Schumaker in the mix for center field assignment
LOS ANGELES — Manager Tony La Russa is going to have start at least one lefthanded hitter against either of the Los Angeles Dodgers first two starters in this National League Division Series, and that could mean sending Skip Schumaker back out to center field.
In his press conference this afternoon, La Russa said there were “three options” for his center field spot in tomorrow’s lineup, and he hinted that all three were lefthanded hitters. Two were obvious: Rookie Colby Rasmus and incumbent CF Rick Ankiel.
Later, La Russa confirmed that that third is Schumaker, a career outfielder who made the transition to second base this season.
One of the three will start in center field, La Russa said.
“Yes,” the manager explained, “I do see Schumaker as part of that decision.”
Schumaker, he clarified, is also a candidate to start at second base. Though, he has recently sided with Julio Lugo as the starting second baseman against lefthanded starters, like the Dodgers will throw in Games 1 and Games 2 of the NLDS. La Russa said if one lefthanded hitter starts, he’ll like bat No. 8. If two start, then the second one will definitely be Schumaker at second base and he’ll be the leadoff hitter.
Schumaker hit .220 against lefties this season with a .278 on-base percentage.
La Russa insists all of his lefties have a shot against lefthanded pitching.
Though he acknowledged that Rasmus “has struggled, and there’s no need to bury him.” The manager then added: “Schu has ended up with a good stroke at the end. That’s something to consider.”
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(6 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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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. 
I’m always a fan of the Skipper setting the table at the top of the order. However, I would go with the unpopular choice of Ankiel to play CF in Game 1 and bat him No. 7 ahead of Molina and the pitcher. Ankiel offers the best power potential and has hit over .300 in a handful of ABs vs. Wolf. I’d bat him in the 7 spot b/c I think he may get a pitch or two in front of Molina he wouldn’t otherwise see batting in front of the pitcher; plus, Molina can simply handle the bat better than Rick hitting in front of the pitcher. I wouldn’t even fret too much if he hit No. 6 instead of DeRosa. Although I’m keenly aware of the reasons Rick’s critics are so loud, he just seems to have a knack for the spectacular and he offers the potential to come up with the play of the game just as much as he has the potential to strike out three times with runners on base. Of course, even if Ankiel does play, TLR would probably do something crazy like bat him No. 2, which would cause me to gulp down some Pepto-Bismol.
Oof, Southern…I can’t agree with that one. The only good thing I can think of about batting Ankiel leadoff is that he can’t hit into a double play at the beginning of the game…Good stat about him vs Wolf though, that gives some credance to what you say. Props for that.
I worry about Schu playing center, only because he hasn’t this year except for a couple of innings (and that might have been in right or left). Schu has to start though, no question in my mind there. Why not DeRosa or Ludwick? You lose defense there I suppose (although not much with Ludwick in center, he is a good outfielder), but you only have one leftie in the lineup that way…
Glad I am not the manager LOL
UNBELIEVEABLE!!! Once again Larussa is over managing. How can he start Skip in CF? Skip has a total of 8 putouts in centerfield all season long and has only played 23 innings there the entire year! AND he’s only hitting .220 against lefties. Just put our best defensive CF in there, Rasmus!
In my opinion, I should play third base and my man Derosa could slide over to 2nd base where he’s played many times in his career. This would take Julio Lugo out, but Brendan Ryan can hit leadoff, Derosa would hit second, I’ll hit 6th, and Skip will hit 8th (or 9th since Carpenter is obviously locked in at the plate right now). What do ya think Tony?
I am a big fan of Tony LaGenuis, but if Skip starts Game 1, I will not agree with the decision at all…gotta go with Ankiel for, if nothing else, his defense…and the better average of the 3 (skip, ras, ankiel)….bat Ankiel 8th where he can do as little harmful damage as possible…with Carp pitching (the NL’s best pitcher), no need to get cute by inserting Skip in the Lineup…if ankiel does not get the job done in game 1, go with skip in game 2….
start Rasmus in center dammit! TLR doesn’t get the boost on defense he provides, he can steal runs from the other team (plus he runs fast so he can steal some bases too). Skip needs to play at second or not at all, even Ank is better choice in cf
Here we go again… another reason I can’t wait for the Cards to say goodbye to this field management team. Torre will run his everyday lineup out there… good defense… decent hitting… good pitching… Cards; well, let’s move players back to old positions; let’s put all righthanded hitters into lineup; let’s give up defense for some offense, but let’s start a possible CY winner with another makeshift lineup. Geezzzz! Watch the Cards win by 10… I Hope!
I have to agree with some of the other posters. I have long believed that part (possibly a big part) of the reason the Cards won it all in 2006 was because Tony more or less resisted the urge to overmanage. It definitely is NOT any time to get cute. Good pitching and good defense mean everything in the postseason. Carp will keep the ball in the park and mostly on the ground and the defense will keep runs off the board. Due to Tony’s refusal to expose his LH hitters to LHP, only Ankiel has ABs against Wolf this year, so he has no idea how Schumaker and Rasmus might do against him. But, I have to like the guys who are swinging the bat well. Schu has been and Ras has at least been getting good wood on the ball and taking walks. Ankiel has mostly been whiffing. Still doesn’t look like he has a clue at the plate and is either out in front of breaking pitches or behind fastballs. I’ll take Rasmus’ defense in CF any day over Ankiel’s. And lest we forget–Ank melted down in the postseason pressure cooker as a pitcher.
LaRussa knows more about the club than you do. Let him figure it out. Calm down.
I will say hi from the stands.