St. Louis Cardinals scouting report - MLB - CBSSports.com Live Scores, Stats, Schedules

We asked four veteran major-league scouts to break down the eight playoff teams for us during the last week of the regular season. We asked each scout to cover two clubs for us, going over each club's batting order, anticipated playoff rotation and closer, and this is what they said:

Scouting Report

St. Louis Cardinals

"What they've gone through this year is phenomenal. Coming out of spring training, I knew they'd be the team to beat in the NL Central, especially on paper. But they stumbled, they fell into holes, and that's not even counting (the death of) Darryl Kile. Then that, and it brings the team closer. They manage to do things right. They use the right players at the right time. They've got a front office always ready to make some pretty good deals. They got a little better when (Scott) Rolen came over, I'm just guessing (laugh). There's pressure on Scotty, too -- all that buildup as a star player, and now it's his chance to be on stage. It will be tough against Arizona with (Curt) Schilling and (Randy) Johnson. They've got their work cut out. But if there's a Cinderella story out there, and a sentimental favorite team, it's the Cardinals."

Fernando Vina, 2B

"He's probably one of better leadoff guys in the game right now. He's another gnat. He doesn't mind getting hit, taking a walk. He does get in streaks where he's a first-ball hitter and doesn't work the count as well as he should. But come playoff time, I'm sure they'll get the drill sergeants out on those guys."

Eli Marrero, RF

"I like this kid a lot. He can play center field, left field, right field, first base, third in a pinch, and he can catch. He's got an above average arm. He's pretty good offensively. What I like about Marrero is that he's got baserunning ability, too. He's speedy -- faster than guys give him credit for. I got him down the line in 4.2 seconds, which is good for a big guy. He'll sacrifice bunt, hit-and-run ... he's one of Tony's soldiers."

Jim Edmonds, CF

"I'd like to see him and Andruw Jones go one-on-one in a fly ball catching contest. He can go get 'em, too. I just wish Jimmy would stay on his feet a little longer. He's a streaky hitter, and it will depend on how he finishes the season. Pitchers usually end up doing a good job because everyone puts too much effort into the three, four and five hitters. I like what he brings to the Cardinals. He plays hard. I've seen him go into second base a lot harder than other guys with money he makes."

Albert Pujols, LF

"I thought he was going to have a bad year this year, watching him in spring training. He had a bad start, but he consistently put it together and has gone back to his rookie of the year form. I think he's more comfortable in left field with Rolen at third. He's concentrating on sitting back and hitting home runs, and he can do that. He's playing harder than he was in the first half of year."

Scott Rolen, 3B

"If Scott gets back to hitting the ball the way he should, gap-to-gap, right-center to left-center, he'll be a tough out in any series. If he gets to the point where he's pulling the ball, he's an out. I love him defensively at third base. I'm really looking forward to watching to see how he handles all of this. Gap-to-gap, he'll be fine. But when I saw him last, he was in pull mode."

Tino Martinez, 1B

"He's had a so-so year in my estimation. He can crank when he needs to. He's a sacrifice fly type of guy. I think he's more there for his clubhouse boost than anything else. I don't think he's had the kind of year he's wanted. He's a professional, he's been there so many times, and that's going to be big in that clubhouse right now."

J.D. Drew, RF

"He's not a California kid, but I think he's gotten that knock. He fell into La Russa's doghouse some, he's been asked to bunt, to hit-and-run, to do a lot of things that you wouldn't think a guy like him would be asked to do. He has a strong arm, but he can still make fundamental mistakes out there."

Edgar Renteria, SS

"He's a fine shortstop. He's solid on all routine plays, and he can be flashy when he needs to. He turns the double play very well. He's provided a lot of offense as needed when other guys have gone south. He's a clutch player, and another strong arm on relays as well."

Mike Matheny, C

"Plain and simple, Mike Matheny is there to pull the whole staff together. Any offense he can give you, a base hit, a sacrifice bunt, is gravy. He's just a catch and throw guy. He has one of the quickest releases in all of baseball behind the plate. He's the right-hand man out there for La Russa and (pitching coach Dave) Duncan."

Matt Morris, RHP

"It's been a funny year for Morris. I think we all expected a lot out of him. He hasn't had a bad year by anybody's standards. He's had a good, workmanlike year. He's just gone out and won. I'll take him No. 1 on my staff anytime. He's a tough guy to beat."

Chuck Finley, LHP

"Seasoned veteran, he's been there with Cleveland. He's a veteran who is going to find a way to beat you. He'll let you get yourself out. He'll cut the ball in on your hands, he'll change speeds on you, he'll make you look foolish at times."

Andy Benes, RHP

"Quite a pleasant surprise going from dump heap to coming up with a little splitter. He's made himself quite marketable. He had a good spring for me, but then stumbled in the regular season until he came up with this pitch. Maybe the newness of it all will carry him through five or six good innings in the playoffs. He's not a lock by any means, nor is he a slouch. He's one of those guys they're going to have to go inning-by-inning with."

Woody Williams, RHP

"His stuff is average, with very good command. He knows how to pitch, he battles and he makes good pitches. Since he's gone to St. Louis, he's thrown a little harder. I think the secret with him is he used to throw a curve in San Diego, which Duncan took away. They gave him a cutter, and he doesn't give up as many home runs. He can pitch in or out and his command has been good."

Jason Isringhausen, closer

"He's one of the better closers in the game. A slider-curveball guy. He's got a 96, 97 mph fastball, which is not too shabby. I never got that edge-of-your-seat feeling with him. Like Smoltz, he's businesslike -- 'Let's get this thing finished and go.' Pretty reliable, pretty dominating."