When is it not too early to get excited?

[Fat Strat]

Really, when? Because our starting pitchers have been unbelievable this spring, and all of them are capable of continuing to pitch well. I realize I should temper my enthusiasm for this staff, but with every great outing it gets harder not to thinking about an amazing season.

[JL21]

Really, when? Because our starting pitchers have been unbelievable this spring, and all of them are capable of continuing to pitch well. I realize I should temper my enthusiasm for this staff, but with every great outing it gets harder not to thinking about an amazing season.

Even when it looked bleak in the off-season, the fact of the matter is that there was reason for optimism for each and every one of the first four starting candidates.

The bigger question is 'Will there be enough offense?'.

[Hungary Jack]

Based on last year, any excitement before September 31 seems premature.

[JL21]

September 31

Gonna be waiting a long time

[jim]

Most of the projections coming out have the Cardinals pitching just fine, it's scoring runs that is the problem.

For me, the earliest time for optimism or panic is Memorial Day.

[Hungary Jack]

September 31

Gonna be waiting a long time

I was joking--kind of.

I think we were 42-26 at a point in June 2006 before Mulder's arm fell off, Jimmy bumped his head, and the wheels started to come off our season.

Much of our bizarre ride in 2006 was injury-induced. If our rotation comes out of the gate healthy and stays healthy, then I think we can start to make some judgements in June as to how competitive the team will be.

I think we'll have a dogfight this season with the Cubs and Brewers, so it promises to be an exciting season.

[cardinalkarp]

I just remember they're pitching to AAA teams.

[beerman]

I just remember they're pitching to AAA teams.

With the BP that is more true but the starters are generally facing mostly starters...

[heyzeus]

I just remember they're pitching to AAA teams.

Yes and no; yesterday for example, Mourneau and Mauer were both in the Twins lineup. Most spring training games, the starting pitchers face a mix of opponents' starting players and tryouts for the first few innings before other players get subbed in.

So when Wells pitched 3 good innings, there were a decent number of starters in the lineup for those 3 innings.

[Cronos]

I just remember they're pitching to AAA teams.

Aren't all the other teams pitching to the same kind of talent as well, though?

Still, it helps that the Cards have played the Marlins a number of times and the Marlins are really not hitting at all this Spring(but then again, maybe that's a chicken/egg scenario).

I'm trying not to get too excited over it in general; it isn't that I think the pitchers won't be successful(on the contrary, if all goes well it could be something very special), I'm just concerned more about the arms/shoulders/elbows/whatever holding up for the entire season on all of the players. Reyes, Wainwright, and Wells have all had colorful injury histories, and Looper is coming off shoulder surgery(though a year old) and has never made starts before.