Rants Daily: Game 1 of Spring Training

The St. Louis Cardinals open their spring training schedule today at 12:00 PM CST, “hosting” the new look Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium (both teams call this home for the spring). Manager Mike Matheny sends Kyle Lohse to the mound for the Cardinals to face off against Josh Johnson. Carlos Beltran will be in the lineup at DH. All three members of the second base competition are in the lineup today, with Greene fielding the position.

TODAY’S GAME

Beltran is playing DH today in a effort to utilize the option available to teams during the spring to get an extra bat in the lineup. Beltran has been nursing a sore right shoulder, but apparently this is not the reason he is not in the field today. Part of the reason could have to do with Matheny sending all three second base competitors out today.

Tyler Greene is playing second, Skip Schumaker is playing right (Beltran’s position) and Daniel Descalso is playing third. Matheny noted earlier in the spring that Greene would see more time at second during the early parts of spring. It looks like Matheny is going to try to give each of the players in the competition as many at-bats as possible so that he can make a qualified decision about who will be the starting second baseman during the regular season.

This is a good move by Matheny. You want your players to feel that they are getting every chance possible to win the job and both Schumaker and Descalso have plenty of experience playing second so giving Greene more starts at the position in the beginning is not a hindrance to the others.

Here is the starting lineup:

1. Skip Schumaker, RF
2. Jon Jay, CF
3. Matt Holliday, LF
4. Carlos Beltran, DH
5. Yadier Molina, C
6. Matt “Patch” Adams, 1B
7. Tyler Greene, 2B
8. Daniel Descalso, 3B
9. Alex Cora, SS

Lance Berkman, David Freese, and Rafael Furcal are the regulars not in the lineup today. Furcal is not scheduled to play until Thursday. He is one of many players the Cardinals will work slowly this spring due to the injury history. This also will allow Matheny time to look at Alex Cora and maybe give some time to Greene at short in order to get him at-bats.

INTRASQUAD GAME RAINED OUT

Yesterday was more or less a washout. The anticipated intrasquad game was called off after a rainstorm soaked the field. Matheny was not 100% keen on the idea of the game anyway, so for him it was no big deal to have the game cancelled. There is no point to playing the game in poor conditions.

OTHER NOTES

Despite the bad weather, Adam Wainwright did get a chance to throw 30 pitches in a simulated game setting. He is scheduled to start on Friday. Also, Scott Linebrink was on the mound for the first time since Tuesday due to a sore hamstring.

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