-SAINT LOUIS, MO— Technically speaking, the Cardinals are the 2nd most successful franchise in Major League Baseball history; they have 11 World Series Rings. A team rich in history, St Louis has always had their hand in the story of baseball. Bob Gibson broke down barriers and is one of the best pitchers to ever touch the mound. Mark McGwire revived baseball in the late 90’s, gluing audiences to the tv with his single season HR race. Pushing into the 2000’s, they debuted one of the greatest sluggers of all time in The Machine, Albert Pujols. In fact, since 2000, the Cardinals have finished above .500 every year except one. Wins and personal achievements are great, but championships are the expectation for the Red Birds. With over a decade since their last World Series ring, St Louis is more than hungry to bring a title back to the Gateway of the West. The journey will be daunting, but I believe this team is poised for the pennant in 2023.
For starters, this lineup is absolutely loaded. Let me break it down for you:
Paul Goldschmidt is the reigning MVP. Always a defensive cornerstone at First Base, last year Goldy decided to turn it up at the plate as well; smashing 35 HR and 115 RBI’s in the process. Not only was he electrifying, he was consistent, with a batting average of .317 and and OPS of .981. Long story short, he was a monster last year and he’ll certainly be a monster again this year
Nolan Arenado may be the greatest defensive Third Basemen to ever live, and that’s not an exaggeration. You would have to go back an entire decade to find the last time someone other than Arenado won the Gold Glove for Third Base. In fact, you’d have to look back another 6 seasons if you wanted to find a better defender period; he’s won the Platinum Glove for best defender in the league each year since then. Also a 5x Silver Slugger winner (best hitter at 3B), Arenado is no slouch at the plate. The presence of Arenado and Goldschmidt makes the rest of the team better, as their veteran presence and game-breaking talent are unmatched across the league.
The addition of Willson Contreras this off-season is massive for the Cardinals. To replace a hall of fame catcher like Yadier Molina is a tall task, but Contreras is more than capable of filling his shoes. Most catchers’ numbers won’t be eye popping, but Willson’s OPS and OPS+ are far above the league average for the position. More importantly, he’s a captain behind the plate; guiding his pitchers in and out of stormy situations night in and night out. His ability to frame pitches and block the ball will be massive for the young pitchers hurling in St. Louis.
We can’t forget about the rising stars either. Tyler O’Neil is going to be a PROBLEM this season if he can stay healthy. Health has always been an issue for O’Neil, but with a flashy glove (Golden Glove winner OF) and some serious pop in the bat, he’s prepared to be a major key to the Cardinals success this season. In the same breath, Tommy Edman is no slouch either. Gifted with blinding speed and stout defense (Golden Glove winner 2B), Edman is a crucial part of the story if St Louis wants to see success this year. Edman stole 32 bases for the Cards last season, this year we might see 40.
As you can see, the lineup is certainly full of defensive studs who can also make a difference at the plate. The real question for the St Louis Cardinals this year comes from the pitching staff. Will Miles Mikolas and Matthew Liberatore finally turn the page and become aces this year? We’ve seen flashes of it, but the consistency of these 2 needs to be present if this clubhouse looks to make a deep run at the Fall Classic. In the same light, will the bullpen be the anchor they need to? They certainly have the talent: Ryan Helsley, Giovanni Gallegos and Genesis Cabrera are more than capable of the job.
The National League is stacked with talent this year, there’s no denying that. Philadelphia is bringing everyone back from last seasons spectacular run AND they added Trea Turner. The Dodgers are the Dodgers. And the New York Mets have 2 of the best pitchers to ever play the game in their starting rotation. Even with all of this talent standing in the way, I believe the Cardinals have the firepower needed to rise above it all. The bats are primed, the gloves are oiled and the mindset is right. This season, baseball will reign supreme in the Midwest; this season, the St Louis Cardinals will win their first World Series title since 2011.
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