Rasmus back in Cardinals’ lineup
CINCINNATI _ In the first half of the season, St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has been juggling his four regular outfielders, giving each a significant chance to play. “Everybody’s got at-bats,” said La Russa.
But now, as the Cardinals head for the All-Star break and the second half of the season, La Russa said that he would play the best three and he said today rookie Colby Rasmus is one of the three. Since he came back from a stomach ailment which required a visit to the doctor, Rasmus has gone seven for 12. Meanwhile, Rick Ankiel and Chris Duncan, the other lefthanded “starting” outfielders, have struggled.
“In Rick’s case and Chris’ case, they’re capable of better at-bats,” said La Russa. “I think they’re pressing more than anything else.”
Against Cincinnati righthander Micah Owings today, La Russa wants as much lefthanded presence as possible, so he is playing Rasmus, Duncan and Ankiel, with righthanded-hitting Ryan Ludwick sitting. Duncan, a .347 hitter in Great American Ball Park, is batting fourth despite the fact he hasn’t had a hit in his last 13 at-bats/La Russa said he was hoping that being in a setting where had succeeded would jump-start Duncan.
The lineups:
Cardinals:
Skip Schumaker 2b
Colby Rasmus cf
Albert Pujols 1b
Chris Duncan lf
Rick Ankiel rf
Yadier Molina c
Joe Thurston 3b
Brad Thompson p
Brendan Ryan ss
Cincinnati:
Chris Dickerson lf
Willy Taveras cf
Joey Votto 1b
Brandon Phillips 2b
Jay Bruce rf
Edwin Encarnacion 3b
Jerry Hairston Jr. ss
Ramon Hernandez c
Micah Owings p
(3 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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LaRussa has definitely lost his mind. I guess he is just going to go out of his way to show all the great Cardinal fans that the more we complain about Duncan playing the more he will be in the lineup. How on God’s green earth can he justify sitting Ludwick for Duncan. Ludwick is finally getting his stroke back and now we are going to sit him again for Duncan in the clean up spot. I give up!!!!! This is the biggest injustice that I have seen in my 50 years of watching Cardinal baseball. Duncan does not deserve to be playing. He needs to be shipped to Memphis to try and get his stroke back which isn’t likely to happen. Ludwick should demand a trade at the end of the season. His totals for the year project to 22 homeruns and 82 rbi. Duncan who has more at bats this year than Ludwick, will end up with 10 home runs and 60 rbi if he is lucky. Does Duncan playing ahead of Ludwick make any sense to anyone other than the over managing, genius LaRussa???