Week Ahead: Cardinals among flawed contenders seeking fixes
Article By rfagan.tsn on 23rd May, 2010
Even Albert Pujols has struggled this season -- by his standards, at least.
Last Monday, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, in an effort to jump-start a slumbering offense, did the unthinkable.
He moved Albert Pujols into the cleanup spot in the lineup for five games—after 1,046 consecutive starts in the three-hole for the first baseman. It was by no means a permanent move—"I think we're going to have most of the games played this year where (Matt Holliday) hits fourth and Albert hits third," La Russa said. "That's the better lineup."—but it does show that La Russa is taking his team's offensive struggles seriously.
Identifying and correcting flaws are just part of the arduous journey to the postseason. For three contenders—the Cardinals, Red Sox and Marlins—identifying those flaws is the easy part. And there's no time like the present to try to fix them, right?
Cardinals The flaw: lack of offense
The situation: Since hitting their high-water mark of 18-8 after a win in Philadelphia on May 3, the Cardinals have gone 8-10; they failed to score more than four runs in 13 of those games. In the five games Pujols hit cleanup, the Cardinals went 4-1 and averaged 4.6 runs per game; in Pujols' first game back in the No. 3 slot, on Saturday, the Cardinals scored seven runs but lost to the Angels.
Pujols, La Russa spar: Failed steal attempt touches off dugout exchange
"The more the horses in the middle produce, the less they (the rest of the lineup) feel like they have to do," La Russa said. "Key guys being themselves will help them, but in the end, when it comes down to you, you really should ignore what the other guys are doing and just take your at-bat. Just do what you can do. You can't force."
Up next: The Cardinals visit the Padres, who have the best team ERA in the majors.
Red Sox The flaw: starting...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
He moved Albert Pujols into the cleanup spot in the lineup for five games—after 1,046 consecutive starts in the three-hole for the first baseman. It was by no means a permanent move—"I think we're going to have most of the games played this year where (Matt Holliday) hits fourth and Albert hits third," La Russa said. "That's the better lineup."—but it does show that La Russa is taking his team's offensive struggles seriously.
Identifying and correcting flaws are just part of the arduous journey to the postseason. For three contenders—the Cardinals, Red Sox and Marlins—identifying those flaws is the easy part. And there's no time like the present to try to fix them, right?
Cardinals The flaw: lack of offense
The situation: Since hitting their high-water mark of 18-8 after a win in Philadelphia on May 3, the Cardinals have gone 8-10; they failed to score more than four runs in 13 of those games. In the five games Pujols hit cleanup, the Cardinals went 4-1 and averaged 4.6 runs per game; in Pujols' first game back in the No. 3 slot, on Saturday, the Cardinals scored seven runs but lost to the Angels.
Pujols, La Russa spar: Failed steal attempt touches off dugout exchange
"The more the horses in the middle produce, the less they (the rest of the lineup) feel like they have to do," La Russa said. "Key guys being themselves will help them, but in the end, when it comes down to you, you really should ignore what the other guys are doing and just take your at-bat. Just do what you can do. You can't force."
Up next: The Cardinals visit the Padres, who have the best team ERA in the majors.
Red Sox The flaw: starting...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
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