Kozma’s Bat impressive in first games of Spring Training

I’m not sure how much of yesterday’s results had to do with the fact that the Houston Astros were so horrible last season or the fact that the Cardinals’ bats decided to wake up.
Feb 19, 2013; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Pete Kozma (38) poses for a picture during photo day at Roger Dean Stadium. image Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Regardless of which, it was nice to see the bats come alive. Houston’s pitching combined to give up 10 runs on 15 hits. This included home runs by Matt Holliday, Allen Craig, and Pete Kozma.

Kozma hitting a home run does give fans hope that it could be him that starts the season at short stop if Rafael Furcal is not healthy. A number of fans are concerned about the addition of Ronny Cedeno, if the United Cardinal Bloggers discussion the other day is any indication. The roundtable question of the day asked us which players we wanted to make the team and which players we didn’t.

In the first three games this spring, Kozma has played in two of the three games. He did not play on Sunday against the Boston Red Sox. Against Miami, the Oklahoma native was 1 for 3, with a walk. Against Houston yesterday, he finished 2 for 5, with a double, home run, and 2 RBIs.

I’m rooting for Kozma to make the team. I am. That said, in Grapefruit League action on Tuesday, Cedeno gets the start while Kozma is on the traveling roster.

The other question that I believe to be important is the situation at second base. The Cardinals have Daniel Descalso and Matt Carpenter at the major league level but Kolten Wong is approaching the door, too. Again, he is not starting today while Carpenter gets the start.

However, Wong has been impressive in the two games he has played to start spring training. While I cannot speak for his defense, his bat looked great against Houston on Monday. He went 2 for 4 with a double, a run, and a stolen base.