Cardinals begin pennant defense in hopes of ending NL trend

ST. LOUIS -- Recent National League history suggests it's almost impossible to repeat. The last seven years, seven different teams have made it to the World Series.

The St. Louis Cardinals aim to end that trend, and they'll be driven. After leading the major leagues with 105 victories and then beating Roger Clemens to advance to the city's first World Series in 17 years, they were unceremoniously swept by the Boston Red Sox.

"I don't think that series took anything away from what we did," Cardinals pitcher Jeff Suppan said. "You only hope it makes you stronger."

There was little talk of the World Series at spring training, almost as if it were only a bad dream, and there seemed to be little if any hangover from that spoiled opportunity. Manager Tony La Russa's attitude was to turn the page.

"Win or lose, it's a brand new year," La Russa said.

And despite the dismal ending, getting that far and playing that well bring expectations. The Cardinals are the team to beat now, whereas last spring they were rated the third-best team in the NL Central behind the Cubs and Astros.

For starters, they're the first team in 73 years, following in the dusty footsteps of the 1932 Cubs, to enter the season with a rotation that features five 15-game winners. Offseason trade pickup Mark Mulder won 17 games and is eager to answer doubts brought on by a late-season swoon in Oakland. Suppan (16), Jason Marquis (15) and Chris Carpenter (15) all set career bests for victories.

Plus, Carpenter and Matt Morris (15) are ready, coming back from injuries that hampered them last year. Morris struggled with a shoulder injury that required offseason surgery following a career-worst 4.72 ERA. Carpenter missed the postseason with nerve damage to his right bicep.

Without Carpenter, the Cardinals lacked a bona fide No. 1 starter in the postseason.

"It was definitely frustrating, but what are you going to do?" Carpenter said. "I've dealt with a lot of things in my career and I dealt with that."

St. Louis still has the NL's best lineup, too, despite losing shortstop Edgar Renteria, second baseman and leadoff hitter Tony Womack and catcher Mike Matheny to free agency. La Russa expects the new double-play combo of shortstop David Eckstein and second baseman Mark Grudzielanek to be just as productive offensively and defensively as the guys they're replacing, plus they came with lower price tags that made it possible for general manager Walt Jocketty to acquire Mulder and stay with an $85 million budget.

"We're going to play as well in the middle as we did last year," La Russa said. "Walt did a hell of a job to replace really good players with really good players."

Eckstein will bat leadoff and Grudzielanek seventh in a power-packed attack led by Albert Pujols, who has had the best four-year start to his career in major league history. Cleanup hitter Scott Rolen worked with a personal trainer in the offseason to deal with calf and knee problems that didn't prevent him from batting .300 for the first time in his career, and Jim Edmonds tied his career best with 42 homers.

Behind the plate, the Cardinals might be taking a bit of a chance with 22-year-old Yadier Molina. But the team considered his performance as the backup last year along with his pedigree as the youngest of three catching brothers in the majors when handing him the job.

The outfield is a strength although it's aging a bit with Edmonds turning 35 this summer. The group also includes Larry Walker (38) and Reggie Sanders (37). Walker, a three-time batting champion, is aboard for a full season after being acquired from the Rockies last year.

Another strength is the bullpen, where Jason Isringhausen tied the franchise record with 47 saves despite a painful hip condition that forced him to alter his delivery and then required offseason surgery. There's no shortage of arms --even though Rick Ankiel decided to retire as a pitcher and try to make it back to the majors as an outfielder -- with Ray King and Julian Tavarez both proven setup men.

If any team is geared to a repeat, it's this one. La Russa has done a good job of keeping the Cardinals in contention, reaching the postseason five times in nine seasons.

"I think I'm as optimistic this year as I was last year, because I look on paper and I see a really good club," La Russa said. "I also know that all of us, we've got to take it off the paper and put it on the field."