CARD CARAVAN CALLS ON CAPE; PLAYERS PREACH OPTIMISM FOR '98

St. Louis Cardinals reliever John Frascatore made a bold prediction. But with it came a qualifier that could make all the difference.

"I think (we'll go to) the World Series -- if we're healthy," said Frascatore, who had a 5-2 record and a 2.48 ERA in 59 appearances in his breakthrough campaign last season. "That's how good this team can be."

But last year's Cardinals were fettered by injuries, and we saw how bad they could be, finishing 11 games behind National League Central winner Houston with a 73-89 record.

Frascatore, with fellow relievers Mark Petkovsek and Curtis King and catchers Tom Pagnozzi and Eli Marrero, were in Cape Girardeau Friday for the Cardinals' Caravan.

After the players spoke with reporters, about 450 Redbirds fans at Osage Community Centre listened to remarks by each of the players and broadcaster Bob Carpenter before an autograph session for children. The event was sponsored by River Eagle Distributing, and proceeds went to Cape Youth Baseball.

Those in attendance got to see the Cardinals' catcher of this decade -- Pagnozzi -- and the rookie phenom Marrero, the heir apparent.

The Cardinals' 1998 lineup seems to be nearly set -- barring injuries -- with outfielders Ray Lankford, Ron Gant and Brian Jordan, and infielders Mark McGwire, Delino DeShields and Royce Clayton. The only questions are at third base -- with Gary Gaetti and John Mabry vying for the position -- and at catcher.

"I don't know how it's going to shake out," said Pagnozzi, who played in only 25 games last season and underwent knee surgery a month ago. "That's up to (manager) Tony La Russa how he uses the individuals. I don't think it really matters who catches.

"I want to play; that's obvious. Eli wants to play. Even if I am the starter, I'm going to take the job of tutoring him and teaching him the right things."

Marrero said he's not concerned whether he will immediately be the starting catcher.

"It looks pretty good so far," he said. "It's going to be interesting in spring training to see how I do. I'm not going to put a lot of pressure on myself; (I'll) just relax and go out there and have a good time.

"I don't know what my role is going to be yet. I know that Pags is probably going to start. When they need a stolen base I can probably run a little bit."

Like Frascatore, the other players did the obligatory team touting.

First, the pitching:

"I think (pitching is) the strength of our club," Pagnozzi said. "You look at our starting staff -- yes, we lose Andy Benes -- but you go out and you sign Kent Mercker, and I think that was a great sign."

Said Frascatore: "I think last year's staff was one of the best staffs in the league, and I think this year's is only going to be better. I think we actually made it a little stronger. We've got an abundance of guys. I don't see anything to worry about with the staff.

"If Mercker is back to his form when he was with Atlanta, that's going to be a really, really good addition. You got (Todd) Stottlemyre, you got (Matt) Morris, you got Alan Benes, and any of those guys can be No. 1s on some other staff."

While the Cardinals lost closer Dennis Eckersley and reliever Tony Fossas -- and apparently lost Benes -- the Redbirds acquired Mercker from Cincinnati as a possible fifth starter after Donovan Osborne. Also picked up were middle reliever Ken Bottenfield from the Cubs and closer Jeff Brantley from Cincinnati, who missed nearly all of last season but led the National League in saves the year before.

"Jeff Brantley is a proven closer and a very determined man," Petkovsek said. "I think he wants to show everybody he's healthy."

Next, the offense:

"Have you seen the lineup yet? That lineup is scary," Marrero said. "It's going to be an interesting year. We've got the pitching, and we have the offense."

And, finally, the division:

"I like the way we shake out in that division," Pagnozzi said. "You look at Houston, they kind of ran away with the division, but they lost (ace Daryl) Kyle, and they lost (Luis) Gonzalez. I think that's a big subtraction."