring he's gone this long without!
These are just a few key items I think will make or break the Cardinals this season. I know we've had a rough spring but hey who cares how we start if we finish on top? Plus it's always better to have injuries at the beginning rather than the end so we can finish strong. But if all the keys line up straight we could have yet another magical season. Here's to #12in13!!
~Emily
