You are not paying attention. Homer Bailey is strong this year. They signed a very good closer (Marshall-Cubs) and another good reliever from the Phils, and they have a phenom at catcher (40+ HR in last two AA & AAA seasons). They will all forget about Bench in Cinti after this guy. They also have a good looking SS who hit and fielded last year until he was hurt for the season. He is back. And, Cueto is back and strong. And, Leake is improved, and on and on. Watch your backs, the Reds are coming after the birdies.

As to the Astros, I am just hoping Luhnow has some serious rabbits to pull out of his hat.

I also dispute the idea that LaRussa is the reason they got to the playoffs. They got to the playoffs because the players did the job on the field and because the managment addressed major weaknesses at the trade deadline, blostering the rotation (Jackson bumping Westbrook to fifth starter and McClellan to the bullpen), the bullpen (the additions of Scrabble and Dontel and, from the farm, Lynn), and the middle infield (Furcal replacing the woeful Theroit, who went into a platoon at second with Nick Punto, thus bumping Shumaker to the bench). Those three pieces that dragged down the Cardinals for most of the season aren’t issues going into this season.

The guy they’ll probably miss the most is Dave Duncan, but the coach replacing him filled in during the Cardinals’ run for the playoffs and used to coach many if not all of the Cardinals’ young pitchers in the minors. The Central will be tight this year, with the Reds making much-needed improvements to their pitching, the Brewers still with a lot of talent despite losing Fielder, and the Pirates improving every year, but the Cardinals did not lose so much as to dismiss them as division favorites. They’ve replaced Pujols’ offense with Beltran and more playing time for Craig (who now may make Opening Day), Wainwright is healthy and has his old velocity and command, and they don’t have the weaknesses they had most of last season.

There is a reason that manager records go up and down with the talent they have…it is because they have little ability to effect outcomes in baseball.

One could also argue effectively that LaRussa and Pujols are not particularly good leaders, each can be brooding and short-tempered. The team has plenty of guys capable of taking on leadership roles as effectively (or better) as those guys that left. The biggest losses for the Cardinals this past off-season were Lunhow and Duncan (yes, Pujols was a big loss, but not spending $250M on him makes it a net gain).

I also think that they may be pleasantly surprised with how quickly Matheny steps into the role.

But Matheny isn’t some guy plucked from the usual pool of recycled managers or just some random guy. Matheny was a starter for three division winners in his five years with the team, he’s known and respected by the organization as an extremely smart baseball guy who is tough as nails. Two of the team leaders, Chris Carpenter and Yadier Molina, were his teammates on a World Series team. I think he’s a great fit, and I think this team could flourish with a less-neurotic/psychotic manager than LaRussa.

I also think he’ll be more willing than LaRussa to embrace advanced analytics and less willing to favor scrappy veterans over deserving but unproven youngsters, both of which should be to the team;s benefit.

Then you have Freese at 3b for a full year.
You have Furcal at SS, rather than Ryan Theriot.
Both of those are potential huge offensive upgrades from 2011.

You have a healthy Adam Wainwright, which is a HUGE lift to the rotation.

And you have a full season of young power arms anchoring the bullpen, which is another HUGE upgrade from 2011.

This team, even after losing Pujols, should be stronger than the 90-win World Series champions of 2011.

They’re deep, experienced, and balanced on offense and pitching.

Their weaknesses are defense (as it was last year), and age/injuries, the latter being the only thing standing in their way of a division title.