The Cardinals, shockingly, did not make the playoffs this year.
This could be thanks to injuries, unsuccessful call ups, old-faithfuls that suddenly stopped being reliable, or just the fact that this once-strong World Series squad just isn't what it used to be.
Either way, when he was healthy, Brandon Moss was having one of the best seasons of his career. The guy's come a long way from being a bench player in Pittsburgh, and even if he's not a top-caliber star like he was in Oakland, he's still doing great things in St. Louis. Not sure if he's sticking around, though.
Mike Leake was an offseason addition for the Cardinals that didn't go exactly as planned. Leake's best numbers were as a Cincinnati Red, and he hasn't done the greatest job since his tenure there. His numbers this season were...surprisingly subpar, especially for Leake. Hopefully things will turn up.
Matt Adams has been doing a pretty consistent job as the first baseman in St. Louis, though he has been injured a bit too often. He's a great hitter, and he could step up in a big way, especially in Matt Holliday's absence.
Seung-Hwan Oh took over for Trevor Rosenthal, following his implosion this season (which was incredibly sad but pretty satisfying if you hate the Cardinals). Oh's been a pretty nice reliever/closer, and hopefully will keep the good work up.
As for Matt Holliday...though his final season in St. Louis wasn't his best, there's no doubt that he's been an outstanding presence ever since his arrival in 2009. He's helped them get a World Series ring, as well as reestablishing his career and contenting his great work at the bat. In 2017, he'll be suiting up for the Yankees, which will hopefully mark the next step in his career, especially considering the last Cardinals outfielder who joined the Bombers ended up revitalizing his career as well.
Coming Tomorrow- The little guys that took home the gold this year.
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