Cardinals Are Up To The Daunting Task

When the Cardinals released their Active Roster for the NLDS series against the Phillies, there were many questions as to exactly who all they would be carrying. I first read them at our flagship site Call To The Pen, and there were a few unexpected moves and some we felt may be inevitable.

The Redbirds are obviously a major underdog going in, ESPN had them ranked just ahead of Tampa Bay and Arizona was the long shot.

Pitching:

Starters:
* Chris Carpenter
* Jaime Garcia
* Edwin Jackson
* Kyle Lohse

Bullpen:
* Mitchell Boggs
* Octavio Dotel
* Jason Motte
* Arthur Rhodes
* Marc Rzepczynski
* Fernando Salas
* Jake Westbrook

From what is being circulated, Jake Westbrook has been removed from the starter role for this series and will work out of the pen. Notably missing however was Kyle McClellan. Westbrook and McClellan have both suffered greatly in recent games and the decision to carry one, both, or even none was a major question coming in. Jackson is also listed as a starter, but they are wanting to use him in more of a long relief spot as well.

Infield:
* Daniel Descalso
* David Freese
* Rafael Furcal
* Gerald Laird
* Yadier Molina
* Albert Pujols
* Nick Punto
* Skip Schumaker
* Ryan Theriot

Rafael Furcal was of course the major question in the infield with the hamstring injury he sustained in Houston last week, but he start game one in the leadoff spot after all. The only thing we can truly expect at these positions is Albert at first and Yaid behind the plate day in and day out. The 2B/SS/3B carousel we go between with the rest of these guys is always hard to tell exactly who is ready to go, but maybe that is the mystique behind it. Descalso has been a terrific contriubtor all season, Punto and Furcal (if he stays healthy) have become very formidable offensively, and Theriot finally seems to be coming into his own at 2B after showing his obvious deficiencies at SS, which led to the Furcal acquisition.

Outfield:
* Lance Berkman
* Adron Chambers
* Allen Craig
* Matt Holliday
* Jon Jay

Holliday, like Furcal on the IF, is our big question. His situation is a little more serious however. He is still listed as day to day, but he may have come back a little too early in Houston just to be there to help us make the playoffs. He re-aggravated an injury in his hand yet again. Berkman, Craig, and Jay look to anchor the OF for the time being with Adron on the pine. That outfield alone has been more than sufficient in recent memory, but we all know having Matt back in full health never hurts.

The teams official Depth Chart is listed like this for the time being, but you never know what to expect with Tony at the helm.

Here’s to an unthinkable postseason appearance, GO CARDS!