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OOTPRealTime · 02-07-2014, 07:46 AM

CARDINALS LINEUP CONSTRUCTION FEATURES OPTIONS, QUESTIONS
by: Derek Gold, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The Cardinals are just six days away from the pitchers and catcher reporting to Jupiter for Spring Training. I know, that seems crazy. But, it’s true. It begs the question: Are the Cardinals, who have been quiet this off-season done figuring in players for the 2014 season? If so, and it is likely that they are done, what does manager Mike Matheny have to work with when filling out that lineup card each day? Well, let’s take a look.

Leadoff: Ah, we start with one of the biggest question marks. The lead off spot, one that has been void of a consistent suitor since the days of Fernando Vina. The team traded for a “leadoff” type hitter in shortstop Leury Garcia, but at 22-years old and limited MLB experience, can he be trusted there? Last year, in Triple-A (Texas organization) he struck out 117 times in 585 at-bats and managed a .378 on-base percentage. Does that translate to a big league leadoff hitter? Let’s say no. What are the options then? What about Kolten Wong? Well, the same question marks apply to Wong as they do Garcia. He hasn’t logged a Major League at-bat yet. Last year in Memphis he hit .331 with a .383 on-base percentage and limited his strikeouts to 82. He has speed (11 steals) but not burner speed. There is also no guarantee that either Wong or Garcia are every day players. The leadoff spot then would become a revolving door that would include Jon Jay, Oscar Taveras, Matt Carpenter and, dare I say it, Yadier Molina.

2nd: This obviously depends on what shakes out with the leadoff spot, but for arguments sake, we’ll put Leury Garcia in the leadoff role. Wong becomes an option in the 2-hole, but then you’re looking at two players with exactly zero MLB at-bats under their belts, setting the table. Not ideal. So, this looks like a prime spot for another young player Oscar Taveras to utilize his skills. He makes consistent contact, can run and has pop. That still doesn’t solve the issue of inexperience at the top of the order. Insert Jon Jay. The most likely candidate to hit in the 2-hole when he is in the lineup. Last year, he hit primarily in this spot and posted a .292 batting average from there. In his career he is hitting .299 out of this role and it remains the best spot for him.

3rd: No more Carlos Beltran here. So, who steps up? The three obvious options are Allen Craig. Yadier Molina and/or Matt Holliday. With Holliday’s struggles a season ago and the overriding belief that he has began the downturn of his career, it’s unlikely the Cardinals will rely on him in this key spot. Craig took a step back last year and struggled with RISP. That leaves Yadier Molina, arguably the team’s overall best hitter in this role. Though, he also struggled last year. The third spot in the lineup will likely be reserved for the hottest hitter at the time and it’s unlikely that one name occupies it all season long. Heck, if Taveras is the player the organization thinks he is, this will be his spot for years to come - and it could start in 2014. For now, we’ll insert Molina.

4th: This is Allen Craig’s spot if he is not in the three-hole. He has the most power potential on the team at this point and prior to last year was an ace with RISP. The team believes he is going to bounce back from a down year in a big way. Now 29 years old, this is his time to shine. Regardless, if Craig is healthy and right (translated: locked in) he will be in the middle of this order and it would be surprising to see him anywhere outside the 3-5 range in the lineup.

5th: By default, this has to be Holliday, right? There are already rumors circulating that the team will not hesitate to play Taveras in right and Cruz in left if Holliday continues to show signs of decline. That said, it was one down year, and a year that many players would have loved to have had (.267-20-64). The now 34-year old doesn’t make excuses - but the drop off in production and increase in strikeouts (career high 143) is a cause for concern. Holliday should have every opportunity to earn this spot back and occupy the middle of the order, where he belongs and is paid to be.

6th:: This spot could go to either Matt Adams (if facing a RHP) or David Freese (if facing a LHP). If Adams is at first base - which I believe it the main plan as of right now - he should get the starts there against the righties. When facing left-handed pitchers, the Cardinals may employ Allen Craig at first base and that would free up a spot in the outfield for Nelson Cruz - who would fit nicely in the 6th spot in the lineup.

7th: We’ve mentioned Oscar Taveras and his relatively unknown value to the team right out of the gate. If he makes the team and earns a starting role, it’s easy to imagine him getting his feet wet in this spot. If he is playing, that either means Jon Jay is on the bench or Allen Craig is at first base and Taveras is patrolling right or left field for the day. The club certainly hopes that he comes out swinging and earns an everyday role. This would be a good place for him.

8th: We’ve come full circle from the leadoff spot where we mentioned both Leury Garcia and Kolten Wong. For this exercise, we have Garcia leading off and that would mean it wouldn’t be surprising to see Wong here in the 8th hole.

There are so many variations that could be derived from what the Cardinals have on their 25-man roster as we speak. Matheny has not been shy about shifting things up and trying new combinations. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise anybody to see 100+ variations of his lineup. The main questions still remain in two key spots. Who sets the table from the leadoff spot? And, who is the guy that takes control in the middle of the lineup and provides that power vacated by Carlos Beltrans’ departure to Seattle? We are only a couple of weeks away from seeing the first variation of Mike Matheny’s 2014 Cardinals lineup. A lot will need to be answered before that card needs to be turned in on March 31st.

02-07-2014, 07:46 AM	#133
OOTPRealTime Minors (Double A) Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 147	CARDINALS LINEUP CONSTRUCTION FEATURES OPTIONS, QUESTIONS by: Derek Gold, St. Louis Post-Dispatch The Cardinals are just six days away from the pitchers and catcher reporting to Jupiter for Spring Training. I know, that seems crazy. But, it’s true. It begs the question: Are the Cardinals, who have been quiet this off-season done figuring in players for the 2014 season? If so, and it is likely that they are done, what does manager Mike Matheny have to work with when filling out that lineup card each day? Well, let’s take a look. *Leadoff:* Ah, we start with one of the biggest question marks. The lead off spot, one that has been void of a consistent suitor since the days of Fernando Vina. The team traded for a “leadoff” type hitter in shortstop Leury Garcia, but at 22-years old and limited MLB experience, can he be trusted there? Last year, in Triple-A (Texas organization) he struck out 117 times in 585 at-bats and managed a .378 on-base percentage. Does that translate to a big league leadoff hitter? Let’s say no. What are the options then? What about Kolten Wong? Well, the same question marks apply to Wong as they do Garcia. He hasn’t logged a Major League at-bat yet. Last year in Memphis he hit .331 with a .383 on-base percentage and limited his strikeouts to 82. He has speed (11 steals) but not burner speed. There is also no guarantee that either Wong or Garcia are every day players. The leadoff spot then would become a revolving door that would include Jon Jay, Oscar Taveras, Matt Carpenter and, dare I say it, Yadier Molina. *2nd:* This obviously depends on what shakes out with the leadoff spot, but for arguments sake, we’ll put Leury Garcia in the leadoff role. Wong becomes an option in the 2-hole, but then you’re looking at two players with exactly zero MLB at-bats under their belts, setting the table. Not ideal. So, this looks like a prime spot for another young player Oscar Taveras to utilize his skills. He makes consistent contact, can run and has pop. That still doesn’t solve the issue of inexperience at the top of the order. Insert Jon Jay. The most likely candidate to hit in the 2-hole when he is in the lineup. Last year, he hit primarily in this spot and posted a .292 batting average from there. In his career he is hitting .299 out of this role and it remains the best spot for him. *3rd:* No more Carlos Beltran here. So, who steps up? The three obvious options are Allen Craig. Yadier Molina and/or Matt Holliday. With Holliday’s struggles a season ago and the overriding belief that he has began the downturn of his career, it’s unlikely the Cardinals will rely on him in this key spot. Craig took a step back last year and struggled with RISP. That leaves Yadier Molina, arguably the team’s overall best hitter in this role. Though, he also struggled last year. The third spot in the lineup will likely be reserved for the hottest hitter at the time and it’s unlikely that one name occupies it all season long. Heck, if Taveras is the player the organization thinks he is, this will be his spot for years to come - and it could start in 2014. For now, we’ll insert Molina. *4th:* This is Allen Craig’s spot if he is not in the three-hole. He has the most power potential on the team at this point and prior to last year was an ace with RISP. The team believes he is going to bounce back from a down year in a big way. Now 29 years old, this is his time to shine. Regardless, if Craig is healthy and right (translated: locked in) he will be in the middle of this order and it would be surprising to see him anywhere outside the 3-5 range in the lineup. *5th: By default, this has to be Holliday, right? There are already rumors circulating that the team will not hesitate to play Taveras in right and Cruz in left if Holliday continues to show signs of decline. That said, it was one down year, and a year that many players would have loved to have had (.267-20-64). The now 34-year old doesn’t make excuses - but the drop off in production and increase in strikeouts (career high 143) is a cause for concern. Holliday should have every opportunity to earn this spot back and occupy the middle of the order, where he belongs and is paid to be. 6th:: This spot could go to either Matt Adams (if facing a RHP) or David Freese (if facing a LHP). If Adams is at first base - which I believe it the main plan as of right now - he should get the starts there against the righties. When facing left-handed pitchers, the Cardinals may employ Allen Craig at first base and that would free up a spot in the outfield for Nelson Cruz - who would fit nicely in the 6th spot in the lineup. 7th: We’ve mentioned Oscar Taveras and his relatively unknown value to the team right out of the gate. If he makes the team and earns a starting role, it’s easy to imagine him getting his feet wet in this spot. If he is playing, that either means Jon Jay is on the bench or Allen Craig is at first base and Taveras is patrolling right or left field for the day. The club certainly hopes that he comes out swinging and earns an everyday role. This would be a good place for him. 8th: We’ve come full circle from the leadoff spot where we mentioned both Leury Garcia and Kolten Wong. For this exercise, we have Garcia leading off and that would mean it wouldn’t be surprising to see Wong here in the 8th hole. There are so many variations that could be derived from what the Cardinals have on their 25-man roster as we speak. Matheny has not been shy about shifting things up and trying new combinations. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise anybody to see 100+ variations of his lineup. The main questions still remain in two key spots. Who sets the table from the leadoff spot? And, who is the guy that takes control in the middle of the lineup and provides that power vacated by Carlos Beltrans’ departure to Seattle? We are only a couple of weeks away from seeing the first variation of Mike Matheny’s 2014 Cardinals lineup. A lot will need to be answered before that card needs to be turned in on March 31st. __________________ OOTP in Real-Time* - St. Louis Cardinals View Current Organizational Depth Chart (dynamic)