Update on my Cardinals' preview (to those who care)

I read today that Joe Mather was issued a new number. He will now wear number 7. This does two things: 1) It officially ends the Adam Kennedy era in St. Louis, as short and horrible that it was, and 2) It all but guarantees Mather a spot on the Opening Day roster. He will start at third tomorrow for the Cards' first Spring Training game, and with a new, big league number, he should see some more time there while Glaus recovers from his surgery. After Glaus is back, Mather will most likely serve as the Cardinals' fourth outfielder.

Speaking of a former fourth outfielder, Skip Schumaker will also be starting for the Cardinals tomorrow. At second base. Word from Jupiter, FL is that he is progressing along nicely, and that this whole Skip-playing-second idea might just work out. It's waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to early for me to tell though.

By the way, I heard that of the three guys vying for the starting spot at second, there are only 18 combined starts between those three at second base in the majors. COMBINED. And the guy who is considered to be the favorite (Schu) has had ZERO. Chew on that one for a little bit.

Word on Chris Carpenter is that he is throwing well, but his command is still not there. Hopefully he can get it fine tuned over the next month (WITHOUT INJURY).

If the favorites in each of the position battles work out, I would like to see the Opening Day starting lineup look something like this:

If Duncan Starts:

Schumaker (2B)
Duncan (LF)
Pujols (1B)
Ankiel (CF)
Ludwick (RF)
Molina (C)
Mather (3B)
Carp/Waino (P)
Greene (SS)

If Rasmus starts:

Schumaker (2B)
Mather (3B)
Pujols (1B)
Ankiel (CF) - Because LaRussa isn't going to put Rasmus in center
Ludwick (RF)
Molina (C)
Greene (SS)
Carp/Waino (P)
Rasmus (LF)

Lastly, for the record, I am not sold on Colby Rasmus cracking the big league roster for Opening Day. A lot of people are, but I am still not one of them. Partly because of LaRussa's favoritism toward Chris Duncan, and partly because I just don't think he will have that good of a Spring Training. Hopefully I will be proved wrong, and the Cardinals' starting outfield would look something like this:

LF - Ludwick
RF - Ankiel
CF - Rasmus

I know this would never happen, sadly. This is because of LaRussa's mind that Ankiel and Rasmus have about the same abilities of patrolling center. This is stupid in the fact that Rasmus has been groomed as a center fielder ever since he started making his way up the ranks in the minors. Also, with Ank's arm, who the hell would run on him to try and stretch a hit down the first base line from a double into a triple. Chances are, not many. Also, Ludwick has proven that he can field all three positions, so he could work in left. Wow, I can't wait until LaRussa is out as the Cardinals' manager and Oquendo can take over!