The Cardinals exceeded the expectations of most by winning 86 games but they fell short in the second half when their depth was not sufficient to overcome the loss of OF Rick Ankiel (lower abdominal strain) and C Yadier Molina (bruised left thigh) and the 

--RHP Kyle Lohse (15-6) was scratched from his start in the season finale because he was taking a physical in advance of agreeing to a new contract. 

Perhaps more than anything else, the Cardinals had it reaffirmed to them this year that they can't afford to count on injured pitchers, even a little. 

Pitcher Kyle Lohse and the St. 

Pitcher Kyle Lohse and the St. 

The St. 

Felipe Lopez drove in three runs and emergency starter Brad Thompson threw five effective innings, helping the St. 

Felipe Lopez drove in three runs and emergency starter Brad Thompson threw five effective innings, helping the St. 

Although the St. 

Albert Pujols hit his 37th home run and reached 100 runs for the seventh time in his first eight seasons in the St. 

Albert Pujols hit his 37th home run and reached 100 runs for the seventh time in his first eight seasons in the St. 

Albert Pujols reached another milestone while helping the St. 

Tony La Russa intends to bat his pitcher eighth again next season, an unorthodox strategy that the St. 

MEDICAL WATCH: LHP Randy Flores (sore left shoulder) hasn't pitched since Sept. 

--RHP Chris Carpenter, who wants to see a couple more doctors, still is weighing options to repair a nerve problem near his right shoulder.