Lineup 3.6: Skip sticks, Izzy up
JUPITER, Fla. — Manager Tony La Russa indicted the middle of his order for yesterday afternoon’s offensive woes, so he took the best batters from the evening game — a sigh-of-relief victory — and spliced them into lineup for today’s game.
That means game-winning triple Skip Schumaker is back at leadoff.
And outfielder Amaury Marti – the Cuban defector whose fascinating background has made him baseball blogdom’s answer to Pecos Bill – returns as the designated hitter and No. 5 batter. Marti went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Marti is hitting .429 this spring, slugging .429 and reaching base with a .429 OBP in seven at-bats.
Marti and other righthanded hitters are in the lineup opposite LHP Aaron Thompson, the Marlins’ sudden starter. Scheduled starter LHP Scott Olsen was a scratch last night. Sick of the Cardinals? (After all, it appears to be the only team he starts against in the past couple springs.) Nope. Shoulder tendinitis. There must be something about Abacoa that doesn’t agree with starters and healthy limbs.
Then there is the gunslingers.
Closer Jason Isringhausen and setup Ryan Franklin are together again, with Isringhausen scheduled to make his first game appearance of spring.
The Cardinals (3-5)
- Skip Schumaker, CF
- Joe Mather, LF
- Albert Pujols, 1B
- Troy Glaus, 3B
- Amaury Marti, DH
- Brian Barton, RF
- Yadier Molina, C
- Adam Kennedy, 2B
- Brendan Ryan, SS
Starting pitcher: RHP Todd Wellemeyer (60 pitches). Followed by: RHP Brad Thompson (60 pitches); RHP Ryan Franklin; RHP Jason Isringhausen; LHP Ron Flores. Backups: RHP Jason Motte; RHP Mark Worrell.
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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. 
Mather sure is getting a lot of time in the two spot ahead of Pujols and Glaus, especially. He’s been hitting there, too. Is there any chance he could dark horse his way onto this roster, or is he more likely the first guy up if somebody else falters? Also, I’ve noticed him getting some innings at first. How’s his infield glove doing?
I haven’t read anything about Molina this spring, how is he looking? from the box scores it looks like he’s not hitting yet
It’s nice to Skip get a chance to show what he can do against lefties. Hopefully Ankiel and Duncan will get the same chance later on.
Can you tell us more about A Marti or direct us to more info about him?
Have not seen Mather play in the infield in a game yet. He continues to take groundballs there, and he has worked some — some, they need to trim the numbers here before it can be some more — with Jose Oquendo. … Molina lost 17 pounds in the offseason and reduced his body fat; he rewrote his diet with the help of a nutritionist and has stayed on that plan to reduce the weight on his knee and improve his conditioning. … There will be more on Marti coming, promise.
For more info on Marti: http://futureredbirds.com/amaury-marti-facts/
1. Skip - RF
2. Rick - CF
3. Albert - 1st
4. Glaus - 3rd
5. Dunc - LF
6. Marti - 2nd (???)
7. Molina - C
8. Pitcher
9. Ryan - SS
I love ST, but is it March 31st, yet…?
That’s my opening day roster…I’d like to see Rasmus get more development time.
Is there any news on Josh Kinney? How is he progressing?
Is it me, or is Chris Duncan not getting very many at bats so far this spring? His brother is all over the ball in NY….where’s our Duncan?