Schumaker sits as La Russa sides with right-happy lineup
LOS ANGELES — Even limited career history trumps recent history as St. Louis Cardinals leadoff hitter Skip Schumaker takes an expected seat for this afternoon’s Game 2 of the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw. Schumaker, the Cardinals usual leadoff hitter and second baseman, reached base four times in Game 1 — and all four came against lefthanded pitchers.
But Kershaw represents a different kind of lefty.
Kershaw’s wipe-out breaking pitch has been cruel to Schumaker in previous at-bats. The Cardinals’ infielder is 0-for-4 with three strikeouts vs. Kershaw in his career. Not that righties have fared any better, as today’s starting right fielder, Ryan Ludwick, is 1-for-9 against the hard-boring stuff of Kershaw. Ludwick has struck out five times in those nine at-bats.
In Schumaker’s place will be Julio Lugo, hitting leadoff and playing second base. The Cardinals lineup:
- Lugo, 2B
- Ryan, SS
- Pujols, 1B
- Holliday, LF
- Ludwick, RF
- Molina, C
- DeRosa, 3B
- Rasmus, CF
- Wainwright, P
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(6 votes, average: 3.5 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 hate this lineup. 3 runs last night, and you take out the one guy who produced?
No Skip?? No win then, you might as well of just started LaRue, Glaus and Thurston over Molina, DeRosa and Pujols too.
JT
I’m not sure I’d keep Yadi in the six hole. With Pujols being walked and Holliday striking out, I don’t want Yadi up with the bases loaded and less than two out.
I think Skip deserved another start, he had a great approach at the plate last night and sad to say but is better the Lugo in the field.
At least no Ankiel. Thought Tony would reward him for that great at bat last night and sit Colby.
Molina hitting 6th is just retarded. He’s a DP waiting to happin.Yadi the Ralley Killer.
I don’t understand this lineup. Why is Schu not in there. He hit so well against a lefty last night! The lineup should’ve stayed the same. The Cards just didn’t execute in bases loaded situations. That’s not enough to replace Schu!
The problem was Yadi. He couldn’t deliver when the pressure was on. Plus he is the king of hitting into the double play. Uggh drop him down in the order.
I sure would hate to go to war with some of you Cards fans. First sign of trouble and you’d either surrender or resort to cannibalism. This team is more than capable of winning 3 out of 4 games. A little early to bail on your team, but when you have no spine or conviction, you weak ones die off quick. No matter who is on the field, the bats do need to wake up, but as a fan, I’m not hitting any panic button just yet. Go root for the Dodgers if you hate your team.
I swear, you all will complain about anything. I am sure you will all watch the game and cheer though, correct?
Just support the Cardinals and hope for the best.
Is TLR ever correct about any lineup decision? There’s a reason why he’s there and we are here.