This coming season, I hope and
dream that…
- Tony La Russa and Dave Duncan both
have reason to smile widely and often… and that they actually do
it.
- Scott Rolen’s shoulders are strong
and sturdy. If so, the rest will take care of
itself.
- Chris Carpenter fully earns the
respect he deserves by spinning another Cy Young Award-class season on the
mound.
- the business of baseball doesn’t
keep Jim Edmonds from eventually retiring as a
Cardinal.
- Rick Ankiel finds some way to
finally exorcize his personal demons, whether in St. Louis or
elsewhere.
- another feel-good story like John Rodriguez in 2005 happens this season.
- all the newcomers on the 2006 team
become as beloved as the players they replaced.
- Head Trainer Barry Weinberg and
Team Physician Dr. Rick Wright have a very quiet and boring summer and
fall.
- Assistant General Manager John
Mozeliak gets his own starring role – hopefully in the American
League.
- the new radio broadcast team of
John Rooney and Mike Shannon mesh so well that fans are motivated to turn off
their television sound just because they are that
good.
- every Cardinals fan who could
previously receive KMOX through the air free and clear will be able to find an
over-the-air replacement in 2006.
- the teams of the Cardinals minor
league system all post winning records, providing summer excitement to fans from
Florida to
Pennsylvania to
Missouri.
- the newest crop of young Redbird
farmhands continue their progression toward the
majors.
- the 2006 Amateur Draft proves to
be as positive as the 2005 edition was for the
Cardinals.
- the Cardinals’ Latin American
program increases the flow in its pipeline of players into the
USA.
- the Houston Astros age gracefully,
but show their age, nonetheless.
- the Milwaukee Brewers also show
their age by not improving too much too quickly.
- Dusty Baker and the Chicago Cubs
just keep on being themselves.
- the “Lords” of Major League
Baseball stop counting their money long enough to negotiate a new labor
agreement with the Players Association before the current one expires in
December and a long and ugly strike ensues in 2007.
- MLB realigns into two 15-team
leagues, eliminates the designated hitter, lessens the Wild Card advantage,
addresses their umpiring problem and moves the World Baseball Classic into the
fall, when all Classics should be held.
and finally…
- the new Busch Stadium realizes its
promise for everyone – fans, players and yes, even
ownership.
- when all the smoke clears, the
Cardinals finally hoist their tenth World Championship trophy into the crisp,
October air.
Share your hopes and dreams for
the 2006 Cardinals on our fine Message
Board.
Brian Walton can be reached via
email at brwalton@earthlink.net.
© 2006 www.thestlcardinals.com.
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or
redistributed.