On this week’s pressbox podcast I’m talking with Tom Ackerman of KMOX radio, the flagship for the Cardinals. Tom has been in Jupiter Florida for a good part of this spring covering the Cardinals and a week away from Opening Day, Tom tells us in general terms how is the team coming together.

Talking Cardinals baseball with Tom Ackerman of KMOX

I also touch on key members of this team and of course we’ll start with pitching. The loss of Adam Wainwright is big, the ace of the staff, but Chris Carpenter had the setback with the hamstring injury, he’s going to be the opening day starter, but will he truly be ready and what can we expect from him early on? Is Jaime Garcia’s ERA at 8.31, a big concern? Is Kyle McClellan’s one earned run in 17 innings anything to get excited about?

I’m still not sold on Lance Berkman as an everyday outfielder…how much of a risk is this for the Cardinals? I mean, Berkman can hit and I love the middle of the order obviously with Pujols and Holliday, even Rasmus, but will he stay healthy?