Injuries, Poor Timing Help Make Cardinals Vulnerable

General manager John Mozeliak and manager Tony La Russa wagered heavily on two outcomes in the days preceding the non-waiver trade deadline July 31. They assumed third baseman David Freese would return from an ankle problem that had sidelined him for more than a month, and trusted that center fielder Colby Rasmus could maintain a central role in the team's offense.

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