Cardinals Disastrous Spring Training Continues | Print |
Written by At Home Plate Staff (Contact & Archive) on March 10, 2011
  

The St. Louis Cardinals were one of the MLB favorites at BetUs to win the 2011 World Series just about a month ago. Now, everything has changed.

The Cardinals have had a tumultuous spring training that has left their team reeling. While they have a history of discovering and developing new productive pitchers under the guidance of pitching coach David Duncan, even he has his work cut out for him.

carpenter_chris_2
Chris Carpenter is probably worried about the Cardinals season.
Photo by shgmon56, used underĀ  creative commons license.
Adam Wainwright has had Tommy John surgery and is out for the season. But their pitching staff continues to take hits. Chris Carpenter suffered a hamstring injury and Mitchell Boggs suffered a lower back injury. While both injuries are minor, they will be out for the short term.

Carpenter was making his first start of spring training, so losing him so soon will be disconcerting to fans. He hopes to just miss one start. Meanwhile, Boggs said that the hopes to be throwing within five days or so.

While Carpenter and Boggs will be back shortly, the Cardinals have already started auditions for who will replace Wainwright.

Kyle McClellan, who has worked as a starter in the previous two spring trainings, will get the first shot. McClellan had an ERA of 2.27 in 2010. Adam Ottavino and Ian Snell are still in the mix. Admittedly, manager Tony La Russa mentioned that the latter two are behind in the race for now.

If these three options don't prove to be viable, the Cardinals may be forced to look outside of the organization. Veteran Kevin Millwood could be an option.

For now, the Cardinals will have to move and hopefully stay in better health than they have to this point.



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