QUESTION: With Albert Pujols and Tony La Russa both gone now, who do you think is the new face of the franchise?
BERNIE MIKLASZ
If healthy and fully restored, I would say Adam Wainwright. He’s a dominant talent who has a cheerful and charismatic personality. And we’re assuming he will be here for a long time as the ace of the staff.
Obviously you can make a case for Chris Carpenter. But he’ll be around for only two more years. Lance Berkman would rate were it not for the fact he is on a year-to-year basis.
Yadier Molina has prominent stature in the game but lacks an outgoing personality. Same with Matt Holliday
David Freese could easily be the face of the franchise after his October heroics. But he still must show that he can play 140, 150 games.
Freese or Wainwright.
DERRICK GOOLD
John Mozeliak. The GM has his hand-picked manager, who is getting his first managing opportunity at any level because of Mozeliak’s advocacy. The GM has the franchise player that he acquired and re-signed to a franchise record contract. With Pujols’ departure there isn’t a contract on the team now that Mozeliak didn’t do.
The GM has the 1B he signed in what became the coup of 2010 free agency. The GM has a front office that he has stocked – and now he has Jeff Luhnow’s spot to fill with his own selection. The GM made the July trade that was risky but resulted in a team that won the World Series. That was portrayed as Mozeliak’s masterwork.
Mozeliak left October with what can only be called baseball capital, and as 2012 approaches it’s clear whose team this is. Look no further than the person the Cardinals had in front of the cameras yesterday to discuss Pujols’ departure. It wasn’t Tony La Russa. It wasn’t Bill DeWitt Jr. It was Mr. John Mozeliak. This is the most-defining offseason of his career – new manager, no Pujols, defending world champs – and you can see now who is defining the Cardinals.
JEFF GORDON
Chris Carpenter is the long arm of the law. He willed the Cardinals to their World Championship. The others, including Albert, just followed behind. He’ll carry that role forward both as a pitcher and a mentor to young hurlers like Shelby Miller. I see this team moving forward with a stronger pitching/defense emphasis. Carpenter will lead that charge.
TOM TIMMERMANN
Everyone loves David Freese now. He has an easy going personality, and he comes off as more approachable than Matt Holliday. And he’s from St. Louis. And he was the star of the World Series. We’re going to be seeing a lot of David Freese.
LARRY BOROWSKY (Founder of Viva El Birdos and editor of “Maple Street Press Cardinals Annual”)
I don’t believe “face of the franchise” is a role that always must be filled – or can be. Nobody associated with the club right now really fits the description, in my opinion. If you asked me who comes closest, I would answer Chris Carpenter – he’s done more for the organization than any Cardinal pitcher since Bob Gibson. I wouldn’t disagree if somebody made a case for Dave Duncan or Yadi Molina. Adam Wainwright could get himself into the conversation if he returns to Cy Young form right away. A month or two into the 2012 season, I might answer Mike Matheny – he’ll certainly be in a position to put his stamp on the team. John Mozeliak already has put his stamp on it, emphatically, but he’s not enough of a limelight seeker to be considered the “face.”
