It must mean the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals are set to kick off the new
baseball season in a new ballpark and, yes, somehow my life seems to revolve
around this fact. When a game is on TV, I’m dead to the world — my shades are
drawn, my doors are locked and my phone ringer is set to mute.

  Amidst replacing three everyday starters and a starting
pitcher, and a complete bullpen overhaul, the Red Birds still seem poised to
make it three straight division championships. The squad is anchored by
defending National League MVP Albert Pujols and defending Cy Young Award Winner
Chris Carpenter, the former just joining spring training festivities after
participating in the World Baseball Classic and the latter mowing through the
Grapefruit League, not allowing a single run in 16 innings.

  Pujols is a general manager’s dream. Posting Hall of Fame
numbers in his first five years, he is the best right-handed hitter in the game
(sorry Manny). He’s heady, patient and doesn’t give up at-bats in the box.
Here’s the proof: In his worst offensive season in 2002, Pujols hit .314 with
34 home runs and 127 RBI. ‘Nuff said.

  Carpenter is coming off a career year, and the scary thing
is he feels his stuff is even better this year. His two-seam fastball has more
bite to go along with a consistent four-seamer and a knee-buckling Uncle
Charlie. Combine good stuff with location and you’re gonna get hitters out.

  Mark Mulder looks much sharper this spring than in ‘05. He
says he has fixed a problem in the mechanics of his delivery and is throwing
his curveball for strikes. He should improve from last year and be a solid
number two starter. Sidney Ponson takes Matt Morris’ slot, yet it remains to be
seen if he can rebound from two disappointing seasons after winning 17 games in
2003.

  Much of the Cardinals success in ‘06 hinges on Scott Rolen
and Jim Edmonds providing more protection for Pujols in the lineup than last
year. Rolen missed most of the season after a labrum tear in his shoulder and
as a result the third base position only
produced eight home runs. Rolen feels the surgery was a success and has shown
no problems at the plate or in the field.

  Edmonds hopes to improve after a down year. Perhaps being on the last leg of his
contract will give him a little extra incentive. Still unanswered is the choice
for second base. Junior Spivey seems to be the frontrunner, but if he can’t
keep up in the field, LaRussa will end up platooning between him, Aaron Miles
and Hector Luna.

  Look for a similar platoon scheme in left field, with Larry
Bigbie, So Taguchi and John Rodriquez all seeing some playing time. Juan
Encarnacion will replace retired Larry Walker in right field. Manager Tony
LaRussa bets his stealing prowess will complement a lineup lacking in speed
last year. The Cardinals think he is coming into his prime as a hitter, but his
sometimes shaky defensive play makes me cross my fingers.

  More questions gush from the new-look bullpen. Braden Looper
walks into the setup role with a nasty cutter and split finger, but control
issues and his surgically-repaired shoulder will be a key to his effectiveness.
Ricardo Rincon and Randy Flores will hold lefty duties, but the right-handed
middle relief could be made from any combination of Jeff Nelson, Josh Hancock,
Brian Falkenborg, Brad Thompson, Alan Benes and Adam Wainwright.

  The NL Central Division seems pretty weak, with the Astros
losing Roger Clemens and the Cubs making another round of befuddled off-season
moves while enduring more injuries from uber-underachievers Mark Prior and
Kerry Wood.

  It’s enough to make a Cards fan chuckle.

  St. Louis will dominate the NL and make another strong run to the World Series. To all
those naysayers who disagree with me, drop me a line and I’d be happy to
discuss it, that is, if there’s not a game on.

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St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire hits his 60th home run of the season off Cincinnati Reds pitcher Dennis Reyes in the first inning Saturday, Sept. 5, 1998, in St. Louis, Mo. McGwire is chasing Roger Maris’ record of 61 single season home runs. (AP Photo/USA Today/H.Darr Beiser)
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St. Louis slugger Mark McGwire hits home run number 62 against the Chicago Cubs in St. Louis, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 1998. The ball, seen at upper right, was pitched by the Cubs’ pitcher Steve Trachsel. (AP Photo/John Gaps III)

St. Louis Cardinals, from left to right in front, Marlon Anderson, Scott Rolen, Edgar Renteria and Larry Walker celebrate as they wait for teammate Jim Edmonds to cross the plate after Edmonds hit a two-run homer in the 12th inning to defeat the Houston Astros 6-4 in Game 6 of the NL championship series at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2004. The deciding game of the series is scheduled for Thursday in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)