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St. Louis Cardinals: Next man up, 2016 version

By Dr. Michael D. Miles

Sep 28, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Stephen Piscotty (left) and center fielder Peter Bourjos (8) collide making a catch on a ball hit by Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Josh Harrison (not pictured) during the seventh inning at PNC Park. Piscotty was taken from the game on a stretcher. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Stephen Piscotty (left) and center fielder Peter Bourjos (8) collide making a catch on a ball hit by Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Josh Harrison (not pictured) during the seventh inning at PNC Park. Piscotty was taken from the game on a stretcher. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Early Sunday morning- today- the St. Louis Cardinals released the opening day starting lineup for the game against the Pirates that kicks off the 2016 season.  This lineup immediately shows the 2016 version of the phenomenon known as “next man up.”

I’m writing this article with incredible excitement and anticipation for the St. Louis Cardinals game that will hit the airwaves in just two hours.  This game marks the start of the 2016 season and it couldn’t have arrived quickly enough.

The Cardinals are set to face Pittsburgh, rivals who have held the challenge admirably.  In addition to facing an opposing team challenge, the Cardinals are once again facing internal challenges. This year’s challenge is no different than last year’s challenge, and- actually- not really all that different than the year before that.  The challenge: injury.

In 2015, the St. Louis Cardinals faced injury after injury and kept facing the need to call up replacement players to fill in the gaps.  This became known as the phenomenon, “next man up,” and it served the team.  Many fans and writers were immediately impressed by this phenomenon and lauded the abilities displayed by the men called into service.

A quick reminder of 2015 next man up… In 2015, the Cardinals lost everyday players like Adam Wainwright, Matt Holliday, Matt Adams, Yadier Molina, Carlos Martinez, and even Stephen Piscotty to injury.

In their absences throughout the season, players such as Randal Grichuk, Brandon Moss, John Jay, Tommy Pham, and John Lackey filled in for these players and propelled the team to the 100-win season.  Will this grit continue in 2016?

Here’s a glimpse at today’s starting lineup and then we can discuss the exhibited next man up for today and the remainder of the 2016 season:

More from Adam Wainwright

As was released over the course of the past couple of days, fans are aware that Ruben Tejada and Brayan Pena will begin the 2016 campaign on the disabled list.  In their place will need to be next-men-up.  In today’s contest, Jedd Gyorko will be the first instance of this phenomena.

Can the 2016 reserves serve as well as the 2015 reserves?  We need to remember right off the bat that the likes of Pham and Grichuk have now climbed to everyday names.  This season’s reserves are Gyorko, Moss, Jeremy Hazelbaker, Greg Garcia, Marco Gonzales, and Eric Fryer (who was called up to replace Pena on the roster).

Looking at these names, I feel confident in this season’s next man up.  I would certainly rather have our starters but feel that these names can well hold their own too.  What I’ll be intrigued to witness will be which of these names will rise to everyday status by mid-season and/or into next season.

Next: Brayan Pena next to the DL

I know I’m ready for the National Anthem and the call of “play ball” today.  Who else is with me?  Follow me on Twitter and let’s have an outstanding season, yeah?  Go CARDS!

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