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03.19.2008 7:43 am

The Lineup 3.19: Down the stretch

By Derrick Goold
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — For the better part of a week, manager Tony La Russa has deflected any questions about the roster or the makeup of the bullpen or his exact thinking with the lineup with the simple phrase: “That is one of those for Wednesday.”

Well, it’s Wednesday.

Time for some of the answers.

The Cardinals begin the final sprint of exhibition games here in the Grapefruit League with a trip to Lauderdale to face Baltimore. It will be one of only two times in the final week here that the Cardinals can use the designated hitter, and the lineup (again) confirms the direction the Cardinals are headed in so many spots: leadoff; cleanup vs. lefties and cleanup for righties; No. 9 hitter; and … perhaps even the early favorite for an opening day start (vs. LHP Jeff Francis) at No. 2. Brian Barton has been in the spot too often not to be noticed. 

Most of the position players are on the bus headed south, with the notable exceptions being two outfielders, Juan Gonzalez and Chris Duncan. Duncan is staying behind at Roger Dean Stadium to get in some swings in the minor-league games and around noon he’ll head to Lauderdale to play in the game once Baltimore Orioles starter Adam Loewen leaves it.

The game is also marked by a first: Brad Thompson’s spring debut as a starter. 

THE CARDINALS

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

Starting pitcher: RHP Brad Thompson. Bullpen: RHP Jason Isringhausen, RHP Cliff Politte, LHP Ron Villone, RHP Ryan Franklin, RHP Kelvin Jimemez, RHP Chris Perez, RHP Hugo Castellanos.

Bench: INF Rico Washington, INF Aaron Miles, INF D’Angelo Jimenez, C Jason LaRue, INF Brendan Ryan, 1B Josh Phelps, OF Amaury Marti.

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Blog Comments: Rules of the Road

Who’s is better: Bernie’s Extra Points or Bird Land?

— Brock Berenato
9:00 am March 19th, 2008

what happened ..tlr forgot his philosophy…should not izturis be batting 8th instead of 9th to set up the top of the order?

— clubmaker
9:41 am March 19th, 2008

It’s DL day so I guess that’s why Izturis is 9th. Have to say that, except for Izturis in there instead of Ryan, i like that lineup for the Cards future.

— Steve1us
10:04 am March 19th, 2008

being here in jupitor and seeing brendan ryan all spring , he should be the starting shortstop opening day izituris has done nothing here to impress anyone on his defence , or hitting while ryan has played with spark and hustle every day

— rANDREYCHA
10:34 am March 19th, 2008

Andreycha, I hope that you are right. I also hope that by interleague play, Juan Gon or Duncan is the DH and Barton, Rasmus, and Ankiel are starting in the outfield.

— jamborewe
11:44 am March 19th, 2008

Ludwick in right, Schumaker in left? Why? (And why not Schu in CF and Ankiel in RF?) Or is this an exercise in seeing who’s best where?

— Neil T.
11:52 am March 19th, 2008

Birdland is FAR SUPERIOR to Bernie’s extrapoints. Birdland/ DG gives you good meaningful info about what is happening, Bernie tends to complain about ownership (behind their backs at least) and doesn’t seem all that knowledgable about whats going on w/ any of our guys that haven’t been on TV ie. prospects in AA/ A level.

I AGREE!!!!!!! We need Ryan to start!!!!!!!!!!!Having Izturis bat 9th destroys the reasoning behind the pitcher in the 8 hole. IZT doesn’t get on base. When adam Wainright pitches are they going have him bat 9th, cuz he’s a better hitter than IZT.

— RedPoetry
11:59 am March 19th, 2008

It’s nice to see those healthy batting averages, hope they keep up through the season. Six of today’s 9 hitters are at .326 or above, and ludwick is at .293. Molina is a tad behind, and Izturis isn’t hitting anywhere near his weight, however.

— will
12:55 pm March 19th, 2008

Dunc went deep…….5 decent innings from Thompson…….things are looking up, and the sun is trying to come out in St. Louis……not a bad day.

— will
2:40 pm March 19th, 2008

DG and BM are two different types of writers, doing different things. I don’t think there is a fair comparison. You could compare BM to Gordo, or DG to even Joe S.
Lots of guys have had rough springs but would do fine come the start of the year. Since he is getting as much as he is, Isturis will play, but if he continues his inconsistent play, he’ll be benched, traded, or released by mid-May, at the latest. Then Ryan may have the year to prove he’s the guy.
Team wants Ankiel in CF. I’d lean more toward Shoe b/c he seems more natural there, and given Ankiel’s cannon arm, RF seems logical. TLR will put is best OF lineup in there every day by matchup, so don’t be shocked if there is a 5-man rotation in the OF, with only Dunc having a permenant home in LF. If Pujols goes down for the count, I’d see Dunc playing 1B, with OF of Barton - Ank - Shoe/Ludwick.
I’m starting to think the best IF may be, at this point: Glaus - Kennedy (natural SS, remember?) - Miles, Pujols. What does Miles have to do to get a shot at the everyday job?

— whatthetlr?
3:58 pm March 19th, 2008