Update: Phil Rogers Still on Crack

[Hungary Jack]

At least the Mets have a strong bullpen. That's more than the Cardinals can say. St. Louis lost veteran starters Jeff Suppan, Jeff Weaver and Jason Marquis to free agency after winning the World Series. General manager Walt Jocketty imported only fringe free agents Kip Wells and Ryan Franklin, forcing manager Tony La Russa to move Adam Wainwright and Braden Looper from the bullpen into the rotation.

Closer Jason Isringhausen is back in the mix after missing the playoff run, but injuries to Josh Kinney and Russ Springer have raised questions about their supply of right-handed relievers. Kinney, who was being counted on to be a setup man after a breakout year in 2006, was diagnosed with a torn ligament in his elbow last week and will undergo reconstructive surgery, sidelining him all season.

Wainwright, who has been one of the best-looking starters in Florida (as he was a year ago too), should join Chris Carpenter to give La Russa a strong top of the rotation. But the loss of the free agents who started 80 games a year ago is an even greater concern these days, as right-hander Anthony Reyes appears to have lost some velocity over the winter. Mark Mulder, expected out until the All-Star break after shoulder surgery, can't get healthy quick enough.

Good grief.

[clake]

There's a discussion on a different type of forum that was started by a Cubs fan saying the bullpen is now in shambles w/ the loss of Kinney.

Did Kinney really have a breakout year? He was good in the playoffs (very limited action) but I just don't see how everyone seems to think last year was so good for him.

[bronx_bird]

At least the Mets have a strong bullpen. That's more than the Cardinals can say. St. Louis lost veteran starters Jeff Suppan, Jeff Weaver and Jason Marquis to free agency after winning the World Series. General manager Walt Jocketty imported only fringe free agents Kip Wells and Ryan Franklin, forcing manager Tony La Russa to move Adam Wainwright and Braden Looper from the bullpen into the rotation.

Closer Jason Isringhausen is back in the mix after missing the playoff run, but injuries to Josh Kinney and Russ Springer have raised questions about their supply of right-handed relievers. Kinney, who was being counted on to be a setup man after a breakout year in 2006, was diagnosed with a torn ligament in his elbow last week and will undergo reconstructive surgery, sidelining him all season.

Wainwright, who has been one of the best-looking starters in Florida (as he was a year ago too), should join Chris Carpenter to give La Russa a strong top of the rotation. But the loss of the free agents who started 80 games a year ago is an even greater concern these days, as right-hander Anthony Reyes appears to have lost some velocity over the winter. Mark Mulder, expected out until the All-Star break after shoulder surgery, can't get healthy quick enough.

Good grief.

Ummm, if in the future, you could refer to us as The World Champion St. Louis Cardinals........that would be grrrrrreat.

[stlmark]

There's a discussion on a different type of forum that was started by a Cubs fan saying the bullpen is now in shambles w/ the loss of Kinney.

Did Kinney really have a breakout year? He was good in the playoffs (very limited action) but I just don't see how everyone seems to think last year was so good for him.

Wishful thinking there Cubs fans.

I wish that sportswriters, sometimes, would doing their homework when writing an article about!

[clake]

I seriously didn't know that 25 IP in a season could be a breakout year.

[Jocephus]

but hey, 'least its good crack

[greenback44]

I don't see what's so bad about this article. Granting that losing Jason Marquis is a positive and Josh Kinney wasn't particularly important a year ago, the Cardinals pitching staff right now is basically Chris Carpenter, Josh Hancock and 10 question marks.

[Fat Strat]

Anthony Reyes appears to have lost some velocity over the winter.

Hmm. Really? I heard his velocity was coming back up. He was hitting 91 in his last start. That's where he sat last year.

Other than that the article is pretty much right. We did get fringe FA's. We do have a very questionable bullpen. We do have a lot of questions in the starting rotation. Mulder is hurt and we need him back.

[ghostrunner]

Bullpens aren't great by definition, but as they go, ours looks pretty freaking awesome to me.

[Secret Weapon]

what I don't like about our bullpen is we really don't have that one go to guy that we know can shut down the other team when we need it

we have a lot of decent guys, but no great guys