If you can judge a season by the weather in Spring Training, then this is going to be a great season.
This year in Jupiter, Florida has seen some of the best weather and playing conditions the team has had in fifty years, unlike the 2010 Spring Training which was the worst weather we had in my experience during Spring Training days. The club really took advantage of the great weather this year, as they were able to work very hard and they are in great shape and ready to go. The roster has been trimmed to 25 - always a hard chore for the manager and his coaches - but we'll undoubtedly see some of those last sent down to AAA Memphis in the coming weeks and months. The starting pitching is set and ready to go, the outfield is solid, and the batting lineup can be a pitcher's nightmare - if the number one and two hitters get on base, then the opposing pitchers get the big boys to face. Mr. Kyle McClellan was 4-0 with a .078 ERA in five starts during Spring Training, clearly the most dominating of our pitchers, and he only gave up 12 hits in 23 innings while fanning 16. It will be interesting to see how the bullpen works out, but all and all, this team is ready to go.
We open the season as you know with San Diego and then Pittsburgh. I personally do not like playing Pittsburgh early considering it is a club that isn't going to be very strong. We have struggled with them in the past; who knows though. As long as the Cardinals get the victories, Tony LaRussa will be happy. And I'm equally excited for the first road trip because it will be a nice test for the Cardinals facing the west coast teams including facing the World Series Champions, the San Francisco Giants.
As usual, Opening Day is going to be a great day and the festivities are always a great way to open up the season and celebrate the unofficial St. Louis holiday. I'm excited about returning back to St. Louis and even more excited about our Live at Shannon's show. We will be airing on Tuesday's, Friday's, and Saturday's after home games. Tuesday, April the 5th, former all-star first baseman, Bill White, will join me on the Live at Shannon's show. Bill will be in the Outfield April 6th signing books with our old buddy Charlie Brennan. See you soon at the ballpark or at Shannon's.