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03.30.2008 2:59 pm

Opening Day Lineups

By Derrick Goold

DOWNTOWN — Manager Tony La Russa either pulled off a great bluff, or a few of us totally ignored his tell. Probably it’s more of the latter than the former, as the Cardinals manager sided with experience, service time and the obvious when he made out his lineup for Opening Day.

With a caveat that he could flip-flop two hitters before tomorrow’s first pitch, La Russa planned to post the following lineup for the Cardinals’ opener against NL champ Colorado on Monday at Busch Stadium:

  1. Skip Schumaker, LF
  2. Ryan Ludwick, RF
  3. Albert Pujols, 1B
  4. Troy Glaus, 3B
  5. Rick Ankiel, CF
  6. Yadier Molina, C
  7. Cesar Izturis, SS
  8. Adam Wainwright, RHP
  9. Aaron Miles, 2B

The lineup features a couple wrinkles from the ones La Russa used most often in spring training. One is obvious: Instead of Izturis batting in the No. 9 spot that hosted him so often in Florida, the switch-hitting shortstop will bat seventh with Mr. Opening Day Miles batting ninth.

The other is subtle: For the last couple weeks, intrigue has been building for who would bat in the No. 2 spot against lefthanded pitchers, like Colorado’s Jeff Francis. Ludwick struggled against lefties last season, and didn’t show this spring that he was over that funk. Meanwhile, rookie Brian Barton took to the No. 2 spot with some gusto. He hit lefties. He went the other way with pitches — recall: La Russa’s ideal was that lefthanded-hitting Larry Walker pulling the ball in the right-side opening with a runner on base — and he had the speed to score from first on an extra-base hit by Pujols.

“My objective, wherever I bat,” Barton said this afternoon before the workout at Busch stadium, “is to get on base and get into scoring position.”

Ludwick, who had no lingering cobwebs from his HBP on Saturday, does offer that extra-base damage La Russa likes. He also has been around, put in some big-league time and knows the Busch Stadium drill, if not the Opening Day pomp. La Russa gave  consideration to Barton in that spot, but “I’m going with Ludwick.”

Ludwick is also not riveted into that position. La Russa said the one change he could make to the lineup before tomorrow afternoon’s season opener is swapping Ludwick and Ankiel, sliding the lefthanded hitting Ankiel up into the No. 2 spot.

One member of the Cardinals’ pitching staff asked in the clubhouse who was in the Rockies lineup. Upon hearing the names, considering the power and discussing the left-right balance of the NL pennant-winners, he said: “So, a good test then?”

Here it is … Rockies 101:

  1. Willy Taveras, CF
  2. Troy Tulowitzki, SS
  3. Todd Helton, 1B — a switch back to the spot from last season.
  4. Matt Holliday, LF — was the No. 3 hitter till this spring.
  5. Garrett Atkins, 3B
  6. Brad Hawpe, RF
  7. Yorvit Torrealba, C
  8. Jayson Nix, 2B
  9. Jeff Francis, LHP

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16 comments

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Blog Comments: Rules of the Road

Derrick,
Do you think a rain out will have any effect on the rotation?

Thanks Troy

— POOLEYDOG
5:06 pm March 30th, 2008

As long as he is moving Izturis in the order, maybe TLR should think about putting him 8th, and Wainwright 7th, or in this lineup, maybe 6th.

— Adam
5:20 pm March 30th, 2008

Interesting. I like the lineup, except I wonder if Ludwick is starting because he has experience. I think Barton in the #2 hole would provide a bigger ‘pop’ on Opening Day, especially with the hit Ludwick just took . Otherwise, we shall see.

— RL
8:07 pm March 30th, 2008

I like the idea of Barton batting second in place of Ludwick. Barton showed this spring that he had plenty of that “pop” LaRussa referred to. In addition to his “pop” Barton also has the speed to steal bases. So even if he does only single he still has the ability to steal second, turning his single into a double and putting a runner in scoring position with Pujols, Glaus, and Ankiel all coming up. I think the mixture of speed from Schumaker and Barton, and power from the 3 through 5 hitters is a deadly combination.

— Tim B.
8:59 pm March 30th, 2008

It’s not even day one and I’m not sure about the order. Usually I’m okay w/Tony’s moves, but I have to question a) playing Ludwick instead of Barton, who earned a spot as a starter against lefties regardless of whether it’s opening day or not and b) putting Glaus 4th and Ankiel 5th. Glaus hasn’t been great from cleanup in his career, I think they need to be swapped, but we’ll see how it works out. I am glad to see Miles instead of Izturis in the 9 spot though, it makes more sense for the double leadoff thing. Thanks for the report dg, hope they get the game in on time.

— PMR
12:05 am March 31st, 2008

There are any number of ways the Cardinals could go if there’s a rainout opening day. It will impact Wainwright’s schedule most. He was set to pitch twice in this homestand, and a rainout Monday would push him to a Sunday start, dislodging Kyle Lohse’s debut … Or not. One possibility for the Cardinals would be to have Lohse throw less of a sim game and more of a bullpen on Tuesday — putting him on schedule to start Saturday, one day earlier.

Expect to see Glaus hitting cleanup against lefties, until further notice.

Yep, I too was surprised Barton didn’t get the start. Thought all signs pointed in that direction. But hat tip to Chatman Strauss who pegged the players in the opening day lineup, if not the exact order …

dg
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— Derrick Goold
12:25 am March 31st, 2008

Day 1 and I am wondering what 90% of other CARDINAL fans are wondering? First, why did we re-sign Tony LaRussa? His attitude, not to mention his DUI, and his idiotic idea of thinking that he has stumbled upon his greatest new undiscovered strategy in the 100+ years of baseball of batting the pitcher eighth, makes me wonder what CARDINAL brass was thinking. How many other CARDINAL fans were hoping for Joe Girardi? Second, we let David Eckstein go because we didn’t want to pay him only $4 million a year??? The only stable thing on this team, and we release him because he missed a few games with back spasms. Troy Glaus will miss more than that this year. Third, are we saving all of our salary cap money so that we can resign Albert Pujuls when his contract expires in three years? Or will he be like Chris Carpenter, Mark Mulder, Matt Clement,…? If the Cardinals make it to .500, I would be amazed. At this rate, we will be in fourth place in our division for many years to come. Are the Cardinals trying the old Chicago Cub strategy of not making any new signings as long as the seats are filled??? Do not look at the glass as half full, it’s half empty and getting lower. Signed, Frustrated and Embarrassed CARDINAL fan.

— Jay Smith
12:46 am March 31st, 2008

#7:

Way to show up 4 months late with your complaints. You’ve obviously got a lot of reading to catch up on.

And what is this salary cap you speak of? This ain’t the NFL.

— mikechamp
1:03 am March 31st, 2008

Jay Smith,
You have to realize this team is NOT going in the same direction as 2003-2007. It’s time to re-build this St. Louis team.

Sure, Troy Glaus will miss some games, but Scott Rolen didn’t help in the clubhouse. Finally, the funniest thing that you said was this “are we saving all of our salary cap money….” (There is NO SALARY CAP IN BASEBALL). Why do you think the New York Yankees can pay A-Rod 25M/year?

— Jack
2:46 am March 31st, 2008

Why Schumaker in left and Ludwick in right? I thought Schu had a cannon for an arm.

— Steve
6:50 am March 31st, 2008

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