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