As the Cardinals prepare to open a new baseball season Monday, most of the so-called experts are not expecting a whole lot from St. Louis, picking the team to lag well behind the highly regarded Cubs and Astros in the National League Central.

On paper, it's true that the Cardinals probably don't compare all that favorably to Chicago and Houston -- especially in the pitching department, as those squads appear loaded on the mound.

But last year the Redbirds didn't fare very well when they were considered the NL Central favorites, so maybe being the underdog will be just the tonic they need.

To be sure, the St. Louis lineup matches up well with just about any in the major leagues, but pitching remains a major question mark. Beginning Monday, some of those questions will start to be answered.

As for my prediction, I don't see the Cardinals finishing ahead of either the Cubs or Astros -- but as has been well documented, my track record isn't exactly stellar when it comes to prognosticating.

And, as the old saying goes, that's why they play the games.

Here's wishing former Southeast Missouri State University baseball standout Kerry Robinson the best as he begins his first season with the Padres after being traded by his hometown Cardinals.

Kerry wasn't happy that he never got a chance to be an everyday outfielder with the Cardinals -- and he made sure manager Tony La Russa knew all about it, which no doubt helped lead to his departure from St. Louis.

Hopefully Kerry will get a shot at earning a starting spot with the Padres, but according to an article posted on their Web site, San Diego is projecting him as a late-inning replacement -- which is not even as good as the role he played with the Cardinals.

We'll see what happens.

A visiting coach made a homecoming of sorts over the weekend as Southeast hosted the 23rd annual Gatorade Classic track and field meet.

Perryville native Kevin Robinson is in his second season as an assistant coach at the University of Memphis. Prior to that, Robinson spent four years as an assistant track coach at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

Robinson, one of the area's elite athletes during his days at Perryville High School, competed in track at Memphis through 1998 and still holds three school records and one Conference USA mark in the weight throws.

Kudos to all the people who once again helped make the Gatorade Classic a rousing success.

The meet is always extremely organized and well-run, and this year's edition probably featured the best competition it has had in several years.

It had to be quite a thrill for Southeast pitcher Ryan Forsyth when he shut down Oklahoma State for 8 2/3 innings Wednesday and led the Indians to a 4-2 upset victory over the 34th-ranked Cowboys.

Forsyth, an Oklahoma native who grew up less than an hour's drive from Stillwater, was not recruited by the Cowboys. That must have made his brilliant performance -- he allowed five hits but none after the fifth inning -- all the more special.

Eugene Amano, who completed his Southeast football eligibility last season as an All-American and was named the top center in all of Division I-AA, worked out -- mostly running -- in front of a few NFL scouts Wednesday at the Student Recreation Center.

Also participating in the workouts were quarterback Jack Tomco and linebacker Kelvin Jones, two other players who finished their careers with the Indians last season.

Amano is considered to have an outside chance at being selected in the NFL draft later this month, but even if he's not, the extremely large and mobile lineman is certain to be invited to some team's camp.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.