Joe Strauss notes the Cardinals lack of hitting this spring. Part of it is the weather:

La Russa has been grading on a curve because of the wind blowing into Roger Dean Stadium.

"If the wind blows like this during the regular season, the National League leader will have a dozen home runs," La Russa said.

But there's more to it as well:

Kennedy is representative of a trend this spring. He is one of five projected opening day starters who have missed games because of injury. Shortstop David Eckstein, center fielder Jim Edmonds, right fielder Juan Encarnacion and most recently catcher Yadier Molina are the others. Edmonds is scheduled to play his first game Sunday. Encarnacion may not play in Florida before opening the season on the disabled list with lingering weakness in his left wrist.

A strained muscle in his side kept Kennedy out of the spring lineup until March 10. Since then, he has hit .172 in 29 at-bats.

For years the Cardinals wrote three superb offensive players into the middle of their lineup, so they were able to fill in the gaps with older players. But now, 2/3 of that heart of the order isn't quite as fearsome, so the older players filling St. Louis hired might not be enough. Young offensive talent produced by the St. Louis system since Pujols' premier is close to zero. That lack of production may catch up with the Cardinals this season.