Does this worry you?

I would consider drafting Carpenter for my fantasy team but he wouldn’t be a top pick for a pitcher. In terms of the Central division I’m more concerned about the Reds – Cincy has good pitching. Fortunately Dusty’s bad decision-making will swing ten games for them and knock them out of the playoff hunt.

In unrelated news the Cubs finally gave up on former first round pick Ryan Harvey. Harvey made Corey Patterson look picky at the plate – he hacked at everything and struck out about a third of his at bats. This move nearly brings to an end the John Stockstill era, one in which the Cubs repeatedly drafted guys such as Corey Patterson, Luis Montanez, Brian Dopirak, Grant Johnson and Mark Pawelek.

It doesn’t worry me as the Cards on paper are not a very good team. But they were not good last year, and way over played their talent until September. The Cards should be respected, but not given more credit than they earn.
I couldn’t tell you about Carpenter’s fantasy value as, my fantasies don’t involve men other than myself.

Wow!! Spring means NOTHING. I bet in his first appearance against the Cubs, who by the way will be leading the division out of the gate, he will get blown out early.

Carpenter will be fine, but look at the rest of their pitching staff. Even with Dave Duncan getting water from a rock, they’ll still struggle. I’ll even call that they’ll over-perform and be in the hunt for a while, but their offense is Pujols and Ludwick. That said, if we underperform and get in a hole where the Cards can get a few game lead, their inertia might make it interesting, but I’d say this is the Cubs division to lose on paper. Of course, [insert cliche about "that's why they play 'em]…

If Chris Carpenter’s rebuilt right arm can single-arm-edly carry this team past the Cubs, then fine. They deserve it, and he deserves a lot more money. Somehow, though, I just don’t see that, what with the rest of their starting staff being decidedly average.