Ryan Back in Lineup, Ankiel Still Out
CINCINNATI — Shortstop Brendan Ryan returns to the lineup for Wednesday night’s tilt against the Cincinnati Reds while outfielder Rick Ankiel sits for the fourth time in five games. Manager Tony La Russa recently commented that rookie Colby Rasmus would receive more playing time than Ankiel due to the fact that the skipper believes Rasmus is taking better at-bats. Ankiel has missed starts against Aaron Cook, Jorge De La Rosa, Homer Bailey and now Bronson Arroyo during the final two stops on the road trip. He sat against Cook despite 4-for-5 career success.
Ankiel has failed to appear in seven of the Cardinals’ last 14 games. La Russa insists that Ankiel’s right shoulder is fine. Ankiel, meanwhile has generated five extra-base hits in his last 103 at-bats and has struck out nine times in his last 20 at-bats.
Jason La Rue makes his fourth consecutive start behind the plate as Yadier Molina continues to recover from Friday’s foul shot off his left knee. Ryan missed Tuesday’s start due to a jammed right index finger suffered on a Sunday bunt attempt.
The Rest:
CARDINALS
2B Skip Schumaker
3B Mark De Rosa
1B Albert Pujols
LF Matt Holliday
CF Colby Rasmus
RF Ryan Ludwick
C Jason La Rue
SS Brendan Ryan
P John Smoltz
REDS
CF Drew Stubbs
SS Paul Janish
1B Joey Votto
2B Brandon Phillips
3B Scott Rolen
RF Jay Bruce
LF Laynce Nix
C Ryan Hanigan
P Bronson Arroyo
(8 votes, average: 4.5 out of 5)
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Boy, it sure seems like Tony needs to try something different with this offense. At the very least, maybe it would help to bunch together your guys hitting around .300 in hopes that they could do better with RISP. Schu-Ryan-Pujols-Holliday-Ludwick-Rasmus-DeRo or something like that. I also don’t understand why Tony isn’t doing more to try to manufacture runs. It seems like he’s waiting for The Big Hit to get the runners in and that the players are all going up there trying to hit The Big Hit, rather than just trying to make contact and hit the ball into the gaps. Whatever the problem is, this team is tough to watch right now.
Rick Ankiel would do better hitting if he got more playing time. He is a better outfielder than the rest of the team. He hustles more and does not let the ball bounce in front of him. He also has a better throwing arm than the others. He needs more playing time.