St. Louis Cardinals - The Bush Era (2000-2009)

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2000

Decade

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100

Titles:

Top Cardinals Players of the Twenty Oughts

2000 - Lost NLCS to Mets

2001 - Lost LDS to Arizona

Pitchers:

2002 - Lost NLCS to Giants

Jason Isringhausen (6.78) - 59

2004 - Lost World Series to Boston

Matt Morris (11.33) - 53

2005 -Lost NLCS to Houston

Chris Carpenter (21.01) - 42

2006 -World Champs beat Detroit

Adam Wainwright (12.82) - 32

2009 - Lost NLDS to Dodgers

Darryl Kyle (9.63) - 25

Jeff Suppan (3.83) - 25

Ballpark:

Woody Williams (9.79) - 24

Busch Stadium

Jason Marquis (1.41) - 23

Braden Looper (2.52) - 18

Team Name:

Ryan Franklin (4.48) - 14

Cardinals

Joel Pineiro (2.89) - 13

Andy Benes (-0.06) - 9

Owners:

Mark Mulder (-0.11) - 9

William O. DeWitt Jr. (2000-2009 )

Pat Hentgen (1.66) - 8

Steve Kline (5.41) - 6

General Managers:

Rick Ankiel (2.61) - 4

Walt Jocketty (2000-2007 )

Bud Smith (-0.44) - 1

John Mozeliak (2007-2009)

Catchers:

Managers:

Yadier Molina (8.22) - 31

Tony LaRussa (2000-2009 )

Mike Matheny (1.66) - 26

Hall of Famers:

First Basemen:

Tony LaRussa

Albert Pujols (73.82) - 141

Scott Rolen

Tino Martinez (2.24) - 13

Albert Pujols (Pending)

Mark McGwire (4.5) - 7

Adam Wainwright (Pending)

Mark McGwire (Pending)

Second Basemen:

Fernando Vina (5.7) - 15

Rookie of the Year:

Eli Marrero (2.93) - 10

Albert Pujols (2001)

Mark Grudzielanek (4.12) - 6

MVP

ShortStop:

Albert Pujols (2005)

Edgar Renteria (15.51) - 45

Albert Pujols (2008)

David Eckstein (5.37) - 17

Albert Pujols (2009)

Brendan Ryan (6.09) - 12

No Hitters:

Third Base:

Bud Smith (2001)

Scott Rolen (25.9) - 44

Placido Polanco (7.69) - 13

Cy Young:

Troy Glaus (4.22) - 7

Chris Carpenter (2005)

Outfield:

Notable Events:

Jim Edmonds (37.92) - 96

JD Drew (14.52) - 20

2000 - Of all the big decades the Cardinals have had in their history,

Ryan Ludwick (8.28) - 23

The Two Thousand Oughts tops them all. Six first place finishes and

Rick Ankiel (4.23) - 13

two world series titles. It establishes the Jockety / LaRussa

Reggie Sanders (3.42) - 13

management team as one of the best in baseball history.

Chirs Duncan (2.81) - 10

So Taguchi (2.49) - 10

2000 - St. Louis obtains star centerfielder Jim Edmonds, 30, from the

Ray Lankford (1.53) - 10

Angels in a steal of a trade for Adam Kennedy and Kent Bottenfield

Notable Events:

2000 - The Cards gain twenty games in the standings to win the

Division. They beat the Braves in the NLDS, but lose to the Mets in

2004 - Twenty One year old catcher Yadier Molina comes up to the

the NLCS. The 2000 team is not the one that will be winning titles

Cards. He was a fourth round pick in 2000. Yadier will establish

later in the decade. They're lead by a bunch of stars with a lot of

himself as the best defensive catcher in the game.

mileage already on them:

□ First Baseman Mark McGwire, 36

2004 - St. Louis gains twenty games in the standings to win 105.

□ Second Baseman Fernando Vina, 32

They are an elite team and beat the Dodgers in the NLDS and the

□ Leftfielder Ray Lankford, 33

Astros in the NLCS before getting swept by the Red Sox in the

□ Righthander Pat Hentgen, 32

World Series. The Cards deserved a better fate. They were led by

□ Righthander Andy Benes, 32

an outstanding offense featuring Albert Pujols (46-123-.331), Scott Rolen

(34-124-.314) and Jim Edmonds (42-111-301). They also had a

Younger 2000 roster players who will not play for the Cards other title runs:

terrific pitching staff led by Matt Morris, Jeff Suppan, Jason Marquis,

□ Righthander Darryl Kile, 31 (tragically died in 2002)

and Chris Carpenter all of whom won either fifteen or sixteen games

□ Righthander Garrett Stephenson, 28 TJ Surgery in 2001 - finished

plus Woody Williams and Jason Isringhausen (47 saves)

□ Lefthander Rick Ankiel, 20. Lost his control 2001

□ Third Baseman Fernando Tatis, 25 traded in 2001

2005 - The Cards add ace lefthander Mark Mulder, 27, to their already

□ Third Baseman Placido Polanco, 24 traded in 2003

stacked rotation. He's not needed to boost the regular season so

□ Rightfielder JD Drew, 24 free agent in 2004

much as to give the Cards a lights out starter in the post season,

something they felt they were missing after the 2004 sweep by Boston.

Players on the 2000 roster who were still playing for the Cardinals'

Mulder wins 16 in 2005, but then blows out his arm and is finished

subsequent title runs:

as an effective big league pitcher.

□ Shortstop Edgar Renteria, 23

□ Centerfielder Jim Edmonds, 30

2005 - St. Louis wins 100 games again to win the Division. They sweep

□ Righthander Matt Morris, 25

the Padres in the NLDS but lose to Houston in the NLCS. Frustrating.

It's the same core as 2004 plus Mulder.

2001 - Twenty Two year old rookie Albert Pujols, who was a 13th

round pick in the 1999 draft, hits 37 homers with 130 RBI and bats .329

2006 - The Cardinals win the Division with a paltry 83 wins, a seventeen

It only gets better from here for Albert.

game drop from 2005. So, of course, they go on to beat the Padres

in the NLDS, the Mets in the NLCS and the Tigers in the World Series.

2001 - The Cards finish second but make the wild card. They lose to

Go figure.

Arizona in the ALDS

2006 - The Redbirds inconsistent pitching was the cause of their decline

2002 - Twenty nine year old righthanded relief ace Jason Isringhausen

during the regular season, but it was the pitching, lead by Chris

is signed as a free agent. He will become a saves machine for the

Carpenter, Jeff Suppan and retread-picked-off-the-scrap-heap during

next eight years.

the regular season Jeff Weaver who led the Cards to the title in

the post season.

2002 - St. Louis deals Placido Polanco to the Phillies in an exchange

of third baemen for Scott Rolen, 27, who was in the midst of a salary

2007 - Twenty Five year old Adam Wainwright joins the rotation. He

dispute with the Phillies. This was a quality for quality deal

was a first round pick in the 2000 draft by the Braves and joined the

Cards in a deal for JD Drew in 2004. Adam will go on to be a mainstay

2002 - The Redbirds win the Division title and then beat Arizona in the

in the Cards rotation well into the next decade

ALDS. They lose to the Giants in the NLCS

2009 - St. Louis obtains slugging outfielder Matt Holliday from the A's

2004 - Twenty nine year old righthander Chris Carpenter is signed

at the trade deadline for three minor leaguers. He is twenty nine.

as a free agent. He will be a mainstay of the St. Louis rotation thru

early in the next decade.

2009 - The Cards win the Division but lose to LA in the NLDS