TOWER GROVE — A brief detour before we plunge back into the Decisions (in) 2008 facing the Cardinals. It’s a topic sure to be watched, analyzed and debated all summer long. After a offseason of shedding its stars, the Cardinals almost beg the question themselves:

What former Cardinal is set to have the biggest year with his new team?

There are many candidates; most are of the comeback variety. Will Scott Rolen’s healthier mood mean a healthier shoulder and healthier production north of the border? Will David Eckstein turn a one-year contract into a springboard for his final contract? How many more saves are in Troy Percival’s ageless elbow? And … Jim Edmonds? Who will fill the infamous veterans’ corner in the Cardinals’ clubhouse, where only Scott Spiezio remains from a briar patch of sarcasm that once housed Edmonds, Reggie Sanders, Larry Walker, Rolen and others?

On to the ballot: 

***

SCOTT ROLEN, 3B, Toronto (independent): Could have the most-watched shoulder in Canada, this side of Dany Heatley’s. Charmed the Toronto press corps with his wit and sarcasm in an introduction that included, famously, a wince when they put his new jersey on and the statement: “I can’t believe I passed my physical.” His shoulder’s health is key to any bounceback production. Arguably still the best glove at his position in the game, Rolen’s power has been in decline since that collision at first base, and there’s no evidence that it will suddenly return. The best bet is that Rolen’s comfort at the plate will return with better range of motion and strength in the shoulder. And that he’ll thrive in a lineup that may hit him sixth because it already has Vernon Wells, Alex Rios, Frank Thomas and Matt Stairs. Any pop Rolen provides is lagniappe.

DAVID ECKSTEIN, SS, Toronto: Signed to be the Blue Jays’ leadoff hitter and starting shortstop, Eckstein fits the “dirtbag” label attached to Rolen by Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi. The scrappy infielder is coming off a season he described as frustrating — 20 errors, injuries, a .300 for the first time in his career, but not the jolt elsewhere in his offensive stats. Sure to carry the sentimental vote. He leaves behind an ardent constituency here in St. Louis and there remains some bitterness/frustrationg on both sides about how deal — heck, a true negotiation — never kindled. He also has more motivation than his one-year deal: Legit competition. The Blue Jays have a young, defensively gifted shortstop in John McDonald. Eckstein was signed as an offensive improvement, but McDonald is pushing for playing time.

It should be noted that Eckstein is a career .284/.321/.432 at Rogers Centre, and that the Blue Jays, as a team, would probably be favorites to win the NL Central … but they play in the robust AL East.  

JIM EDMONDS, CF, San Diego: The Cardinals could not guarantee Edmonds would be the starter in center for all of 2008. They didn’t know if it would be March 31 or July 4, but the Cardinals believe Colby Rasmus is coming to the majors some time this season and he’ll play when he arrives, no matter who’s in center. Edmonds understood and said he’d approve a deal — preferably to Southern California. Back in his native land, Edmonds will cover a peculiar and vast center field and try to rejuvenate his bat in the hardest hitters’ park in the league. At the end of the season, Edmonds said he looked forward to a healthy offseason — no rehab, just prep. He said it would give him a chance to get in his best shape in years. Manager Tony La Russa was “going to hold him to that”. Now, another team will. Reports out of San Diego have the Padres asking two of their best prospects — including Chase Headley, who trumped Rasmus for the Texas League MVP — to try the outfield as understudies for the aging vets.

SO TAGUCHI, OF, Philadelphia: Toward the end of the season, Taguchi acknowledged that his time as a Cardinal was coming to a close. He hoped otherwise, saying that he wanted to play for the Cardinals or nowhere else. Nowhere else turns out to be Philadelphia. With the departure of Aaron Rowand, the Phillies signed Taguchi to be a backup at all three outfield spots — specifically center field, where Shane Victorino will take over. He’ll serve in the same role he had with the Cardinals. Defense. Pinch hit. Bench. Etc. Taguchi saw dwindling at-bats with the Cardinals in each of the past two seasons. But he had a 45-game stretch last summer where he hit .326, and he hit .314 against lefthanders. 

TROY PERCIVAL, Closer, Tampa Bay: Is the answer to one of the zanier trivia questions from the 2007 season: What pitcher threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the LA Angels opener and started the final game of the season for the Cardinals? Like another former Cardinal reliever who came to St. Louis to re-prove his health and effectiveness (Al Reyes), Percival is off to stabilize the Rays’ improved bullpen as its closer. Percival, a year removed from apparent retirement, signed a two-year deal worth $8 million. Reyes shifts to the eighth inning, meaning the AL East will have one bullpen built around former Cardinals and one left side of the infield populated with recovering Redbirds. Wrote Joe Henderson in The Tampa Tribune:

Last year, a call to the pen meant likely disaster. Brian Stokes started the year as the eighth-inning man. We saw way too much of Shawn Camp. This bullpen will be much better, if only because the back-end guys are veterans with a track record.

It does come with an asterisk. Troy Percival, the new closer, comes with no guarantees that his right arm will hold up - but it’s a risk worth taking. Al Reyes drops to the eighth inning, where his impact could be profound if he is close to as effective as he was last year as the closer.

Percival also has one of the cooler contrats signed this winter. Forget the possible $4 million in bonuses he could receive based on games finished, it’s the car that makes it cool. His deal with the Rays includes “a vintage automobile”. It’s like a retirement gift, without the retirement.

GARY BENNETT, C, Los Angeles Dodgers: Signed with LA a few days after acknowledging the accuracy of his mention in the Mitchell Report. Will serve as Russell Martin’s backup, and playing time could be limited. Martin, who turns 25 later this month, won the Gold Glove last season — no need to rehash that argument here — and started 143 games behind the plate. Bennett played through injuries last season and figures to have a health back and healed arm after an offseason to recover.

JEFF SUPPAN, SP, Milwaukee: OK, a former Cardinal once removed, but I wanted to link to this article about the opening (finally!) of his much-mentioned restaurant in California: Soup’s Grill. The opening was quite a soiree, according to MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy. Suppan returned to the 200-inning plateau last season, and he went 12-12 in his first year with the Brewers. While his earned runs don’t seem out of whack (106 of his 113 runs allowed were earned), the 243 hits allowed and that 4.62 ERA figure to be helped by the Brewers attempt to improve their defense. Also, the rotation should improve around him … meaning if he does what he was signed to do, it could mean the division title for Milwaukee.

WRITE-IN CANDIDATE:  Plenty to choose from, some who remained unsigned like Russell Branyan and or Seattle’s utility infielder Miguel Cairo. 

*** 

(Quick notes: Apologies for not keeping the schedule set and not producing a ballot on Monday. Was bludgeoned by the flu this week, but off the floor and back at the keyboard. … And about the campaign buttons. I had created a few for the previous blog entry, but it seems they had an expiration date. So, I went for quirky instead of applicable, unless I could find one vaguely applicable.)

-30-