Lineup 2/28: AK atop, Juan Gone in
JUPITER, Fla. — While talking with players for today’s article on the Cardinals’ search for a leadoff hitter, second baseman Adam Kennedy raved about the role. He talked about how it gets him instantly into the flow of the game. How the responsibility brings immediate “intensity” to an at-bat. He said it’s a good way for a hitter to contribute by setting a tone.
Then, as he walked away to hit the cage, he said:
“I don’t think I’ll be in that role, really.”
Spoke too soon.
As the Cardinals open Grapefruit League play this afternoon against the New York Mets at Roger Dean Stadium, Kennedy is starting at second base and hitting leadoff. Though Kennedy’s initial thought had its substance. Though last year was a career worst for him (.219 average, et. al.), he actually improved his numbers as a leadoff hitter.
He came to the Cardinals with a .196 average in the spot, but in 65 at-bats at leadoff last season, he hit .246/.279/.277 and raised his career line to .225/.246/.270.
“I don’t know what (manager Tony La Russa’s) thoughts are and if this is a reality for me to have a chance at being there,” Kennedy said. “But this is a great opportunity to have an important spot, if that’s the case. Starting today, starting right off I guess, it’s a big deal, a big opportunity for me to show.”
The Cardinals (0-0):
- Adam Kennedy, 2B
- Rick Ankiel, CF
- Albert Pujols, 1B
- Troy Glaus, 3B
- Chris Duncan, LF
- Juan Gonzalez, DH
- Skip Schumaker, RF
- Cesar Izturis, SS
- Jason LaRue, C
Starting pitcher: RHP Anthony Reyes.
And out of the bullpen: RHP Hugo Castellanos; RHP Kelvin Jimenez; RHP Jason Motte; RHP Mark Worrell; LHP Jaime Garcia and, as depth, RHP Tyler Herron.
The Mets (0-1):
- Jose Reyes, SS
- Fernando Martinez, CF
- David Wright, 3B
- Carlos Delgado, 1B
- Moises Alou, LF
- Ryan Church, RF
- Ruben Gotay, 2B
- Brian Schneider, C
- Marlon Anderson, DH
Starting pitcher: RHP John Maine.
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A quick bit of news from this morning: RHP Joel Pineiro felt a stiffness in his pitching shoulder yesterday and could not do a scheduled batting practice session. He will miss his first scheduled game start, which was set for Sunday. La Russa said after Pineiro went through from tests the club is comfortable with his arm and shoulder strength but must find a way for him to get stretched and loose for his next throw. More info on this later.
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Also starting today: A new way to keep up with the Cardinals from the Post-Dispatch. The P-D will be offering a newsletter, twice daily, with all of the happenings down here in Jupiter and all of the coverage you can get online and in the paper. You can sign up for the new, exclusive feature here.
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Derrick Goold said he was going to Mizzou for capital-J journalism, but after growing up in the Time Zone Baseball Forgot he was really drawn to MU sitting between two major-league cities. Goold joined the Post-Dispatch in 2001 after working for The Times-Picayune and Rocky Mountain News, covering sports from LSU to NHL and every level of baseball in between. 
Possible arm problem for Pineiro? It’s not even March, and Pineiro’s should problem might be nothing, but it’s time to hit the panic button. Or at least to sign another pitcher. Let’s see, Livan Hernandez … gone. Bartolo Colon … fat and gone. Who’s left? Is it time for St. Louis to have a Lohse infestation?
I assume this lineup is the one Larussa feels is the best he can put out there if the season started today. If that’s the case, we fans are in for the worst season in 2 decades.
This is not the lineup of a sage baseball man. It’s of a delusional optimist.
Adam Kennedy cannot play the game of baseball at the major league level. We saw this firsthand last year.
Cesar Izturis cannot play the game of baseball at the major league level. Anyone who has seen him play the last 2 years can attest.
Juan Gonzalez cannot play the game of baseball at the major league level as evidenced by the fact he has not played baseball at any level the past 3 years.
It may be time to commit Tony to Farmington.
It’s definitely a season to save your $. This direction cannot be financially supported by even the loyal Redbird nation.
Nobody puts there best lineup in right away in spring training. Just look at the mets lineup, not everyone who starts is in their lineup today. Plus we aren’t playing Molina, Rasmus, Brenden Ryan, ect.
The only regulars not in a lineup this early in spring training are those getting extra rest (ie. Beltran and Molina). Otherwise it’s a direct indication of how the manager sees as his best option.
It will definitely change in some ways, but this is the foundation on which he’s decided to build his team.
Let’s just hope Brendan Ryan and any second baseman do enough to shake some sense into Larussa and bench (hopefully release) Izturis and Kennedy. Otherwise we’re looking at the worst middle infield in MLB + AAA offensively AND defensively.
Come on… you are all waaaay too negative….Kennedy and Izturis may not provide the best hitting tandem, but defensively they are solid…as for the hitting..sure Izturis is probably a lost cause with the bat but he hits 9th now and i doubt that changes…but Kennedy has had ONE bad year…which was last year..which was ALSO injury riddled from before Spring training til the offseason… AS for Gonzalez…if he produces well then he is a steal for ap ower RH bat..if not..who cares? He was a NRI anyway…
The team is not that bad..you all need to wisen up, you can have your opinions and that is fine, but until i SEE this team flounder i WILL NOT expect it..that is what being a fan means…
Why not bat Schumaker first and have Kennedy down in the seventh spot? At least Schumaker offers the threat of stealing a base, and the speed to stretch a single into a double or a double into a triple.
Batting Ankiel and his .300 obp 2nd rather than Dunc and his platoon partner is a substantial mistake. With this line-up, Pujols won’t see many RBI opps on the season. Can we see if Barton’s OBP/speed holds up in the leadoff spot at the major league level since he has to be on the ML roster? Let Barton and Dunc set the table for Poohy, Glaus and Ankiel.
Being a fan means knowing the game of baseball first and THEN applying that to your favorite team.
Kennedy and Izturis are by far the worst offensive middle infield tandem in baseball. Kennedy’s 2007 OPS = .572; Izturis’ ‘06 + ‘07 OPS = .610. Kennedy had the lowest OPS of any regular in the Majors last year. Izturis was 4th worst among all baseball regulars in ‘07 and THE worst over the last 2 years combined.
Izturis was statistically the second worst defender among regular SSs last year as well. Only JJ Hardy’s 4.00 RF9 was worse than Izturis’ 4.01 (league average = 4.50). Kennedy had a surprising RF rating of 5.24 to a league average of 4.86 especially considering how slow he is laterally and how weak his arm looked turning the DP. Together they’re statistically in the bottom 5 of current tandem and the worst SS. We all know that defensive stats are pretty weak and just watching these two I can opin that they’re the worst.
I don’t believe I’m being negative. I’m applying baseball stats and qualitative assessments of they’re performance in games I’ve seen them play in recent seasons.
Now you replace those two with Brendan Ryan at SS and Aaron Miles at 2B and you move back up to respectability.
Its spring training… I think it going to be like this all spring… Put the parts in the bottle and shake… See were the piece fall….
I think it’s funny that we are already discussing the lineup used in the FIRST PRESEASON GAME! Come on people, lighten up.
If Juan G makes the club, it will be interesting because there are some guys in the middle of the lineup that can hit.
I like Miles, but he is not the answer at 2B. If not Kennedy, then the Cards will be hurting there, and that says a LOT.
Nothing is really expected from Isturis, like Matheny back in his day. Whatever he gives you, great. The Cards actually expect run production from Molina.
I think the battle for the outfield spots will be interesting. Dunc, Ank, Shoe, Colby, Barton, and JuanGone. Whichever 5 make the team, I think they will be a lot of fun.
Don’t worry about the lineup. Only worry about the rotation. And if Pineiro is hurt, really start worrying.