A juggernaut in St. Louis: the cardinals mask their flaws with a deftly constructed team capable of winning it all

Sporting News, The, August 23, 2004 by Ken Rosenthal

We've seen these regular-season juggernauts before, brilliantly conceived, masterful in their execution, seemingly invulnerable. The 1998 Yankees, a 114-victory wonder, achieved their rightful destiny, winning the World Series. But the 2001 Mariners, a 116-win marvel, failed to claim even the American League title.

Now here come the '04 Cardinals, starting the week on pace for 106 victories. It seems only yesterday St. Louis was picked to finish third in the National League Central. Now, pitcher Matt Morris notes warily, an early postseason exit could turn an uplifting season into a crushing disappointment.

Make no mistake, the Cardinals are good enough to win the World Series. Whether they will depends upon countless variables, from Albert Pujols' tender left foot to the rotation's enduring health to the bullpen's ability to remain effective without an elite setup man or closer. Heaven knows which opponent will get hot; the Marlins hardly were considered the Series favorites at this time last season. But the Cardinals' most discussed flaw--their lack of a dominant No. 1 starter--is not a fatal detriment. The way this team is constructed, every piece fits, every gear clicks and every strength promotes another.

Start with the rotation, which began the week one Woody Williams victory short of boasting five 10-game winners. The Cardinals' starters led the N.L. in innings per start, ensuring that the bullpen was not overexposed. Closer Jason Isringhausen, the team's most heavily used reliever, had worked fewer innings than each of the Yankees' three top relievers, Paul Quantrill, Tom Gordon and Mariano Rivera. It was no coincidence the Cardinals' bullpen was second to the Dodgers in the N.L. with a 3.01 ERA.

The entire staff plays to the Cardinals' defensive strength, allowing few walks while leading the league in ground-ball percentage. The pitchers also record few strikeouts, so balls are frequently in play. At the start of the week, the Dodgers were the only major league team that ranked higher than the Cardinals in defensive efficiency, a statistic that measures the percentage of balls in play that are converted into outs. Only three N.L. teams had allowed fewer unearned runs.

Then there is the Cardinals' signature offense.

The Brewers' Geoff Jenkins says the addition of Larry Walker in the No. 2 spot gives the Cardinals a "Nintendo lineup" Braves third baseman Chipper Jones calls them "the Yankees of the Midwest" Braves closer John Smoltz says the Cardinals' offense is approaching the level of the Rockies'--but without the benefit of Coors Field.

Jim Edmonds, Pujols and Scott Rolen began the week ranked among the top seven in the N.L. in on-base/slugging percentage. Edgar Renteria, Rolen and Pujols had the league's three best batting averages against lefthanded pitching. The Cardinals led the league in hitting with two strikes, an indication of their veteran savvy, and manager Tony La Russa trusts his hitters enough to frequently start runners. Leadoff man Tony Womack, Reggie Sanders and Renteria each had 14 or more stolen bases, and Walker had four in his first six games with the club.

Just as an airtight defense can mask certain pitching shortcomings, a pinball offense can mask others. The goal is to outscore the opponent, and the Cardinals' offense either provides the lead or the threat of a comeback at any moment. It gives the pitchers confidence. It helps them achieve the most important result: winning games.

Suddenly, a dream October matchup looms, and it's not Cubs-Red Sox.

"I hope we can throw a monkey wrench in everybody's program;' the Braves' Jones says, "but from a fan's standpoint, to see that lineup and the Yankees' lineup go head to head, it would be fun to watch."

Contrary to popular belief, dominant starting pitching isn't a prerequisite for postseason success. The 2002 Angels won the World Series with a relentless offense and a powerful bullpen. The '02 Cardinals swept the Diamondbacks in the Division Series without a Randy Johnson or a Curt Schilling, though Morris was a reasonable facsimile at the time.

The Cardinals' rotation is entirely righthanded, and two potential postseason opponents, the Dodgers and Braves, own the league's second- and third-best winning percentages in games against righthanded starters--after the Cardinals, of course. But except for the Cubs--the slipshod, star-crossed, Sammy-centric Cubs---no other N.L. contender boasts a lights-out rotation.

If the Cubs secure the wild card, and Kerry Wood and Mark Prior suddenly get hot, Dusty Baker and Co. could knock off a division champion in the Division Series, then take aim at the Cardinals, their historic rivals, in the NLCS. At first glance, the Cardinals resemble last year's Braves, a 101-win offensive machine that was upset by the Cubs. But those Braves had weaker pitching and weaker defense, and Cardinals reliever Ray King, a member of both clubs, says the Cardinals offer more veteran leadership--"a lot more."

Rolen volunteered to vacate the cleanup spot upon Walker's arrival, providing a vivid contrast to the Sosa-Baker drama surrounding Sammy's place in Chicago's lineup. The Cardinals' starting pitchers watch each other's bullpen sessions, offering advice and encouragement. The team has adopted a relentless daily approach, which also reflects La Russa's intense drive.