This may seem a bit premature, but with the division all but wrapped up, there is certainly no harm in handing out regular season grades for the 2009 Cardinal batsmen. Amidst a season full of highs, lows and plenty of drama, the Redbird hitters each have their place on the InsideSTL Report Card. So without further ado, here are your first place St. Louis Cardinal hitters… from star students to deadbeat dropouts.

Albert Pujols A+
The Mang has had arguably the most complete season of his career and is destined for a third MVP award. He leads the major leagues in home runs, RBI, on base percentage, slugging percentage, walks, intentional walks, grand slams and a barrage of other sabermetric categories that will be saved for another post. He’s one of the most intelligent, best defensive and well prepared players the game has seen in a long time and is without a doubt the heart and soul of this ball club. Finally the rest of the world has caught on to what Cardinal Nation has known since 2004. Albert Pujols is the best player in baseball.

Matt Holliday A
Very rarely does a team get a shot in the arm that is as impactful and devastating to the opposition as the one provided by Matt Holliday this season. Since his arrival just before the trade deadline, the Cardinals own baseball’s best record and rattled off a 25-5 stretch that propelled them to a sure division championship. In 52 games with his new club, Holliday has driven in 49 runs, cracked 13 homers and hit at a .355 clip. Remember what Manny Ramirez did for the Dodgers last year? Yeah, it’s kind of like that. Here’s hoping DeWitt will buck up so the Birds can keep him.

Skip Schumaker A
Not only is Skip hitting .304 this season, but he’s scored 81 runs, got on base over 36 percent of the time and made a ridiculous switch from the outfield to second base. The fact that the Cardinal leadoff man is having just as good a season – if not better – than the one he compiled in 2008, while having to adjust to a new position not only speaks volumes about his character and ability, but what he means to this organization. The Cards struck gold when they decided to let him have an every day job last year.

Yadier Molina A-
The best defensive catcher in the game also possesses baseball’s most dangerous throwing arm. And what Cardinal fans have found out the past couple seasons is that he can hit a little bit too. Molina is batting .289 with 49 RBI this season, has a penchant for hitting with two outs and runners on base and is one of the hardest hitters in the game to strike out. He’s quarterbacked a pitching staff that is one of the best Cardinal Nation has seen in a very long time, and has caught more innings than any other backstop in baseball this season. Don’t think that the success of the Big Three in this year’s rotation doesn’t have something to do with the youngest Molina brother.

Brendan Ryan B+
Ryan may be the biggest and most delightful surprise of the 2009 season. Once thought to be nothing more than a utility infielder, he has not only gutted his way to being the team’s starting shortstop, but has a chance to be a future Gold Glover at the position. At the plate, he’s hitting over .290, has swiped 14 bags and has come up with some big-time clutch hits. He also has the honor of being the best defensive shortstop the Cards have possessed since Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith. All apologies Edgar Renteria.

Ryan Ludwick B
Luddy is not having the monster season this year that wowed Cards fans – and National League pitching – in 2008, but he’s still been a solid bat behind Pujols for most of the year. He was the player of the month in the NL for July and even though he’s battled injuries and inconsistent playing time – Tony I’m looking at you – he’s still popped 20 homers and driven in 89 runs to this point.

Julio Lugo B
The Boston castoff’s biggest attribute this season has been simply the art of addition by subtraction. Bringing in Lugo meant Chris Duncan was finally gone, and the team took off as soon as the spindly infielder arrived. He’s also been swinging a hot stick since coming to the Gateway City, putting up a .297/.368/.492 line. His versatility has been a plus as well.

Colby Rasmus B-
The Rookie of the Year candidate hasn’t been Grady Sizemore-esque just yet, but this year showed flashes of the potential Cardinal fans can expect down the road. Rasmus is second among all rookies in baseball with his 15 home runs (two of the walk-off variety) and he has also plated one of his teammates 50 times this year. The average needs work at .254, but on the bright side he’s been like a gazelle in center field and looks to be a future Gold Glove outfielder. Expect big things next season on all accounts.

Mark DeRosa C+
The former Brave/Ranger/Cub/Indian provided a nice boost for the Cards early in his tenure in St. Louis with eight homers and a glut of RBI and big hits. But he slowed considerably and has dealt with a torn tendon sheath in his wrist that has affected his production. He’s hitting just .229 as a Cardinal, but his presence in the clubhouse has been unparalleled and everyone has benefited from his leadership and baseball savvy. Look for him to stick around after this season.

Rick Ankiel C-
Ank looked like he was going to be a Cardinal superstar twice now in his career, but fans have ended up disappointed on both accounts. He classically melted down as a pitcher and then fizzled as a power hitter based on 2009’s numbers. He has hit just 11 home runs along side a dismal .234 average in over 350 at-bats and for some reason continues to get playing time over Ryan Ludwick and Colby Rasmus. Don’t expect the Cards to pursue the pending free agent once this season draws to a close.

Joe Thurston D+
Thurston looked like he had solved the third base crisis in April, but bottomed out quickly after the month ended. He has since been reduced to a left-handed bat off the bench with no pop and no realistic hope of a productive at-bat. His .229 average could lead to him golfing in October instead of gearing up for a Division Series.

Khalil Greene D-
He gave Cardinal fans hope with a monster spring, but his brain melted and he couldn’t deal with the pressure of getting paid to play a game. So he was shut down for most of the year and has hit just .207 in limited duty. Needless to say, the Khalil Greene experiment was a huge bust.

Chris Duncan F
Dave’s boy went from a frustrating nuisance to a worthless bat and glove that played nearly every day and caused a notable fissure between the coaching staff and front office. Thank God he’s gone. Is it a coincidence that the Cardinals became a force to be reckoned with once he left?

Troy Glaus, Jason LaRue, Brian Barden, Tyler Greene, Nick Stavinoha INCOMPLETE