GAME ON: STL Cardinals Opening Day 2013

Alan Draper

Sports Editor

April 1 2013 2 min read

On Monday October 22nd, 2012, 31.8% of St. Louis houses had their TV tuned to Game 7 of the NLCS.

A huge rating, for sure. But in a baseball-crazy city 9 innings away from back-to-back pennants, the number on the surface seems low.

At least until you put yourself back in that dark space. Where the Cardinals were up 3-1 in the NLCS, at home and ready to pop bottles just 3 days prior.

Then 32% seems silly for a whole other reason.

By the thrid inning, it was 6-0 Giants (side: enjoy Kyle Lohse, Brewer fans!) and we knew a long, long winter was ahead. Tonight, around 9p St. Louis time, the healing begins.

It's Opening Day.

And the Cardinals have a fresh 162 chances to help us all forget the last 3.

OPENING DAY ROSTER:

IF: Tony Cruz, Yadier Molina, Matt Adams, Matt Carpenter, Allen Craig, Daniel Descalso, Ryan Jackson, Pete Kozma, Ty Wigginton

OF: Carlos Beltran, Matt Holliday, Jon Jay, Shane Robinson

SP: Jaime Garcia, Lance Lynn, Shelby Miller, Adam Wainwright, Jake Westbrook

RP: Mitchell Boggs, Randy Choate, Joe Kelly, Edward Mujica, Trevor Rosenthal, Marc Rzepczynski, Fernando Salas

DL: Chris Carpenter (60-day/Season), Rafael Furcal (60-day/Seson), David Freese (15-day), Jason Motte (15-day)

ODDS:

Win World Series: 20/1

NL Pennant: 10/1

NL Central: +250 (Bet $100 to win $250)

Over/Under: 85.5 wins

BOLD PREDICTIONS THAT WILL GO WRONG:

Oscar Taveras will be called up by Father's Day. His first month will call into question why this wasn't done sooner and how much different the 2013 season would have been if he had.

Jamie Garcia makes the NL All-Star team.

Jason Motte loses his closer role after coming back from the DL. Mike Matheny gives him a couple of more chances in the 9th, but Rosenthal is the fireman from September on.

Albert Pujols has one last final monster season left in him. Making us all feel real uneasy about calling that contract the Angels gave him and Albatross.

ONE LAST THING?

It's Opening Day. Make sure the boss knows you'll be up late tonight celebrating. Winter sucked. Now it's over. Time to make the summer of 2013 memorable.

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