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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