St. Louis Cardinals

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2002 Finish: 97-65, 1st, NL Central	2002 Payroll: $73,807,364 (12th)

Projected Lineup 2B Fernando Vina RF Eli Marrero CF Jim Edmonds LF Albert Pujols 3B Scott Rolen 1B Tino Martinez SS Edgar Renteria C Mike Matheny Projected Rotation RHP Matt Morris RHP Woody Williams RHP Brett Tomko RHP Garrett Stephenson RHP Jason Simontacchi CL Jason Isringhausen

By John Donovan, SI.com

With the shock and the successes of a remarkable 2002 behind them, the Cardinals now lug the expectations of "The National League's Best Lineup" into 2003.

They carry it well.

The Cardinals have four Gold Glove winners, more sluggers than you can shake a Louisville Slugger at, better-than-pretty-good pitching and the league's manager of the year. They won 97 games last season, captured the NL Central, then beat the defending World Series champion Diamondbacks in the first round of the playoffs before falling to the Giants in the NL Championship Series.

The Cards have talent, savvy and smarts, from general manager Walt Jocketty through skipper Tony La Russa all the way down to a veteran-stocked lineup. They've made the postseason three straight years. This ought to be a fourth, which would be a first for this storied franchise.

There are questions, as always: some injuries (most notably to right fielder J.D. Drew) must be overcome; some apparent holes in the bottom part of the rotation have to be filled. Some players need to step up. Some need to keep it up.

But after last season -- after the death of pitcher Darryl Kile and broadcasting icon Jack Buck, after the injuries and heartache and the sheer weight of dealing with it all -- 2003 should be much more about baseball and much less about everything else.

For "The National League's Best Lineup," that only can be good news.

La Russa has a couple of knots to untie when the team unpacks for spring training in Jupiter, Fla. First is to find someone to play for Drew until he's healthy enough to go every day.

That job probably will fall to Eli Marrero, a capable fill-in who hit .262 in 131 games last year, punching out 18 homers and 66 RBIs. Those numbers were actually better than Drew's. Drew played in four more games than Marrero and had only 18 homers and 56 RBIs while hitting .252. Drew has yet to fulfill the potential everyone sees, and now he's slowed by off-season knee surgery. He may not be ready to play, full time, until June. If Marrero keeps close to his career numbers of last year, the Cards will make sure Drew's completely healed before messing with Marrero.

La Russa also must find a good rotation. Righty Matt Morris (17-9, 3.42 ERA in '02) is the cinch ace. Righty Woody Williams (9-4, 2.53 ERA in 17 starts) is the No. 2. Brett Tomko, who came over in a trade with the Padres, is No. 3, though his 10-10 record with a 4.49 ERA isn't causing fans to do somersaults. Between the Nos. 4 and 5 spots, it could be righty Cal Eldred (out all last year with arm problems), righty Garrett Stephenson (who had back and leg problems) or righty Jason Simontacchi (11-5, 4.02 as a rookie).

Tino Martinez found that filling in for Mark McGwire is one thankless job. The former Yankees first baseman got off to a terrible start in St. Louis, hitting .200 in April (without a home run) and .236 in May. He hit better as the season went on, but his 21 homers and 75 RBIs were way off the 34 and 113 he had for the Yanks in 2001. There are concerns that the 35-year-old Martinez has lost some bat speed. He'll need to find it this season or the thankless job will get even harder.

Righty Jimmy Journell is a hard thrower who is the team's top pitching prospect. He probably won't find a spot in the rotation this year unless the Cardinals suffer through injury problems. But with a decent spring, or maybe a decent start in the minors, Journell (2-4, 2.68 ERA in Class AAA Memphis last season, with 32 strikeouts and 18 walks in almost 37 innings) could find a spot in a bullpen looking for some help.

Arrivals: RHP Dustin Hermanson (free agent from Boston), RHP Brett Tomko (from San Diego in trade), RHP Joey Hamilton (free agent from Cincinnati), RHP Al Levine (free agent from Anaheim), C Joe Girardi (free agent from Chicago Cubs), C Steve Torrealba (free agent from Atlanta), RHP Chris Carpenter (free agent from Toronto), OF Orlando Palmeiro (free agent from Anaheim)

Departures: RHP Luther Hackman (traded to San Diego), RHP Dave Veres (free agent signed with Chicago Cubs), RHP Andy Benes (retired), C Mike DiFelice (free agent signed with Kansas City), LHP Chuck Finley (free agent), RHP Rick White (free agent signed with Chicago White Sox), RHP Jamey Wright (free agent signed with Seattle), OF Al Martin (free agent signed with Florida)

The Cards will miss setup man Dave Veres and starters Chuck Finley and Andy Benes, but this is a team that can overcome those losses pretty easily. How? Good defense, for one, led by second baseman Fernando Vina, shortstop Edgar Renteria, third baseman Scott Rolen and center fielder Jim Edmonds, Gold Glovers every one. Add to that the awesome hitting ability of that NL-best lineup, with Edmonds (.311, 28 homers, 83 RBIs), left fielder Albert Pujols (.314, 34, 127) and Rolen (a combined .266, 31, 100 between Philadelphia and St. Louis) comprising a middle of the lineup that challenges the new Phillies' order. And with Morris topping the pitching staff, that should be good enough for another NL Central title.