The underachieving Cardinals waited long enough to kick it into high gear. Only two games above .500 on July 31, St. Louis went 40-18 down the stretch to grab the wild-card spot. Maybe the Cardinals' fate would have been different if they hadn't lost two of three to the Astros in the final series of the season. Could they have beaten the Braves?
Best Pitcher: Matt Morris. Only two years removed from Tommy John surgery, the 27-year-old right-hander became the staff ace. Entering the 2001 season, it took Morris 81 appearances to win 22 games. This season, Morris went 22-8 with a 3.16 ERA in 34 starts. He struck out a team-high 185 batters in 216 1/3 innings while walking only 54. In two playoff starts against Curt Schilling and the D-Backs, Morris (0-1) allowed just two earned runs over 15 innings.
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Rookie Comparison
Albert Pujols vs. Ted Williams
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Pujols
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Williams
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Avg.
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.329
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.327
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H
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194
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185
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2B
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47
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44
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HR
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37
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31
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R
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112
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131
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RBI
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130
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145
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Best Position Player: Albert Pujols, who had one of the greatest rookie seasons of all-time. The 21-year-old Pujols, who played only 133 minor-league games, led the Cards in runs (112), hits (194), doubles (47), homers (37) and RBI (130). He made 20 errors, playing four positions (RF, LF, 3B, 1B). In order to give Pujols' phenomenal rookie season some context, we compared him to Ted Williams, who hit .327 with 31 homers and 145 in his rookie year, 1939. Not too shabby, Albert.
Grading the Manager: B+. Tony La Russa didn't get his squad to the World Series, but he did guide a .500 team (43-43) at the All-Star break to 93 wins and the wild-card spot. Love him or hate him, La Russa will be back for a seventh season in St. Louis -- his 24th consecutive season as a major-league manager.
Most Improved: Woody Williams, who was acquired from the Padres for outfielder Ray Lankford in August. Maybe a change of scenery was what Williams needed. With the Padres, Williams was 8-8 with a 4.97 ERA. In 11 starts with the Cardinals, the 35-year-old right-hander went 7-1 with a 2.28 ERA. Two completely different pitchers. Williams finished the 2001 season with a 15-9 record and a 4.05 ERA. He also outdueled Arizona's Randy Johnson to win Game 2 of the NLDS, allowing one run on four hits over seven innings.
Biggest Weakness: Closer. Adding a dominant closer would allow left-hander Steve Kline and right-hander Dave Veres to become setup men again. La Russa had to use seven arms to get 38 saves. Veres led the team with 15 saves.
Gaining Momentum: Dare we say Rick Ankiel could return to the rotation in 2002? Spending his summer with the Johnson City Cardinals may have been the perfect remedy for his wildness. In 14 games for Johnson City, the left-hander went 5-3 with a 1.33 ERA. He recorded 158 strikeouts in 87 2/3 innings while walking only 18. He also led the team with 10 homers in 105 at-bats.
Kicked Off the Island: The Cards should thank Ray Lankford for being such a malcontent. His timely complaints of being underappreciated got the Cardinals a pitcher -- Woody Williams -- they so desperately needed. Williams' seven wins were vital. Is Mark McGwire going to retire? Big Mac's final major-league memory shouldn't be walking back to the dugout after La Russa decided to pinch-hit for him in the NLDS. St. Louis has a surplus of potential starters. Should they trade for a closer or pull an arm from the rotation to become a full-time closer? If the Cards can't find one, Dustin Hermanson might assume the role next year.
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