CARDS HOPE RAM FEVER IS CONTAGIOUS

Seemingly everybody in St. Louis has caught Ram fever.

And that includes two young St. Louis Cardinal prospects.

Rick Ankiel and Adam Kennedy hope the football frenzy spills over to baseball season.

Ankiel, Kennedy and Chad Hutchinson -- the top three young baseball prospects in the Cardinal organization -- were in Cape Girardeau Friday night as part of the St. Louis Cardinal Caravan at the Osage Center.

The players didn't say whether they were excited about the Rams so much as they were excited about the excitement.

In other words, if St. Louis is going this crazy over the Rams, how excited will the renowned baseball town get if the Cardinals make the playoffs?

Ankiel said he thought the Rams' success has motivated the Cardinals.

"Me and Adam went to the (Rams) game last week and it was awesome to feel the electricity in the dome," said the 20-year old southpaw regarded by many experts as the top pitching prospect in the country. "It's really overwhelming."

Kennedy said being at the game definitely motivated him.

"Being there last weekend when the Rams were in town was great," he said. "People were saying If you think this is crazy, wait till the Cardinals come to town.'"

Each of the three players at the Caravan believe there is a better chance of making it to the playoffs this year after the Cardinals made several moves to bolster their starting rotation.

The Cardinals have acquired three veteran starting pitchers Darrell Kile, Pat Hentgen and Andy Benes to go along with Kent Bottenfield, who was an 18-game winner last year. In addition, the Cardinals added Fernando Vina to play second base.

(Every one of those signings impacted the three players at the Caravan Friday night.

Ankiel and Hutchinson are both future starting pitchers and Kennedy's primary position is second base.

Ankiel probably has the best chance to make the roster this spring training, but he's not taking anything for granted.

"Right now, I just want to go into spring training and do the best that I can to make the team," he said. "I just want to give myself the best chance I can. I'm not looking past that."

He may not be, but everybody else is.

The Cardinals invested large, long-term contracts into both Ankiel and Hutchinson, hoping they will lead the Cardinals pitching staff for many years to come.

Ankiel was tabbed Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Year for the second consecutive season last year. The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder dominated the minor leagues, posting a 25-9 record over the last two seasons.

In a late-season promotion last year, Ankiel went 0-1 with a 3.27 earned run average in 33 innings pitched for the Cardinals. He pitched well enough to win some games only to have the bullpen lose it.

"That's the way the ball bounces sometimes," he said. "It was just good (to be called up) to see what it was like. Hopefully, I'll come into spring training this year a little more relaxed."

Ankiel was limited in his time with the Cardinals because they didn't want to risk a young arm after he had pitched more than 150 innings in the minors.

"They're doing a good job with me," said Ankiel. "They kept me to a low pitch count and they're taking every precaution. I'm going to put my trust in the Cardinals."

As far as Kennedy, "I assume I have a shot at being a utility player who could come off the bench," he said.

There has been some talk of Kennedy playing right field. When asked if Kennedy would accept that, he said "Yeah, I don't know any (upstart) player who would deny a position. I wouldn't have a problem doing anything as long as I get a chance. I want to be a part of what could be something real special."

Of the three players at the Caravan Friday night, Hutchinson was the only one to have not seen big-league action. Hutchinson, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound right-hander, was called up but didn't pitch.

Some reports out of St. Louis say that Hutchinson's best bet at making the team will be in the bullpen. Whatever the case, Hutchinson can't complain.

"I got to the big leagues after my first full year in the minors," he said. "Now I want to get there and stay there. I don't know if I'll make the team (at spring training). We have a lot of veterans now. But I will go in and give it my best shot.")