As the spring wound down, La Russa took a few minutes to check in with MLB.com about how the spring has gone, how the upcoming season shapes up and the development of some key players and issues in camp.

MLB.com: How do you like the way your team has handled the distractions of a Spring Training as the defending World Series champions?

La Russa: I think there are two ways to answer that. One is that I have no complaints. The other is that I have compliments. I think the club has gone about it real, real well. That's in the book. They're enjoying it and they will enjoy it, but the real thrill is having a chance to win again. So I compliment them for the way they have worked.

MLB.com: To what extent have whatever questions you had about the starting rotation been answered?

La Russa: To this point, it's a very positive development. The talent is there. You need to make a commitment to work every day, and they have been making it. There isn't anything that's been more promising, as far as our chance this year, than the way they've done it. We knew Chris [Carpenter], but the other four guys have gone about it exactly the same way.

MLB.com: One concern about your pitching staff is that the starters may not be able to give you a large number of innings. Is that a worry for you, in terms of the strain on the bullpen, or do you believe they will be able to give you the innings you need?

La Russa: I think they're capable of taking good stuff out there for a lot of innings during a game and getting us deep in games.

MLB.com: What is your take on both where your offense is right now and how it's going to perform over the full season?

La Russa: I think you can't generalize it. Some guys feel better than others at the plate. As a team, overall, I think we'll be ready on Sunday night and I think we'll get better and better.

MLB.com: This season starts with a series against the Mets, the team you played in the National League Championship Series, followed by a series at a very tough place for your team, Minute Maid Park. Is it good to get those tests so early? Is it bad? Indifferent?

La Russa: I just recognize that that's how we start. I can't think of too many first weeks where you would say, 'Oh boy!' Last year we opened in Philadelphia. It's a tough league.

MLB.com: What are you looking forward to the most during the first week? Opening Night festivities? Raising the World Series banner? Receiving the championship rings? Simply having games that count?

La Russa: You separate Opening Day. It's a special occasion and you treat it that way. And then the rings, that's a dream come true. So there's a special corner of your consciousness for that. But mostly, it's the beginning of the competition and you hope to qualify again.

MLB.com: What does it mean to you to know that your team will have a banner alongside the banners of the other Cardinals championship teams?

La Russa: Whenever you have a goal of doing something, and it's a worthy goal, and you accomplish it, and it will be there the rest of your life, it's meaningful. But what we want to do is make sure that there isn't anything about winning last year that takes away from this year. Because right now, it's all about this year.

MLB.com: How do you size up the National League Central?

La Russa: I think everybody has improved. But what difference does it make? It's about our chance. We're going to concentrate on use. We're not going to get excited or depressed if somebody else is really good or really bad. We'll just take care of us. But I think we recognize that the division should be well-balanced, which is good for all of us. We're all going to play the same guys. Everybody is going to have the same dangerous series.

MLB.com: One topic that came up again and again at the start of spring was Chris Duncan's defense. Are you satisfied with the strides that he has made?

La Russa: I think he's playing above average. I think all the hard work has paid off, and I think if everybody would look at him fairly, that's how they would evaluate him.

MLB.com: Is Anthony Reyes close to becoming the type of pitcher that you and the staff wanted him to be?

La Russa: Yes. This is a great challenge for him, and we'll see how he pulls it off. First year in the rotation from beginning to end. Same thing for Adam Wainwright. It's going to be one of the most fascinating parts of our team, is to see how these guys deal with their opportunity.

MLB.com: Yadier Molina has swung the bat well this spring after a good postseason. What's your level of optimism about how he is going to hit in the regular season?

La Russa: I just think he has always hit because he wants to hit and he has a good stroke. So with that said, I'm expecting him to be a tough out.

MLB.com: What is your expectation for Jim Edmonds' level of health and effectiveness in the early going?

La Russa: No way to know. We'll just play it out, and whatever it is, it is. Nobody knows. We'll just try to exercise good judgment, and whatever it is, we'll deal with it.

MLB.com: Is there any doubt still about his status for Opening Day?

La Russa: Unless something goes screwy, I would expect him to play.

MLB.com: What's your understanding of how Mark Mulder is coming along?

La Russa: I think he's making progress. This is March, and we're still expecting him for June or July. So there's a lot ahead of him. But he's making progress.