APIAD wrote:

I figure garcia and his contract are not going to dissappear. Imo, he will get perfered treatment as long as he isnt on the dl.

Agreed.  Assuming he's healthy, Garcia's in the rotation.  I think Lynn may be fairly safe too, just because he exceeded 200 innings last season. 

Kelly, Wacha, Miller and Martinez compete for the last 2 spots in the rotation. 

Kozma has an option and goes back to Memphis.  Descalso breaks camp with the team as does Shane Robinson.

I don't think Taveras makes the team out of camp, but if he does, then Jon Jay will need to be moved. 

Well, you better book your flight now, because I think Garcia is going to be in the rotation barring an injury. And that's how it should be, despite my forgetting that he's expected back.

artie_fufkin wrote:

"Kelly, Wacha, Miller and Martinez compete for the last 2 spots in the rotation."

If Garcia is in the rotation and Kelly and/or Wacha aren't, I'll fucking drive to Jupiter and punch Moz in the head. 

I wouldnt mind kelly in the bullpen.  He showed a strong preformance toward the end of the year but that is a small sample size to expect him a lock for the rotation.  Imo, the only locks in the roation should be waino and miller.  Lynn can be spastic.  Kelly is still unproven as a starter.  Garica could be headed toward an ineffective mark mulderish career with his recovery from his injury.  Wacha seems awesome but he needs to work on his secondary stuff.  I dont think martinez is ready.  The cardinals have the ablity to go with the hot hands in the rotation and should go i to ST or the start of the season with closed minds to any option.
 

I'll offer Chad's take on the rotation (His opinion, not necessarily the team's position)

Wainwright- obvious #1 starter
Garcia- makes the rotation if healthy due to his contract
Lynn- the 2014 version of Jake Westbrook, but much cheaper.  He pitched 200+ innings in 2013, not including the playoffs.  There's value to a guy who takes the ball every 5th day
Miller- A virtual lock to make the rotation, so long as he isn't pouting about the 2013 playoffs.
Wacha- though far from a lock

Chad said his biggest concerns regarding Wacha are: #1- inning load.  Wacha has never pitched a full season where he's taken the ball every 5th day for an entire season.  Even last year, the Cardinals shut him down for a little while to rest his arm.  They wouldn't have that luxury if he's in the rotation from Day 1.  #2- reaction to adversity.  Wacha has had very few things go bad.  Eventually the league will have seen him and he will have bad games.  How will he bounce back mentally?  Also, does his curveball develop well enough to allow him a chance for long term success.

Chad thinks Kelly starts in the bullpen and would be the 6th starter because he's shown the ability to get stretched out quickly, but wouldn't rule out the possibility that he earns a spot coming out of Jupiter.

Chad also isn't convinced Martinez's stuff will translate into a starter's role.  Sees Martinez continuing as the 8th inning guy.  I almost hate to type this, but he compared Martinez's stuff to Carlos Marmol, though with generally better control.  His concern is that Martinez would have trouble getting past the 5th inning without running his pitch count through the roof.

 

I think I'm one of the few Cardinals fans who likes Lance Lynn. I saw terrible stuff about him when he's getting roped by the Marlins, and his body language just bothers me because it's that pouty bullshit Wellemeyer used to pull, but he's a guy 25 other teams would love to have at the bottom of the rotation. 

I think the issue with lynn and the fans is that lynn is exactly what u see.  He is always going to be this guy.  With miller, wacha, kelly and martinez the ceiling isnt known.