Glaus: Batting Cleanup?
Welcome to the new-look blog zone on STLtoday.com.
I told serial blogger Derrick Goold that he’s already making me and others look bad with his highly ambitious designs at Bird Land .. so many fancy links and assorted bells and whistles over there at Goold Land. It’s damned impressive.
(For the love of Luis Aparicio … what’s a “tag,” anyway? I thought that’s what a Cardinals 2B or SS does when Yadier Molina throws the ball to nail a base-stealer).
Before I can figure any of that stuff out (if I try), I’m just going to write, OK?
Here’s a quick opinion on new Cardinal Troy Glaus and his place in the 2008 lineup.
We’re all assuming he’s going to bat cleanup, behind No. 3 hitter Albert Pujols. Makes sense on the surface, because Glaus has an acclaimed power stroke, and presence, and he’s a dangerous hitter. He also doesn’t shy away from important situations.
One problem: Glaus hasn’t been a particularly good No. 4 hitter in his career.
In 1,435 at-bats as a No. 4 hitter, Glaus is batting .238, with a mediocre onbase percentage of .344, and a solid but unimposing slugging percentage of .471.
Granted, those numbers would represent a substantial upgrade over what the Cardinals got from their No. 4 hitters in 2007. They were anemic, with a .246 BA, .320 OBP and .386 SLG.
And Scott Rolen was feeble as a No. 4 hitter last season. It’s a small sample size (91 at-bats), but he hit .191 with a .276 OBP and a .309 SLG. (When healthy in years past, Rolen’s numbers at cleanup were very good).
Historically, Glaus has performed best as a No. 5 hitter or at No. 6 in the lineup.
In 1,226 ABs at No. 5, he’s .263 / .368 / .514
In 982 ABs at No. 6, he’s .273 / .377 / .539
You know how manager Tony La Russa likes “danger” in the No. 2 slot? Uh-oh … in 136 ABs as a second-place hitter, Glaus has batted .301 with a .404 OBP and a .684 SLG.
But don’t tell Tony; we wouldn’t want to give him any ideas.
Glaus may be less than ideal as the new No. 4 hitter, but compared to what the Cardinals had there last season, he’ll deliver a lot more wallop. Makes sense.
As we go, a couple of fun facts on Glaus, from my Team 1380-AM radio partner, Randy Karraker: Glaus’ mother lives in Ashland, Mo. And in the past, when he’s visited her, Glaus has worked out and used the batting cages at Mizzou.
I talked to Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt on Monday night, and he said that Glaus was excited to be here, and has always wanted to play for the Cardinals.
The St. Louis baseball atmosphere frequently has brought out the best in players who transfer here, and perhaps Glaus will thrive in the setting the way that so many others have before him.
Later …
The Land may have more bells and whistles and links and (too long) entries … but here’s betting that when it comes to the snazzy new star rankings you land more 5-out-5 than anyone else in P-D blogdom.
And who you calling serial?
dg