Kuzul

The St. Louis Cardinals entered the quarter-season mark of 2013 with the best record in baseball. To say that exceeds the expectations of some is quite the understatement. Many, arguably most, baseball writers had the Cincinnati Reds picked as clear favorites to win the National League Central Division. With the Cardinals estimated to end the season in the 85-win range, the fact that the team has amassed 25 wins by May 15 puts them well above expectations. While it is extremely early to be thinking about the end of the season, the Cardinals are currently on pace to win 100 games. Will they keep up this pace? That remains to be seen. Every team has its slumps and streaks—the 2013 Cardinals will be no exception. Remember, even a team with an amazing 102-win record still loses 60 games a year. With that said, the Cardinals have a lot of things ...

A broken-bat bloop from Colorado Rockies right fielder Eric Young Jr. is the only thing that separated Shelby Miller from a perfect game Friday night. The St. Louis Cardinals No. 5 starter got his fifth win, but that statement doesn’t even touch the gravity of his performance. Miller dominated from the moment he took the mound. He owned the entire strike zone with ridiculous control and maintained his velocity through all 113 pitches, topping out with a four-seam fastball clocked at 97 mph. He didn’t look like a 22-year-old rookie who was still a little rough around the edges. He looked like a seasoned veteran, well-poised and on a mission. As Miller stepped back onto the field for the final three outs of a game many big league pitchers will never experience, you could sense the energy. His team wanted it for him as much as he wanted it for himself. ...

Friday night's game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers was destined to be an interesting game. Not because of a division rivalry, but because of the story behind the two men taking the mound.The battle of veteran pitcher vs. rookie stud in many ways went as it should. The veteran looked solid, kept his count low and pitched deep into the game. The rookie showed his flash, but at the same time made it clear that he belongs with the big league club. Former St. Louis pitcher Kyle Lohse received a warm welcome from the Cardinals fans, and Yadier Molina even stepped out from behind the plate to give him a moment to acknowledge the applause. It was a classy move by both the fans as well as Molina. That was where the hospitality ended for the Brewers. If Cardinals rookie pitcher Shelby Miller was intimidated by ...

With Shelby Miller preparing to make an impact at the major league level to start the season, the focus on prospects within the St. Louis Cardinals farm system will continue to shift toward the next generation. Two of the hottest commodities within reach of the major league club, outfielder Oscar Taveras and RHP Michael Wacha, might be closer than you think. Taveras is the gem of the organization. The 21-year-old outfielder has been named the No. 3 prospect in all of MLB, and with good reason. He’s a consistent .300-plus hitter whose patience at the plate is far beyond his years. There has been little concern about Taveras with a bat—the majority of his continued development has to do with defense. He’s a solid defender and has shown multiple times during spring training that his arm is no joke.   The question is, when will he arrive in St. Louis? ...

As the St. Louis Cardinals reflect on the unfinished business of 2012, they have to feel proud and disappointed at the same time.  Being one win from the World Series was not something Cardinals fans thought would have been possible in mid-August.However, the Cardinals showed their teeth like a back-alley Rottweiler and made their push into the playoffs.  Now as 2013 is upon us, the Cardinals are poised to improve on their 88-74 record from last season.The Cardinals have a lot going for them.  Keith Law of ESPN ranked their farm system as the best in baseball. They are rich with talent and have flexibility when it comes to settling on a rotation with all the young arms in the cupboard.It is my opinion that the Cardinals opening day rotation will be as follows: Wainwright Garcia Westbrook Lynn Miller That leaves the bullpen in a strong position.  Joe Kelly and Trevor ...

The St. Louis Cardinals came into spring training this week with a number of questions about their starting rotation.Who will win the fifth starter spot? Who will replace the injured Chris Carpenter?Then a new guy showed up at camp—a skinny fellow with a small goatee. Well, he wasn’t a new guy, but he may as well be.When Lance Lynn showed up almost 40 pounds lighter than when he left St. Louis in October, he probably didn’t know that his new, leaner physique would be the first big story of the spring.Lynn, who filled in for Carpenter, couldn’t have asked for a better 2012. His 18-win season over 29 starts earned him his first All-Star berth. He also managed to rack up 180 strikeouts—not bad for a young man in his first year as a starter.Late in the season, a few hiccups jeopardized ...

Hopes are high for young St. Louis Cardinals going into spring training, but how many of them will make the big step to the major league team? Bubble players throughout MLB have prepped all winter in an effort to be ready to put on a good showing when they arrive at spring training. A bubble player is a player who is on the verge of either making the team or getting cut. They can be young or old, but most often people think of young players. While everyone on this list is young, there is at least one on the list whose job could be in jeopardy. Following are six players who have a good shot at making the squad out of spring training.Begin Slideshow

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Today the St. Louis Cardinals consider themselves in the same place they were at the beginning of 2012—not expecting ace pitcher Chris Carpenter to throw a pitch. In a Tuesday afternoon press conference, general manager John Mozeliak, accompanied by manager Mike Matheny, made the announcement.  Mozeliak said Chris Carpenter has experienced renewed discomfort in regard to the condition that cost him most of 2012. Carpenter contacted the Cardinals on Friday of last week and informed the team that after numerous attempts at throwing bullpen sessions. He was experiencing the same issues with some additional quirks. Mozeliak reported Carpenter has experienced bruising and redness in his shoulder and hand after throwing. Carpenter was diagnosed in 2012 with thoracic outlet syndrome. He underwent mid-season and made a rather improbable comeback in time to pitch in the playoffs. As recently as the Winter Warm-up, Carpenter told reporters that he ...

With spring training just around the corner, St. Louis Cardinals players old and new are putting the finishing touches on the offseason as they prepare for 2013. Some players are sure things to make the opening day roster, but the same can’t be said for everyone. With a handful of minor question marks regarding the starting rotation, bullpen, second base and a backup shortstop, some of the Cardinals young talent will have a shot to make the team. With one of the strongest farm systems in the MLB, the Cardinals have plenty of options, but are they ready yet? Last year several showed that they are, but just like everyone else, they will have to show it again in spring training. Following are the chances of several top Cardinals prospects making the opening day roster. To be eligible for the list, a player must still have rookie eligibility. That means ...

If the San Francisco Giants formula for success is as strong as it appears to be, they could have a run for their money coming from the St. Louis Cardinals over the next decade. The cornerstone of the Giants success hasn’t come from blockbuster trades and massive free-agent splashes. It has come from two things, smart player acquisitions and some serious homegrown pitching. The Giants approach to player development has put them in a position to win not just now, but for years to come. The biggest names on their staff have all come from within including Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, Ryan Vogelsong (who left for a stint in Pittsburgh) and Sergio Romo. The Cardinals, under the direction of then-director of player procurement Jeff Luhnow, have taken a similar approach in recent years. As you will soon understand, he may have been one of the most painful long-term losses of ...