St. Louis Cardinals outlook

The Cardinals didn't make it back to the World Series, perhaps in part because Scott Rolen decided to shut it down early last season to have shoulder surgery and be 100 percent by the start of 2006.

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Here's to hoping that decision was worth it.

Rolen will be back hitting fifth behind Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds, giving him a pair of .400-plus OBP sluggers to mash behind. If healthy, Rolen will easily outperform his draft position, which will rightly be downgraded due to shoulder uncertainty. A second- or third-rounder before the injury, he was selected in the seventh round in our magazine experts draft this December. For comparison, his young protege, David Wright, went in Round 2.

Shoulder issues can prove to be death on a swing's power, so you will certainly have to watch Rolen's extra-base-hit productivity in box scores this spring before investing in him on Draft Day.

Spring position battles

No. 5 starter -- Anthony Reyes vs. Sidney Ponson

It's the top prospect vs. the veteran retread. Reyes is clearly out in front, making him an outstanding sleeper in mixed leagues this spring. The Cardinals have been a breeding ground for 15-game winners, so Reyes could prove to be a rare rookie starting pitcher with a good amount of victories. Ponson is signed to a cheap contract, so there's less interest in having him as a starter. He will likely open at the long reliever and spot starter -- not that the Cardinals have needed one in recent years. Only consider Ponson as a late flier in deeper NL formats.

Second base -- Junior Spivey vs. Aaron Miles

The Cardinals had such great returns on Mark Grudzielanek and David Eckstein off the scrap heap last year, they decided to grab a pair of underachievers on the cheap to play second base in 2006. Spivey has intriguing pop and steal potential for NL-only leagues, while Miles is more of a contact hitter with limited Eckstein-like offensive potential. Whoever wins this battle, especially if it happens outright, will have deeper mixed-league sleeper written all over him because he will get pumped with fastballs hitting No. 2 in front of Sir Pujols.

Left field -- Larry Bigbie vs. John Rodriguez

Bigbie and Rodriguez seemed to be headed in different directions as 27-year-olds last year. Bigbie's projection as a solid big-league regular has fallen, while Rodriguez has risen. Since they're both left-handed hitters, there is not platoon situation in play -- although Rodriguez could spell Juan Encarnacion in right field from time to time. Regardless, both of these guys will have their Fantasy value limited to NL-only leagues on Draft Day.

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