21-year old lefty swinging outfielder Colby Rasmus is the #1 prospect in the entire Cardinals’ system according to Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook but he’s struggling in the minors right now. Rasmus has played in 33 games in AAA-ball so far this season and he is 25 for 120 (.208 avg, .665 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 5 homers, 14 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. The Cardinals hope that Rasmus will be ready to help them out at some point in 2008 but they won’t promote him until he earns it.

Adam Wainwright has really stepped up for the Cardinals this season. With Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder out the Cardinals really needed someone to become the ace of the staff….and Wainwright has been that guy so far this season. He has started 6 games for the Cardinals this season and he is 3-1 with a 2.60 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP. The Cardinals always knew that they stole Wainwright from the Braves and that was proven a couple years ago when Jason Isringhausen was injured and couldn’t pitch in the World Series. Wainwright came into his own that year as he dominated as the replacement closer in that series. Wainright can handle any role the Cardinals need him to and that makes him very valuable.

Almost every team is pitching around Pujols this season and his elbow continues to bark but he just keeps ripping the baseball. Pujols has played in 30 games so far this season for the Cardinals and he is 36 for 99 (.364 avg, 1.112 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 5 homers and 20 RBIs. Pujols has walked 32 times already this season as he is getting the Barry Bonds treament. The amazing thing about Pujols this season is that he’s not missing the ball much at all as he has only whiffed 7 times this whole year. It the Cardinals hitters behind Pujols keep producing they will eventually have to pitch to him.

The Cardinals have placed righty reliever/starter Brad Thompson on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation. Thompson has pitched in 6 games (2 starts) for the Cardinals this season and he is 1-1 with a 4.58 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. Thompson will likely be in the bullpen for the Cardinals when he is ready to return to the team.

If the Cardinals relievers can all stay healthy they will have a very, very solid bullpen. 35-year old righty Jason Isringhausen is back as the closer for the Cardinals. He pitched in 63 games (0 starts) for the Cardinals last season and he was 4-0 with 32 saves, a 2.48 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. Isringhausen will be solid again in 2008 for the Cardinals.

39-year old righty Russ Springer had a career year last season and the Cardinals need a repeat performance out of him. He pitched in 76 games (0 starts) for the Cardinals last season and he was 8-1 with a 2.18 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. It will be interesting to see if Springer saved any magic for 2008.

35-year old righty Ryan Franklin also had a very solid year in 2007 for the Cardinals. He pitched in 69 games (0 starts) last season for the Cardinals and he was 4-4 with 1 save, a 3.04 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP.

32-year old lefty Randy Flores will likely do a lot of specialist work this season for the Cardinals. He pitched in 70 games (0 starts) last season and he was 3-0 with 1 save, a 4.25 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP.

38-year old lefty Ron Villone pitched in 37 games for the Yankees last season and he was 0-0 with a 4.25 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. He will help because he can give the Cardinals more innings than Flores can.

27-year old lefty Tyler Johnson is starting the season on the D.L. He pitched in 55 games (0 starts) for the Cardinals last season and he was 1-1 with a 4.03 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP.

23-year old righty Kyle McClellan made the team as the final pitcher in the bullpen which means long relief work. He pitched in 40 games (1 start) in A+AA ball last season and he was 6-1 with a 1.83 ERA.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON: B