The Lineup 3.25: Opening day, save two
JUPITER, Fla. — Opening Day and the opening home stand is clearly on the Cardinals mind as they begin the sprint toward Springfield this afternoon against Washington. Today’s game against the Nationals forces Braden Looper to a minor-league game — he’s facing the Nats on his first turn of the regular season. And today’s starter for the Nationals, lefty Odalis Perez, allows the Cardinals to test-drive their Opening Day lineup.
Give or take a couple players.
Also, some numbers to keep in mind as you peruse the lineup below: 13-for-20, five home runs, 15 RBIs, a 1.500 slugging percentage and only one strikeout.
That is Albert Pujols’ line against Perez.
It does not include the 2004 playoffs.
THE CARDINALS
- Skip Schumaker, RF
- Brian Barton, LF
- Albert Pujols, 1B
- Troy Glaus, 3B
- Rick Ankiel, CF
- Jason LaRue, C … (Yadier Molina on opening day)
- Aaron Miles, 2B
- Anthony Reyes, RHP … (Adam Wainwright on opening day)
- Cesar Izturis, SS
The bullpen is stocked with LHP Ron Villone, LHP Randy Flores, RHP Ryan Franklin, RHP Jason Isringhausen, RHP Kelvin Jimenez, RHP Hugo Castellanos.
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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. 
So are you saying that Kennedy will not be starting opening day? Is that just a lefty-righty decision? Seems like Kennedy has earned the opportunity to play….
Cbd,
It’s likely. Check their splits: Miles, the switch hitter vs. lefties, is .286/.368/.336. Kennedy, the lefty vs. lefties, is .248/.306/.332
dg
Do you see Anthony Reyes in a Cardinals (or redbirds) uniform in May? There seems to be some thought that all parties would be happier if he were traded.
The daily updates you provide are outstanding - makes the fans SALIVATE for opening day!
Ankiel’s gonna get a lot of walks this year with this lineup. The last 4 hitters are all easy outs ane singles hitters, even if Yadi was in there.
You gotta sandwich Ank between Glaus and Albert and not tinker because a R or L is starting. Its a tad bit overmanaging by Tony (SHOCK) because a lefty starting to try and buy a 2 AB advantage thru 5 innings. The sandwhich will protect Rick as they will less likely to throw Albert strikes but not want to BB 2 to get to Troy..puls Albert (hammy) and Troy may jam up the basepaths a bit (don’t tell Albert I said that)
If Kennedy earned the 2B spot - then he should start unless you plan to sit him the whole year against lefties…I
DG,
Extremely nice line Reyes has through 6 IP (Reyes 6.0 3H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 2K’s, 0 HR, 3.32 ERA). Now I know that means absolutely nothing as far as the big league rotation goes, but does an outing like this “realistically” enhance what we may be able to receive in return from dealing Reyes? (I have already accepted the fact he will never pitch for the big club again as long as Tony and Duncan are there) Or is that just a wishful fan drinking too much Kool-Aid regarding what we may get in return?