St. Louis Cardinals

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Wow. I didn't realize how truly terrible this team was until I began my earnest analysis. Albert Pujols and Chris Carpenter represent their only star power, but Carpenter won't be back until at least the All-Star Break and Pujols may well have shut it down by then. Even in a bad division, this team doesn't look like it's going to be relevant this year.

Lineup:

• RF Skip Schumaker
• LF Chris Duncan
• 1B Albert Pujols
• 3B Troy Glaus
• CF Rick Ankiel
• C Yadier Molina
• 2B Adam Kennedy
• SS Caesar Izturis (Izturis may bat 9th, with the pitcher hitting ahead of him)

Rotation:

• Adam Wainwright
• Braden Looper
• Joel Pineiro
• Matt Clement
• Anthony Reyes

Closer: Jason Isringhausen

Thoughts...

I know the only reason anyone is reading this analysis is Pujols. Everything I've read indicates his elbow is less than 100% healthy, and he took a lot of wear-and-tear last season. He also has admitted he doesn't want to push his body to the same limits this year (probably because he knows the team will be awful), and will shut it down and opt for surgery if his elbow flares up. This risk makes him less attractive in the first round; however, keep in mind that he's still one of the most prolific hitters in baseball, and if he stays moderately healthy he can carry a fantasy team.

Josh Phelps had an excellent second half in Pittsburgh last season (same division, similarly pitcher-friendly ballpark). If you draft Pujols, grab Phelps on the chance that he could give you 20 HR in a half-season of ABs.

Rick Ankiel is one of Zach's sleepers, and he definitely could be a source of some cheap power late in a draft. Colby Rasmus is the Cards' number-one ranked prospect, and though he isn't draftable, keep his name on your radar screen this year. A strong spring could get him into the lineup early, especially because he is very strong defensively (if Ankiel struggles in center field, bringing Rasmus up would be the easiest change St. Louis could make).

Matt Clement, coming off shoulder surgery, may or may not be ready for Opening Day, but should be in the rotation early in the season. Mark Mulder, also coming off shoulder surgery, has May as his return target, while Chris Carpenter (elbow reconstruction) is trying to be ready by June. All of these guys are risky pick-ups, and to me, Carpenter is the only one who offers much reward. Clement and Mulder aren't going to be having career seasons in 2008 and aren't going to be too useful from a fantasy perspective.

Glaus might get you 30/100, but he'll bring a batting average of .250 along. Duncan has power potential, like Ankiel, and could be worth a late-round pickup. Isringhausen is aging and not a particularly great closer, but the job is his all season, something you can't say about many closers these days. Wainwright is the only rotation guy I'll draft. Overall, there's simply not a lot of promise here, especially if you don't want to take the risk with Pujols in Round 1. Better luck in 2009, St. Louis fans.