camp, this spring brings yet more hope, though in an ironic form. Two weeks ago, the Cardinals and their fans were hoping to make better use of their talents and walk away with the division crown. And then Adam Wainwright had Tommy John surgery, leaving a gaping hole in the Cards' rotation for the season. The playoff odds show us that St. Louis is still the favorite to come out of the Central, but the margin is much too close to be certain.

The injury does give Kyle McClellan reason to hope. Drafted as a starter, McClellan was used as such for most of his minor-league career. When he finally reached the majors in 2008, he joined Tony La Russa's endless bullpen; as a big leaguer, McClellan has pitchedHurdle to be convinced of that.

On the flip side, 24-year-old Houston prospect Brett Wallace will be trying to stay with the big-league club after a terrible first year. After being traded from the Cardinals to the A's (in the Matt Holliday deal) to the Blue Jays in six months' time, Wallace was dealt to the Astros near the deadline and was immediately put into action after Houston sent Lance Berkman to the Yankees. In 51 games over the last two months of the season, Wallace managed only a .222/.296/.319 slash line after posting a .304/.375/.487 line in his three years in the minors.

Wallace is in the enviable position of having no real competition for the first-base job this spring. Still, he has to hope for a hot spring