The Jim Edmonds era of the St. Louis Cardinals has ended. Edmonds was a great player and a fan favorite, but it was time to move on. Edmonds won 6 Gold Gloves while with the Cardinals and the team made the playoffs six out of the eight years he was a member of the team. Needless to say, things have been good since the Cards acquired #15 from the Angels for the great Kent Bottenfield and Adam Kennedy, but there will be a new player roaming centerfield at Busch next season.

Colby Rasmus has been a name that many Cardinal fans have heard since the Cards drafted him 28th overall in the 2005 draft. Rasmus is considered a five tool player and has excelled at every level of baseball he has ever played in. Last season at AA Springfield, Rasmus hit .275 with 29 HRs, 72 RBIs, and eighteen Steals. The Cardinals team leader in steals last season was David Eckstein with ten. Rasmus has not been named the centerfielder, but he will definitely be competing for a spot down in Jupiter this spring.

If Rasmus makes the team he could be an answer for the leadoff hitter hole the Cardinals currently have. Eckstein has batted leadoff for the Cardinals since he came to the team, but he was signed last week by the Toronto Blue Jays. Adam Kennedy and his .282 On Base Percentage is not a very appealing options nor is newly acquired Cesar Izturis. Rasmus could put a little pop in the leadoff spot.

Edmonds gave Cardinal Nation plenty of reasons to cheer over the past eight seasons. His home run in extra innings in Game six of the 2004 NLCS is a moment most fans will never forget, and his diving catch the following night saved the game for the Cardinals. Edmonds is a great guy that loves St. Louis and he has recently opened a restaurant and bar off Washington Ave downtown name F15teen. Jimmy will be showing his face around St. Louis in years to come, we can only hope Colby can provide half of the memories in the coming years.