| 2005 Overview: | | | | the Rockies and lost Julian Tavarez who signed a |
| The 2005 Cardinals were led by one of the greatest | | | | two-year deal with the Red Sox. |
| offensive player's in baseball, Albert Pujols (.330 41 117). | | | | The Cardinals did find a decent hitter and a |
| Joined by outfielders Jim Edmonds (.263 29 89), | | | | replacement outfielder in Juan Encarnacion (.287 16 76) |
| Reggie Sanders (.271 21 54) and Larry Walker (.289 15 | | | | from Florida and also picked up Larry Bigbie (.239 in 90 |
| 82), Pujols and company assembled a regular season | | | | games splitting time between Colorado and Baltimore) |
| winning record of 100-62. During the playoffs, the St. | | | | from the Rockies in the trade for King. The pitching |
| Louis Cardinals lost in 6 games to the Astros. Tony's | | | | staff sought upgrades for 2006 by adding free agent |
| Larussa's team performed well in the postseason, first | | | | starter Sidney Ponson (7-11 6.21) and former Mets |
| by sweeping the Padres in 4 straight games and then | | | | closer Braden Looper (4-7 3.94) as well as Ricardo |
| with Pujols providing some memorable extra inning | | | | Rincon (1-1 4.34). |
| heroics in game 5 of the LCS against Houston. Albert's | | | | 2006 Analysis: |
| mammoth homerun helped keep the series alive | | | | The Cardinals made several off season free agent |
| forcing a game 6 back in St. Louis. Unfortunately St. | | | | signings for the 2006 season but nothing terribly |
| Louis couldn't manage another win to force a game | | | | significant. The biggest hope for 2006 is for Scott |
| seven and Houston was able to make it to their first | | | | Rolen to be healthy again so he can contribute. Rolen |
| World Series appearance in team history. | | | | only appeared in 56 games in 2005 and will be called |
| The pitching in 2005 was led by Chris Carpenter (21-5 | | | | upon to patch up the hole left by the departure of |
| 2.83), Mark Mulder (16-8 3.64) and Matt Morris (14-10 | | | | Sanders and Walker. But any lineup with Pujols and |
| 4.11). Closer Jason Isringhausen (1-2 2.14 39 saves) also | | | | Edmonds should do just fine. Expect to see free agent |
| performed well, closing 39 of 43 save opportunities in | | | | Junior Spivey (.232 7 24) compete for the 2nd base |
| 2005. | | | | job as the replacement for Grudzielanek. |
| Off Season Moves: | | | | Ponson may not have much left in the tank but the 1 |
| The Cardinals lost a good portion of their offensive | | | | million dollars the Cardinals paid to find out is certainly |
| production during the off-season as Reggie Sanders | | | | worth the risk. The bullpen picked up two decent arms |
| signed with Kansas City and Larry Walker retired. | | | | in Looper and Rincon. Looper blew a bunch of games |
| Second baseman Mark Grudzielanek also departed to | | | | for the Mets but the Cardinals are hoping he'll produce |
| Kansas City while third baseman Abraham Nunez | | | | in a setup role for Isringhausen. Expect Carpenter to |
| signed with the Phillies. Starter Matt Morris signed a | | | | have another productive year as the starting rotation |
| lucrative 3-year deal with San Francisco for $27 million | | | | will remain mostly unchanged from 2005. |
| and the Cardinals also traded lefty reliever Ray King to | | | | |