Why didn't the 2004 team win the World Series? Why did the 2006 team win the World Series? Where does the 2010 team stand in the race this year? I'm going to help you make sense of it all, starting with Offensive.
Year – Hitter: BA --- HR --- RBI --- OBP --- WAR
(stats for 2010 are from the 2009 season)
Catcher
2004 – Mike Matheny: .247 --- 5 --- 50 --- .292 --- 0.4
- Although he was never an offensive powerhouse, Matheny posted decent numbers for a catcher, but was most known and highly thought of for his outstanding defensive performance behind the plate.
2006 – Yadier Molina: .216 --- 6 --- 49 --- .274 --- -0.2
- Molina’s second year with the starting catching job in StL led to a below par offensive season for the young catcher. Outside of his defensive effectiveness wearing the tools of ignorance, perhaps his most notable contribution to the Card’s World Series win in 2006 was his clutch 2-run homer against the Mets in game 7 of the NLCS.
2010 – Yadier Molina: .293 --- 6 --- 54 --- .366 --- 3.4
- Yadi has proved himself as one of the best defensive catchers in the game, posting a caught stealing percentage of 41%. Not only were his defensive stats impressive (as always), but his offensive stats received a large boost from 2006. Molina’s inside out swing and his ability to hit the ball to the opposite field make him a very valuable part of the Cardinal’s lineup.
Verdict: 2010
- Matheny and Yadi both make tremendous defensive catchers, but the upper hand goes to Molina with his superior offensive performance.
1st Base –
2004 – Albert Pujols: .331 --- 46 ---123 --- .415 --- 7.9
2006 – Albert Pujols: .331 --- 49 --- 137 --- .431 --- 7.7
2010 – Albert Pujols: .327 --- 47 --- 135 --- .443 --- 8.4
- … Not much to say here, except for Albert just being Albert.
2nd Base –
2004 – Tony Womack: .307 --- 5 --- 38 --- .349 --- 2.8
- Womack’s year in 2004 marks the second year of the Cardinal’s trend in picking up cheap, temporary, disposable second basemen. No one expected Womack to perform the way he did in 2004, setting his career high in batting average a full .025 points above his previous mark. His 26 stolen bases cannot go unnoticed either. With that said, Womack proved to be not a spot-filler in the lineup, but went on to have a clutch and career year with the Redbirds in 2004.
2006 – Aaron Miles: .263 --- 2 --- 30 --- .324 --- 0.2
- Miles turned out to be just another cheap second baseman for the Cardinals and did not play a huge role in the 2006 World Series.
2010 – Skip Schumaker: .303 --- 4 --- 35 --- .364 --- 1.2
- A vast improvement for second basemen in recent years, Skip Schumaker represents the first potential non-disposable, permanent second baseman in six years (he just signed on with the Card’s for 2 more years). Skip’s transition from OF to 2B is an intriguing and extremely important move for the Cardinals: it puts Skip at a position for which he is more physically and offensively suited, turns a previously wasted position into a key role for the team, frees up an OF spot for a boost to the lineup, improves team chemistry, and creates a harmonious alternative where the Cardinals are able to better utilize an important part of their foundation.
Verdict: 2004
- If you take into account Womack’s and Skip’s comparable stats, WAR, Tony’s larger number of stolen bases and better fielding, and Schumaker’s longevity as a Cardinal and lack learning curve at 2nd base, Womack barely legs out Schumaker for the more impacting 2nd baseman.
3rd Base –
2004 – Scott Rolen: .314 --- 34 --- 124 --- .409 --- 8.8
- Acquired from the Phillies in 2002, Rolen posted the highest WAR of his career in 2004 (8.8 is a HUGE WAR), and his stats were so impressive that, along with Pujols and Edmonds, they earned the nickname of MV3.
2006 – Scott Rolen: .296 --- 22 --- 95 --- .369 --- 5.7
- Suffering from past shoulder injuries and rocky relations with manager Tony La Russa, Rolen’s stats fell with his health. Although he managed to hit just under .300 and put up a 5.7 WAR, and continued to be an integral part of a weaker Cardinals team in 2006, Rolen would never be the same ballplayer again.
2010 – David Freese: .269 --- 12 --- 53 --- .335 --- 1.8 (2010 CHONE Projections)
- Freese will be nowhere near Rolen’s stats in 2010, seeing as he is just walking on to the Major League stage as the probable starter at 3rd base for the Cards ("GM John Mozeliak insisted that David Freese would receive the first chance to stake a claim to third base" - Joe Strauss); CHONE projections are often lower than reality, however, and it is possible that Freese could have a solid rookie year at third base. After all, you have to let the kid start somewhere.
Verdict: 2004
- Scott Rolen’s 2004 career year and World Series appearance easily wins this debate; however, don’t rule Freese out as being a contributor to a strong Cardinal’s season in 2010.
Shortstop -
2004 – Edgar Renteria: .287 --- 10 --- 82 --- .327 --- 1.9
- 2004 was not Renteria’s best year. For one thing, his WAR was 4.9 losses below 2003; however, he helped to bring the team to the World Series, and was not at all a hindrance the team’s performance.
2006 – David Eckstein: .292 --- 2 --- 23 --- .350 --- 1.5
- The Cardinals went in a completely different direction with Eckstein, switching from a powerful, middle of the lineup shortstop, to a scrappier, 2nd-baseman turned SS in David Eckstein. 2006 was not as productive as 2005 for the King of Hustle, but he went on to become the MVP of the 2006 World Series.
2010 – Brendan Ryan: .292. --- 3 --- 37 --- .340 --- 3.2
- Ryan is another intriguing figure in the St. Louis organization. In 2009 he proved that he could play good defense, and that his bat would help the team as well. La Russa often used him as the ninth hitter in the lineup in order to create a dual-leadoff approach. He is not projected to have as productive as a season as in 2009, but he has just undergone wrist surgery and will hopefully be back before opening day. Who knows? With his wrist injuries gone will Ryan have an even greater impact with the team and rack up more than 390 at bats?
Verdict: 2010
- Ryan handily beats 2004 Renteria and 2006 Eckstein for the better player, and a healthier Ryan will be an important contributor to the Cardinals if they are going to go all the way in 2010.
Outfield –
2004 – Reggie Sanders: .260 --- 22 --- 67 --- .315 --- 2.2
Jim Edmonds: .301 --- 42 --- 111 --- .418 --- 8.1
Larry Walker: .298 --- 17 --- 47 --- .424 --- 1.4
- A strong outfield with a very, very strong Edmonds at the helm. Offseason and midseason pickups in Sanders and Walker added experience and strong stats to accompany the hometown hero. A combined WAR of 11.7 is also an incredibly strong number for an outfield.
2006 – So Taguchi / (Chris Duncan): .266 --- 2 --- 31 --- .335 --- 0.3 / (.293 --- 22 ---43 --- .463 --- 2.0)
Jim Edmonds: .257 --- 19 --- 70 --- .350 --- 2.6
Juan Encarnacion: .278 --- 19 --- 79 --- .317 --- 1.2
- The 2006 raised many questions and left much to be desired. A once immortal Edmonds posted the lowest average in the outfield, and the entire OF seemed to bring the team down. It’s amazing that every one of the outfielders managed to stay above replacement level.
2010 – Matt Holliday: .313 --- 24 --- 109 --- .394 --- 2.7
Colby Rasmus: .251 --- 15 --- 52 --- .307 --- 2.2
Ryan Ludwick: .265 --- 22 --- 97 --- .329 --- 1.8
- A combined WAR of 7.7 doesn’t sound as impressive as the 11.7 WAR from 2004, but in this particular instance, the stats only tell part of the story. First, including Oakland, Holliday finished the entire 2009 season with 5.7 WAR (Holliday’s WAR in 2007 was 8.0). Second, I would consider 2009 an off-year for Ryan Ludwick; he may not have a 5.7 WAR like in 2008, but he is much more capable than hitting .265. Third, Colby is just starting to blossom into a Major League ballplayer, and was able to earn the role of starting centerfielder in his first year in the Bigs. Even Matthew Leach thinks that "Colby Rasmus should be quite a bit more productive in his second season." Be patient for Rasmus, because when he overcomes the struggles of being a young, inexperienced player, he will become much more than just an above-average player.
Verdict: 2004
- The World Series outfield of 2004 was well equipped and had few holes, thus making its way to the top of my list. I am very excited to see the 2010 outfield in action this year though, because of their enormous potential to kick Edmonds, Walker, and Sanders out of first place.
Check out Matthew Leach's take on next year's projections on the Cards' website.
Venn Diagram Comparison - http://www.flickr.com/photos/7444180@N08/3025819796/
