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Buffa's Winter Warm-up Report: A friendly time for players and media

The most interesting thing about the Warm-up is listening to these answers in August and September, seeing how their legs held up.
Sep 9, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong (16) catches a fly ball hit by Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen in the second inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

ST. LOUIS - When I think of the St. Louis Cardinals Winter Warm-up, I think of the classic Zombies tune, "Time of the Season."

"It's the time of the season, where love runs high, and this time give it to me easy, let me try with pleasured hands."

Essentially, this is a time in the year where Cardinals and players like talking to one another and the quotes are free and easy. The challenge and daily grind of a season hasn't begun, and the stress levels are relatively low.

As the fans flood the floors of the Hyatt Regency hotel in downtown St. Louis, questions will begin to surface just around the corner in the media room. Lingering thoughts that have hung around the team through an active yet slowly and steady offseason.

Did the Cardinals do have enough insurance in the starting rotation? With the projected performance levels of aging vet Adam Wainwright and newcomer Miles Mikolas falling below 2.0 WAR, can the group put up the performance required to win a division title? Refusing to step into the Jake Arrieta and Yu Darvish sweepstakes is noble, but was the bridge burning with Lance Lynn wise with innings to fill?

Who is the team's closer? With candidates like Sam Tuivailala and John Brebbia stepping in front of the podium Saturday, they will be asked about their ability to handle the ninth inning.

Kolten Wong will no longer be asked about his ability to get on base or hit for average, but the idea of durability will surface with his here/there attendance level in 2017.

Matt Bowman seemingly worked every game the last two years, so his durability will be something to think about 2018 unfolds.

Austin Gomber and Dakota Hudson are part of the young cavalry waiting in the wings for the rotation; talented kids with the chance to thrive if a hole is poked early on in April.

Alex Reyes is coming off Tommy John surgery, and comes into the season with hopes that range from closing games to starting midseason. He's only the most highly rated prospect in the organization, a label that comes with lofty needs and expectations.

Luke Voit will speak to the media today, coming off a season where he showed the kind of power that made losing long time Cardinal Matt Adams to the Braves in May.

January is full of questions, ones that will be answered as the year starts to run. The Cardinals are at a crossroads within the division, standing between viable contention and suspected rebuilding. With the additions of Marcell Ozuna to the roster, the lineup has been furnished, but is there enough depth to truly make a run?

For years, John Mozeliak has preached that a burgeoning farm system will provide ample opportunity for winning seasons, but the time has come for the team to figure out what the next five years look like. Do the Cardinals have what it takes to not only catch the Cubs, but win the pennant?

The most interesting thing about the Warm-up is listening to these answers in August and September, seeing how their legs held up.

The Winter Warm-up is a time of the season where blood isn't boiling and nerves are cooled. The official launch of a long season starts now.

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