TOWER GROVE – Although the snow is a nice sendoff for those of us heading south shortly, it’s only further confirmation that spring training is approaching rapidly. The only thing coming faster and with more anticipation is Super Tuesday. And that’s got everybody thinking about voting.

So why not combine the two big February events and hold the Cardinals Nation primaries?

Manager Tony La Russa and his coaching staff will have plenty of Decisions (in) 2008, from who fills the outfield, to who bats leadoff, to who’s on his bench, to who plays second base. Those players will have to sway the coaches with their play, their commitment and, yes, their experience. Sounds almost like an election. 

This PoliSci major — once dreamed of covering the Supreme Court, don’tcha know — was watching the cozy Democrats debate last night and thought maybe it’s time for the Cardinals candidates to take their campaigns to the constituency.

Today, in the first of a series of primaries over the next few business days, the candidates for second base present their cases, in their own words*, to the electorate.

Here’s the ballot, and rock your vote below.

(* Not really. The facts are real, but they aren’t actual quotes.)

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ADAM KENNEDY (From the Left): None other than La Russa himself has said that last year was a blip in an otherwise strong and consistent major-league career. There were a lot of factors weighing it down, not the least of which was a knee injury — that was not the cause of early struggles but had to be repaired. The .219 average is a wart on the baseball card, to be sure, but it does not define the player. A career .275 hitter with a strong glove and winner’s savvy, has more experience than any other candidate. Sure, there are the recent quotes from La Russa and KMOX host Kevin Wheeler’s rather clinical assessment, but all that is motivation, reasons to reclaim a misplaced reputation. Just two years ago, this infielder had Win Share totals like Ian Kinsler, a .300 average, and back-to-back seasons of 70 runs. A career doesn’t plummet that rapidly. T’s crossed, I’s dotted, and that makes a starting second baseman.

AARON MILES (Swing voter): Each spring it’s the same thing. Come to Jupiter. Try to win a starting job. Never the favorite, but always the eventual winner. Happened with Junior Spivey. Happened with  Kennedy. Why not bet on it happening again? Started 134 games at second base over the past two seasons and it would have been more except for some moonlighting turns, when needed, at shortstop. Flirted with hitting .300 last year until a late-season skid. Still, batted .292 and slugged .353 from the left side of the plate, while posting a .368 on-base percentage from the right side. That number, at least, supports a platoon chance. Probably deserved more at-bats in 2007, a fact La Russa admitted recently when he said Kennedy got the benefit of the doubt even when there were others playing better.  Not the polished glove that others are, or the upside hitter others are, but has played the best when given the opportunity. Why delay the inevitable and just vote now for this starting second baseman. 

BRENDAN RYAN (From the Right): Stepped out of the prospect label last season and played well enough for the Cardinals to accept some of his unpolished attributes and attitudes. Was mentored by Scott Rolen and David Eckstein in the ways of being a big leaguer — from tipping the clubbies, to when to show up for groundball practice — and was famously yanked from a game after swinging at a 3-0 pitch. That kind of green won’t win the position, but his athleticism could. Adept at both middle infield positions, though most of his amateur experience (i.e., college) was at second base. Strong arm. Quick feet. Has been more a more consistent glove each season. Speed is a plus. Bat could be. Hit .354/.407/.456 in 79 at-bats against lefthanders. Plenty of promise. Will have to overcome perception he needs another year of Triple-A seasoning to be the starting second baseman.

JARRETT HOFFPAUIR (From the Right): An underdog candidate who could play John Edwards* in this mix, reminding everyone: “This isn’t a two-person race.” Hoffpauir had his breakout minor-league season in 2007, hitting .300 or better at stops in Double-A and Triple-A. As a Springfield Cardinal, the second baseman had an OPS of .938, was the league’s batting average leader at the time of his promotion and was an All-Star. Remember the Prospect SATs? Hoffpauir: Bo Hart: Kinsler, which is to say at his high end he could add a low-order, line-drive punch. Has the best strike-zone judgment in the organization (fewer Ks than walks in every pro season) and could take some swings at leadoff sometime this season. His defense is average, but his bat got him drafted and his bat carries his candidacy to be the starting second baseman.

(* Not to be confused with Jon Edwards, the rocket-arm right fielder.)  

D’ANGELO JIMENEZ (Swing voter): First of the non-roster candidates who enter the fray. Has been with three other teams since his heyday as the second baseman for the Cincinnati Reds. In 2004, he hit .270/.364/.394 with 12 home runs, 99 strikeouts (!) and 67 RBIs. Bounced around and landed with Washington in 2007 before being outrighted at the end of the year. Signed to a minor-league free agent deal but cut from the mold of the experienced infielder who can play a lot of positions. Edges Miles with a 0.00 ERA in 1 1/3 innings of mopup, which might be enough to make him the starting second baseman.

BRIAN BARDEN (From the Right): Plucked off waivers last season from Arizona, Barden won college’s equivalent of the Gold Glove for his work at third base for Oregon State. Shortly after he arrived as a Cardinal, he explained how he saw his calling: It wasn’t at third base. Though he cracked 31 home runs in 2005 and 2006 combined at Triple-A, Barden said he didn’t have the pop to stay at third. He’d have to roam and increase his versatility. Second base could be the calling. Gifted with the glove, Barden is a career .296 hitter in the minors, and his past two full seasons in Triple-A he hit steady — .298/.361/.478 and .307/.363/.483. There’s a lot to like about his reliability and his potential, but spring may not be enough time for him to win the starting job at second base.

Next primaries Monday: Former Cardinals. 

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