03.20.2008 8:43 am
The Lineup 3.20: Fins & Feathers
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
JUPITER, Fla. — Manager Tony La Russa has said he plans to play this final week of games with lineups built for the regular season, and with a lefty on the mound yesterday and a righty out there today, he’s given quite a look at a few combinations.
Today’s, for example, returns Chris Duncan to his expected spot, and throws a new leadoff hitter into the mix to achieve a R-L balance.
There, after all, is a chance to get above .500.
THE CARDINALS (10-10-1)
- Brian Barton, RF
- Chris Duncan, LF
- Albert Pujols, 1B
- Rick Ankiel, CF
- Troy Glaus, 3B
- Yadier Molina, C
- Adam Kennedy, 2B
- Braden Looper, RHP
- Cesar Izturis, SS
Bench: OF Skip Schumaker, C Jason LaRue, OF Ryan Ludwick, INF Brendan Ryan, OF Juan Gonzalez, INF D’Angelo Jimenez, INF Aaron Miles.
Bullpen: LHP Randy Flores, RHP Kyle McClellan, RHP Russ Springer, RHP Cliff Politte, RHP Hugo Castellanos, RHP Kelvin Jimenez.
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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. 
That’s the lineup I want to see out there everyday! I like Barton up top and those three as our starting outfielders. We’ll see how Izturis does as time goes on but its seems that he’s picked it up a bit lately, so hopefully that will continue into the regular season! Otherwise, Ryan may be the way to go. One question I have is concerning Glaus. I haven’t heard anything about his plantar fascitis. Assuming this means it hasn’t been a problem or concern?
I think I’d like Skip to be an everyday outfielder. His bat is good, and his arm is amazing.
Looking more and more like a Schumaker/Barton platoon, which would be fine.
I just think Barton is more exciting and can do more things to help the team win…
The outfield defense is horrific, with this lineup. The very weakest part of Brian Barton’s game is his wet noodle throwing arm…and he’s starting in Right Field. Ugh. We all know about Chris Duncan–who’s a terrific hitter, esp. v. righties, but far from a Gold Glover in LF. And Ankiel in Center? In *both* the minors and majors last year, Ankiel was much better defensively in Right than Center–according to every “objective” measuring stick I’ve seen.
Rasmus in Center and Ankiel in Right is the future; it should also be the present.
Skip will be the best choice to bat leadoff, and he is a good defender.
Derrick, you really think Dunc is a legit number 2? I’d think the only reason he should be that far up in the order is to build up his confidence. Ankiel’s more the prototype number 2 hitter. Dunc is an old school lumberjack. I dont think either one really have the experience yet to protect Albert. You’d have to go with Troy who has the most experience.
Brian Barton, RF
Rick Ankiel, CF
Albert Pujols, 1B
Troy Glaus, 3B
Chris Duncan, LF
Adam Kennedy, 2B
Yadier Molina, C
Aaron Miles, SS
Braden Looper, RHP
Looks like a decent lineup, Have a question though Derrick, do you think batting behing the pitcher in the lineup really helps Cesar’s confidence. Izturis really needs to gain confidence right now, and I don’t think batting him ninth behind pitchers really helps him gain a bunch of it. I know Tony says that he’s a second leadoff guy and all that poppycock, but these guys see right through that crap. He knows he’s batting ninth because he’s not very good, and our manager wants to try a silly gimmick. IMO I agree with Piniella, it’s not a good way to help a guy gain some confidence.
There is a big difference from batting eigth and feeling like an important part to the lineup, to batting ninth and feeling embarrased about batting behind a stinkin pitcher. Again i just don’t get the crazy 8 junk, and I never will.
Well I would hope that major leaguers wouldn’t “embarrass” that easily. If they did, I don’t think they would be where they are…
Is Ryan’s rib cage still bothering him? I noticed that he was one of the few reserves who didn’t get in the game today.