The Cardinals beat the Marlins 6-3 in the final spring game in Florida. Todd Wellemeyer pitched five innings, allowing all three runs to score. The team will now head to Memphis for two more games. When the team leaves, they’ll be leaving third basemen Joe Mather behind.
Tony LaRussa made his final roster cuts and has the 25 man roster set. Making the trip to St. Louis will be outfielder Colby Rasmus and infielders Brian Barden, Brendan Ryan and Joe Thurston. Joe Mather who fell into a horrible slump, lost on the on the third base job to David Freese.
Mather was the front runner to take over for Troy Glaus at third base, but he went into a horrible hitting skid that included a 1 for 19 slump. In the meantime, Freese bounced back from an Achilles tendon injury and got hot at the plate winning the job.
LaRussa like Mather and said he just needs to work his swing out. I think it will be one of those situations where if Freese (who was acquired in a trade with San Diego for Jim Edmonds) struggles, they could call up Mather. Glaus will be out until June as he rehabs from shoulder surgery.
Cardinals opening day roster:
Yadier Molina
Jason LaRue
Albert Pujols
Skip Schumaker
Khalil Greene
David Freese
Chris Duncan
Rick Ankiel
Ryan Ludwick
Brian Barden
Colby Rasmus
Brendan Ryan
Joe Thurston
Adam Wainwright
Kyle Lohse
Todd Wellemeyer
Chris Carpenter
Joel Pineiro
Ryan Franklin
Josh Kinney
Kyle McClellan
Trever Miller
Jason Motte
Dennys Reyes
Brad Thompson
Mather doesn’t make the cut
Bannister sent down, Gload traded
The Royals are sending starting pitcher Brian Bannister down to AAA Omaha along with Luke Hochevar paving the way for veterans Sidney Ponson and Horacio Ramirez to fill out the starting rotation.
Due to the number of off days that are built into the schedule in April, Ramirez will be the fifth starter, but only make about three starts. The rest of the time he will be used as a long reliever. Ponson will be the fourth starter behind Gil Meche, Zach Greinke and Kyle Davies.
Bannister was 12-9 in 2007 and finished 3 rd in the AL rookie of the year voting. Last year, 9-16 with a 5.76 ERA and he’s struggled this spring as well.
The Royals traded first basemen Ross Gload to the Marlins for a player to be named later and cash. Listen to manager Trey Hillman as he talks about Gil Meche’s final spring training start, why closer Joakim Soria is struggling and his thoughts on Bannister heading to Omaha.
Glaus return delayed, Carp to skip start
The Cardinals prepare for their final spring game in Florida before heading up to Memphis for the weekend with the AAA Redbirds before Monday’s season opener against Pittsburgh. The Cards got news that Troy Glaus’ return will be delayed.
Glaus’ shoulder hasn’t recovered as quickly as expected from off-season shoulder surgery he had in January. The Cardinals were reporting that his rehab hit a plateau. Glaus headed to California where Dr. Lewis Yocum who performed the surgery, had another look.
Yocum recommended that Glaus work with physical therapist Keith Kocher in Arizona. So Glaus will travel with the team to Memphis then up to St. Louis for the opener, before heading out to rehab. He will be re-evaluated on June 1.
Chris Carpenter will skip his final spring training start as he recovers from a calf strain from earlier in the week. He felt tightness while doing some running. He’s rested a couple of days and as a precautionary measure, the Cardinals will rest Carpenter. He’ll pitch a bullpen session on Friday. He is still scheduled to pitch on Thursday against Pittsburgh.
Wainwright named opening day starter
It was made official yesterday, but it has been known since the start of spring training that Adam Wainwright will get the ball on opening day when the Cardinals open at home on Monday against the Pirates.
Wainwright pitched five innings giving up two runs on seven hits and walk while striking out four in the Cardinals 7-3 win over the Orioles. The Cardinals hit three homers in the win. Chris Duncan went deep in the third with two on and two out. Jason LaRue followed with a homer in the fourth, and Joe Mather added his 2nd home run in the 8th.
Jason Motte gave up two hits in the ninth, but sealed the game in a non-save situation by not allowing any runs. His ERA this spring is 1.59. It would appear
that Motte will start the season as a closer, but yesterday manager Tony LaRussa
would not commit to a starter.
“One of the reasons you say you’re not naming a closer is you’re not naming a closer. You just play the games, and everybody comes to the park thinking, ‘Hey, I might be the guy.’”
Royals send Hochevar to minors
The Royals have narrowed their choices for the starting rotation by sending righthanded pitcher Luke Hochevar to Triple A Omaha. There are now three right handers vying for two final spots.
Sidney Ponson, pitching today against Oakland, Brian Bannister and left-hander Horacio Ramirez remain in the mix.
In five Cactus League games, Hochevar had a 3.86 ERA and a 1-0 record in five games. He gave up 17 hits and seven runs with four walks and seven strikeouts in 16.1 innings.
Last season, Hochevar made 22 starts for the Royals, going 6-12 with a 5.51 ERA before his season ended on Aug. 20 because of a rib-cage injury. The number one pick of 2006 started last season in Omaha.
There are still 36 players in camp. The breakdown is 18 pitchers, three catchers, 10 infielders and five outfielders.
