2001 Record: 93-69, tied for 1st in NL Central, lost Division Series to Diamondbacks 2001 Results | 2002 Schedule | 2002 Roster | 2001 Statistics: Batting | Pitching Offense (NL rank) Defense (NL rank) 814 runs (4th) Home: 443 runs (2nd) Road: 371 (9th) 684 runs allowed (3rd) Home: 3.43 ERA (1st) Road: 4.47 ERA (7th) 2001 Stats Leaders   Average: Albert Pujols, .329 Runs: Pujols, 112 On-base pct: Jim Edmonds, .410 Stolen bases: E. Renteria, F. Vina, 17 Wins: Matt Morris, 22 Saves: Dave Veres, 15 Home runs: Pujols, 37 RBI: Pujols, 130 Slugging pct.: Pujols, .610 OPS: Pujols, 1.013 ERA: Darryl Kile, 3.09 Strikeouts: Morris, 185

ESPN's Take Q: Does an improved bullpen make them the team to beat in the National League? I'm picking the Cards to go to the World Series. Their starting rotation is very deep, having an established closer in Jason Isringhausen will be a plus, and Tino Martinez will be a big plus. Replacing the oft-injured Mark McGwire, Martinez has four more rings than most of the other Cardinals have and is coming off his best season since 1998. As the season opens, the Cardinals are the only team in the NL that has no apparent weaknesses. -- Dave Campbell  Jayson Stark's Crystal Ball Tino Martinez and Albert Pujols will become the second pair of Cardinals infielders to drive in 100 runs each at the corners since Ken Boyer and Bill White in 1964. (Mark McGwire and Fernando Tatis were the others, in 1999.) Edgar Renteria disappointed many owners last season, but it's not hard to envision him continuing his nice second half and being the 15-homer, 30-steal guy we expected. Still just 26. Look at his walks. Look at the no-hitter. Look at Bud Smith and what do you see? A pretty good No. 3 starter on a team that expects to win at least 90 games. -- Eric Karabell Batting order Fernando Vina, 2B Placido Polanco, LF J.D. Drew, RF Albert Pujols, 3B Jim Edmonds, CF Tino Martinez, 1B Edgar Renteria, SS Mike Matheny, C Bench Kerry Robinson, Eli Marrero, Miguel Cairo, Bill Ortega, So Taguchi Rotation Matt Morris, Darryl Kile, Woddy Williams, Bud Smith, Garret Stephenson / Andy Benes Bullpen Jason Isringhausen, Steve Kline, Mike Timlin, Mike Matthews, Dave Veres, Gene Stechschulte Jim Journell, RHP Hardthrower who came back from Tommy John surgery to go 15-6 with 2.45 ERA last year combined at Class A and Double-A. With deep rotation won't be rushed to the big leagues.

Catcher: Mike Matheny Was a liability at the plate, hitting just .218 with seven homers, but made only three errors (.995 fielding pct.) and has one of the best arms in the business. NL Position Ranking: 12th First Base: Tino Martinez One of the best RBI men in baseball over the last few seasons. Had at least 25 homers and 100 RBI in six of the last seven years, although he benefitted nicely from hitting behind Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams. Excellent range at first and he's made just 19 errors in the last three seasons. NL Position Ranking: 8th Second Base: Fernando Vina He's hit over .300 in his last three full seasons and scored at least 81 runs each year. Not a lot of steals for a leadoff hitter, but he did win his first Gold Glove in 2001; excels at turning the deuce. NL Position Ranking: 4th Third Base: Albert Pujols Had maybe the best rookie season ever last year at .329-37-130 and 112 runs scored while playing four positions. Settles in at third base -- with some time in left field as well -- and even if he falls off his rookie pace a bit, he'll still be one of the league's best hitters. NL Position Ranking: 1st Shortstop: Edgar Renteria Homers, average and RBI were all down sightly from his All-Star numbers in 2000, but he's still a decent offensive NL shortstop. Continues to be suspect in the field, though, as he has committed at least 20 errors in four consecutive seasons. NL Position Ranking: 5th Left Field: Placido Polanco Finally got to be an everyday player last season and responded. Hit over .300, mostly from the No. 2 spot, and put the ball in play nearly every time. A slap hitter who lacks power, he had just 33 extra-base hits. A nice infielder, but lacks power for a left fielder. NL Position Ranking: 15th Center Field: Jim Edmonds Continues to produce when he's healthy. Two of his three highest homer and RBI totals have come in the last three years and he had a 974 OPS to go with a .304 average last season. Oh, and he won the last two NL Gold Gloves in center field. NL Position Ranking: 3rd Right Field: J.D. Drew One of the best players in the National League when healthy. He had a 1.027 OPS and 28 homers in 109 games last year and destroyed righties with a .332 average, 24 homers and .426 OPS. NL Position Ranking: 6th No. 1 Starter: Matt Morris A bona fide ace last year in his first season in the rotation since 1998. Led the National League with 22 wins and had 24 quality starts while going 15-2 with a 1.62 ERA at home. NL Ranking among starters: 5th No. 2 Starter: Darryl Kile Finally recovered from a disastrous stint in Colorado, his ERA has dropped more than three full runs in the last two years. Was fifth in the National League last year with a 3.09 ERA, but it remains to be seen if he can throw his usual number of high innings coming off surgery. NL Ranking among starters: 9th No. 3 Starter: Bud Smith Showed poise as a rookie last season, holding opponents to a .206 average with runners in scoring position and allowing just a .304 OBP overall. NL Ranking among starters: 24th No. 4 Starter: Woody Williams Went 7-1 with a 2.28 ERA down the stretch last year after coming over from San Diego. Gave up 25 homers on the year but held opponents to a .225 average after the All-Star break. Strong finish has us predicting his best year yet. NL Ranking among starters: 20th Bullpen: Mike Matthews, Steve Kline, Mike Timlin, Dave Veres, Gene Stechschulte Kline was a one-man bullpen at times, leading the National League in relief appearances (89) and finishing first among relievers in opponents' batting average (.149). He also converted nine of 10 save chances, but will have less pressure this year as the setup man for Isringhausen. Timlin and Veres add valuable experience and Matthews crushed lefties (.133 average against) until meeting Craig Counsell in the playoffs. NL Position Ranking: 1st Closer: Jason Isringhausen Saved 67 games in the last two seasons with Oakland and held right-handers to just a .152 batting average. He did blow an AL-leading nine saves, but he is now pitching in a comfort zone close to home. Position Ranking: 6th

Overall Power Index Rankings (NL rank):
Position: 6.75 (3rd) | Pitching: 2.50 (2nd)

-- Rico Longoria