When MVPs meet, Nations Collide: Cardinals vs. Red Sox
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Two semi trucks carrying the signature Budweiser Clydesdales just pulled up outside of City of Palms Park, unloading the stars of St. Louis Cardinals’ Opening Day not too far from the watchful eye of a Ted Williams’ statue. This is what happens when nations collide.
The first game of the Cardinals two-game, three-day stop in Fort Myers, Fla., could have a distinctly regular-season field, distilled naturally to the size of a spring training ballpark. Josh Beckett is the scheduled starter for the Boston Red Sox. Kyle Lohse will start for the Cardinals, who will also feature a interleague play-ready lineup. Throw in what could be a bi-partisan crowd united only by the color of their sea, and today’s game has better trappings than most Grapefruit League games.
It is the only game this spring to feature the two reigning MVPs — Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia and Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols.
There already were fireworks.
Ryan Ludwick lasered line drives during batting practice and put a home run off a light standard here at City of Palms Park. He’ll be batting fifth in the Cardinals’ lineup:
- Skip Schumaker, 2B
- Rick Ankiel, CF
- Albert Pujols, 1B
- Chris Duncan, DH
- Ryan Ludwick, RF
- Khalil Greene, SS
- Yadier Molina, C
- Colby Rasmus, LF
- David Freese, 3B
Starting pitcher: Kyle Lohse, RHP
Freese is batting ninth to breakup the lefthanders. Seven of the Cardinals in the starting lineup will be staying over in Fort Myers and working out at the Twins facility Saturday morning. Manager Tony La Russa said Rasmus will be returning to Jupiter, Fla., to play in the afternoon game at Roger Dean Stadium. He said Freese may also return to get additional at-bats. La Russa will make the decision on Freese after the game.
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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. 
Good to hear Lud has his game on.
I hear a deafening silence from the Kahalil bashers.
Looks like Freese has won out the 3b job. Colby still in lineup, tho he hasn’t been doing much. Mozeliak asked Tony to make way for the youngsters. Tony has complied. Some, like Motte, may prove his wisdom. But they may be other instances where Tony will be able to tell young John, “There’s a reason I like Major League veterans.”
Ug. Pardon my grammar. There may be other instances ….. and yes, Freese for now, hopefully Glaus later.
I don’t know if I count as one of the Khalil bashers, but I was certainly skeptical. It is nice to see him hitting the ball as well as he is. Here’s hoping his batting average settles in the middle between his .213 last year and his .404 this spring.
I personally hope Khalil’s batting average stays at .404.
Duncan is in the clean-up spot again? If this is a representative regular season lineup (minus the DH) does that mean Tony has decided to keep him there? He sure hasn’t hit worth a darn there, so I don’t get it.
Khalil will hit over .213. In 2004, his first full season, he hit .273 , 2005 he hit .250, 2006 he hit .245, 2007 he hit .254 and we all know what he did last year. He also played for the worst team in the ML last year. I would like to see you go out there and play your butt off in front of 20,000 ppl a night in a non-baseball environment where there is nothing on the line. He will be in one of the best baseball environments in STL. There is no magical dust that we have, but I guarantee he will hit way above .213. I am really sick of hearing about what he did last year. He played in 105 games last year and broke his wrist. Yea he strikes out a lot (well, in the past), but he is showing this spring that he is primed for another great year.
http://buschshouseofcards.blogspot.com