| Power Rankings |
| Date | Ranking | Previous |
| 07/22/2008 | 7 | 8 |
| Doubt the Cards if you will, but Lohse/Wellemeyer/Looper looks a hell of a lot better now than Carpenter-and-crap did in 2006 ... That weekend dismissal of the Padres was dramatic, no? That they didn't pitch or hit very well has been conveniently ignored ... Albert Pujols has quietly reclaimed his usual spot atop the NL OPS chart ... Big week, with four at home vs. Milwaukee and three at Shea. |
| 07/09/2008 | 8 | 6 |
| They have proven more vulnerable in the rotation of late and watching the Cubs and Brewers each add aces really hurts their case. Mark Mulder's return to the rotation just doesn't have the same impact. Adam Wainwright (finger) really needs to get back in a hurry, or else a surprising first half could get lost. |
| 07/01/2008 | 6 | 7 |
| Pitching coach Dave Duncan might be the most-valuable non-player in all of baseball. His make-shift rotation is an amazing 38-18 (.679), the best in baseball by a long shot. If not for a bullpen that is a hideous 10-18 (tied for the most relief losses) with a baseball-worst 18 blown saves, the Cardinals could be in first place. We give Duncan a pass on the bullpen woes, because guys like Todd Wellemeyer (7-2) could have been helping out in relief, instead of being needed as a starter. |
| 06/24/2008 | 7 | 7 |
| Their starting rotation has been patchwork of late, but they are still tied with the Cubs for the fewest losses from their starting rotation in baseball (17). Dave Duncan's crew gives it a chance to win every time out. Oh, and a certain Albert Pujols is due back this weekend. |
| 06/18/2008 | 7 | 7 |
| It is pretty remarkable how weak that lineup looks without Albert Pujols. What's worse, though, the surprising starting pitching is showing some signs of wear. |
| 06/10/2008 | 7 | 6 |
| Any kind of a DL stint for ace Adam Wainwright is a setback. This is not a team blessed with a whole lot of pitching depth. |
| 06/03/2008 | 6 | 5 |
| On their own merits they probably didn't deserve to drop, but the Phillies are just hotter right now. This nine-game road trip (Washington, Houston and Cincinnati) is not all that daunting. |
| 05/27/2008 | 5 | 5 |
| This week's set vs. the Astros is an underrated one. Those are two wild-card capable teams locking up. |
| 05/20/2008 | 5 | 6 |
| We are becoming more convinced the NL wild card can come out of the Central. The Cards might have looked vulnerable in the bullpen, but prospect Chris Perez was called up and was hitting 100 mph in his debut. Ryan Franklin can be a serviceable stopgap closer. |
| 05/13/2008 | 6 | 4 |
| A great start has cooled some, but think of where they would be if Jason Isringhausen hadn't blown a league-high five save opportunities (tied with Eric Gagne). Ryan Franklin looks like a serviceable fill-in closer right now. |
