MLB preview: St. Louis Cardinals

I'm picking the Cardinals to run away with the NL Central, but with a couple of caveats. One is that I feel they're more susceptible to being thrown off track due to one major injury than any other top contender in baseball. Another is that the Cubs fan in me is hopeful that they'll bomb like most of the teams I pick success for tend to do.

2009 record: 91-71 (1st in NL Central)

2010 projected record: 98-64 (1st in NL Central)

Probable starters:

C — Yadier Molina

1B — Albert Pujols

2B — Skip Schumaker

SS — Brendan Ryan

3B — David Freese

LF — Matt Holliday

CF — Colby Rasmus

RF — Ryan Ludwick

SP — Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright, Kyle Loshe, Brad Penny, Rich Hill

CL — Ryan Franklin

RP — Trever Miller, Jason Motte

Strengths: Having the best player in the game in Pujols is the foundation of the success the Cardinals will have. Holliday gives Pujols something he never truly had before Holliday was acquired last season — a true in-his-prime superstar to protect him in the lineup. Carpenter and Wainwright both could pass for aces on the vast majority of big-league pitching staffs. Penny and Hill are two intriguing options for pitching coach Dave Duncan to work his magic with. The bullpen lacks huge names, but between Motte, Miller, Mitch Boggs, Kyle McClellan and Dennys Reyes, manager Tony La Russa had an abundance of options for all situations.

Weaknesses: Other than the Big 2, it's not that great a lineup. Rasmus is a very talented young player and Ludwick had 113 RBI two years ago, but there aren't any guys that are sure bets to hit in the .290, 25-homer range for the No. 5 spot in the order. I love Molina for his defense, but he, Ryan and Schumaker certainly aren't threats for big-time offensive production. Penny, Loshe and Hill all were average at best starting pitchers in 2009. Franklin concluded an otherwise great season with a poor finish and has just one year as a full-time closer under his belt.