Khalil and LaRue Start Vs. Billingsley
LOS ANGELES — Manager Tony La Russa gave a nod to the numbers this afternoon when he placed Khalil Greene in the starting lineup against the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Chad Billingsley.
Greene, starting in place of Mark DeRosa, enjoys career 7-for-12 success against Billingsley, who is coming back after missing a start due to a strained hamstring. Greene receives his third start since coming off the disabled list Aug. 2. He is 4-for-12 with two doubles and three RBI in that time. La Rue receives his first start this month. He has taken one at-bat this month, a cameo during the Cardinals’ 9-0 getaway loss in New York Aug. 9.
Rick Ankiel’s game-winning home run Monday night buys him another start. The remainder of the lineup is unchanged except for rookie starter Mitch Boggs, who may or may not be holding the spot for John Smoltz.
The Rest:
2B Skip Schumaker
SS Brendan Ryan
1B Albert Pujols
LF Matt Holliday
RF Ryan Ludwick
CF Rick Ankiel
3B Khalil Greene
C Jason LaRue
P Mitchell Boggs
DODGERS
TBA
ince
(3 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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Colby on the bench again?
Funny how Ankiel’s game winner last night gets him him into tonight’s lineup yet Rasmus’ walk-off on Sunday bought him pinch-running duty the yesterday. I love La Russa but he is the worst at hiding his favoritism. I’ll take rasmus over Ankiel any day of the week.
I’d take Rasmus also, but I’m sure glad La Russa didn’t take him last night!
I know he’s not a Busch beer swilling, fun loving mid westerner like everybody’s beloved Whitey Herzog. I know he’s a liberal, San Franciscan. But people, can we just all agree that Tony has presided over the absolute best run the Cardinals have EVER had in history?? Maybe the 1940s are close, but I’m 30 and can’t name anybody from then except Musial. Anyway, give the guy a break you haters! What the heck. And as for Rasmus v Ankiel, it’s a wash. I leave it up to the expert, that would be the 1st ballot hall of famer that we have as manager now, and I hope, for as long as possible. NOT you all. Man, up by 6 games and you’re still whining. Enjoy it! It’s baseball.
Go Cards, all the way this year!
Rasmus should be playing. Period. If nothing else, to get experience. He’s the future, Ankiel is not. It was BS last night about the knuckleball, just a veiled excuse. Tony’s good at finding reasons.
Even if Ankiel has a good game, like last night, it doesn’t take away from the fact that Colby is our future. Use him. I like Tony, but as a young player, I’d go crazy playing for him.
Blues r Back is RIGHT !!!!!!!! Let Tony do what he does BEST,MANAGE & WIN!!
Tony seems to put the right players in the game at the right time to get what is best for the TEAM!!!!WINS!!!!!!!!!!! Tonys job is still to do what is best for the team,not 1 or 2 players. I know Rasmus is our future centerfielder,BUT we need to win NOW and worrie about the future in the future. Ankiel & Rasmus are both doing good the way Tony is useing them. By the way ,how do we know Ankiel want resign with the Cardinals this winter??? Ludwick,Holliday,Ankiel,& Rasmus in the outfield in 2010??? Sounds like a winner to me!!!!!!!!! Whitey was a GREAT MANAGER in his time as a Cardinal and SHOULD be in the Hall of Fame!!!!!!
Tony is a GREAT MANAGER NOW and should resign with the Cardinals for at least 2 or 3 more years then go into the Hall of Fame!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lets let Tony worrie about who plays center,Ankiel or Rasmus & lets get Smoltz and let Tony decide if he pitches the 8th inning or is the 5th starter. Lets ALL just set back and enjoy the wins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CARDINALS 2009 WORLD CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why would we put Smoltz in the rotation? We need him for the bullpen, and his numbers show he is fine the first time through the rotation. Then it gets ugly.
As for the outfield, I would rather see Rasmus out there, but if splitting times gets better ABs out of both of them, then do it.
I love comments about Larussa. All the guy does is win & the fan base still cannot fully support him. As a rookie or first year player you should be happy to be in the big leagues and take the opportunity to learn. Larussa is bringing him along slowly and that is a good thing. Ankiel had a pretty good year last year & is finally looking healthy. If you don’t give Ankiel the nod when they are both playing about the same right now you really send the wrong message to the rest of the veterans. You shouldn’t lose your job because you go all out & make a play that injures you banging into the wall. Let Larussa make the decisions and sit back and watch a first place ball club. Stop whining. Cheers.
I wonder what you Uncle Tom’s can come up with to critcize this line-up. You always come up with something…
Why does Ankiel’s game winner earn him another start when Colby’s didn’t? Tony said that he wanted to “protect” Colby from overexposure to the knuckleballer, but how come Rick doesn’t need to be “protected” from most of the league against which he can’t hit?