No Edmonds Opening Day?

[valley_card22]

JUPITER, FLA. — The Cardinals outfield entered camp as a difficult lesson in long division: too many candidates for likely no more than five openings.

The equation may have become more vague Sunday.

After his first round of on-field batting practice this spring, centerfielder Jim Edmonds said his availability for opening day is hardly a given. The mildest "hiccup" in the Gold Glove fielder's recovery from offseason shoulder and toe surgeries could well leave him on the disabled list when the Cardinals play the New York Mets April 1.

"It would be great to play opening day, but I'm not going to lose my cool if something doesn't go perfectly as planned," Edmonds said after Sunday's workout, when he took several turns in the batting cage against pitcher-turned-coach Alan Benes on a back field at Roger Dean Stadium. "If I make it, I make it. If I don't, I don't. I'm striving for it. And if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. I can't risk an injury and miss two months versus missing an extra week." Advertisement


Edmonds warmed to his batting practice session, improving from awkward early swings to lining some drives. He also trotted after fly balls in the field and did some agility running.

"Any running would be more than what I've done," Edmonds said. "Legs are heavy, and I'm running. My (right) shoulder is weak, and I'm swinging. Just trying to get caught up."

Edmonds added that his progress would have to be "right on" to be ready to play in less than three weeks.

He described Sunday as "just a step."

"It's a long ways away from taking an actual batting practice, taking things at game speed," he said. "It didn't feel bad. It feels weak. It feels a little bit like I need a lot of work."

The questionable availability of Edmonds and right fielder Juan Encarnacion after surgeries in the offseason may significantly affect the underdog candidacies of John Rodriguez and Skip Schumaker, both of whom broke camp with the club last season.

Rodriguez, the team's leading pinch hitter last season, recently mused "I have to hit .800" to make the club.

Schumaker has been among camp's most impressive performers, entering Sunday's game against the Atlanta Braves as team leader in hits and total bases and second in RBIs. Schumaker left the game after twisting his left ankle running out a ground ball. He is listed as day-to-day.

The Cardinals entered camp with a projected starting outfield of Chris Duncan, Edmonds and Encarnacion. Edmonds and Encarnacion are unlikely to play for at least another week, adding to uncertainty over the opening day lineup and the 25-man roster.

Preston Wilson, So Taguchi, Schumaker, Rodriguez and utility player Scott Spiezio are rated platoon or backup possibilities. Spiezio is classified primarily as an infielder, likely leaving four players for two spots.

La Russa recently noted the slow starts by Taguchi and Wilson but appeared more concerned about Wilson's problems than Taguchi's.

Rested Sunday, Wilson managed an RBI double over the first-base bag Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles but has a .136 average with 11 strikeouts after 22 at-bats. Taguchi has made better contact but was hitting only .130 entering Sunday's game against the Atlanta Braves. Wilson, who last season struck out 121 times in 501 at-bats, recently explained his early scuffles as a product of his hitting style.

"I think big guys who have longer swings — it takes us a little bit longer," said Wilson, bothered recently by shoulder discomfort. "I've been that way my whole career. I've never had a great spring training."

La Russa sounded unconvinced about Wilson's explanation "Preston's got to turn the corner here pretty soon, I read his comment about a big, long swing and spring," he said. "Well, April and May is spring, too. Shorten your swing."

Regarding Taguchi, the manager has said he "looks off." Taguchi says a fixation with his swing mechanics has hurt him. "I think I just need to go hit and not think about it so much," he said after a hitless at-bat dropped his Grapefruit League average to .125.

Wilson enjoys greater leverage than Rodriguez and Schumaker. The club signed Wilson to a guaranteed $1 million deal in January. Rodriguez and Schumaker both have options remaining.

Edmonds' availability may factor heavily with Schumaker, a capable center fielder who also possesses one of the best arms in camp.

"We'll take it a step at a time, see what the results are and go from there," La Russa said about Edmonds.

Team medical supervisor George Paletta said earlier this spring that Edmonds would require an "aggressive" recovery in order to be available opening day.

Though Edmonds has not experienced a setback, he said Sunday that his second left toe remains sore and slightly swollen. A Charlotte, N.C., specialist inserted a screw in the toe in December. The screw was then removed 10 days before Edmonds reported to camp.

Edmonds did not hit or run this winter. He arrived in Florida needing to recondition himself in addition to refining his baseball skills.

"The one thing that is concerning too is I was on crutches and on a walking cast for four weeks," Edmonds said. "I feel my legs are still weak and even though my foot doesn't bother me, the muscle in my legs are still underdeveloped. I'm still working on that part. There are a lot of things trying to come together at the same time so that I will be able to play. If I'm not trying to hurt my foot or my shoulder, I'm worried about my hamstring. It's a big process going on right now."

Asked about how he views his availability in the opener, Edmonds said, "I'm not going to be devastated if I don't make it."

Meanwhile, the Cardinals also wait on Encarnacion, who required offseason surgery on his left wrist. Encarnacion hit against coaches Sunday a day after being scratched from a session. La Russa said, "He's going in the right direction but we don't feel he's going to start in the next couple days."




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Also with Jimmy not ready and Juan on the mend, JROD and Skippy could make the opening day roster. JROD in left, Skip in Center and Duncan in RF on opening day kinda worries me. I'm a big Skip fan so I help it works out for him.

[Hungary Jack]

Assuming Jimmy is not quite ready for Opening Day, this is probably the best opportunity Skip Schumaker will have with the Cardinals. He just turned 27, and with Colby Rasmus rising fast, I cannot see the Cardinals keeping him in the organization beyond this year.

[valley_card22]

To me hes a cheaper more talented So. I know Colby is on the rise, but Skip could be valuable. Is it likely that Colby makes the club NEXT year as the 4th or 5th OF the year before he has to take over for Jimmy?

[Hungary Jack]

To me hes a cheaper more talented So. I know Colby is on the rise, but Skip could be valuable. Is it likely that Colby makes the club NEXT year as the 4th or 5th OF the year before he has to take over for Jimmy?

I'd be shocked to see Rasmus in the bigs in 2008. He's only 20 years old, and has not played at AA yet. I think brass hopes that he'll spend 2007 playing in AA, and 2008 in AAA.

The problem for Schumaker is that the Memphis outfield will soon be crowded with younger prospects like Rasmus, Haether, Stavinoha, Jon Jay, etc. If Schumaker cannot crack the Cardinals' outfield, I doubt there is room for him in the minors much longer.

[Popeye_Card]

To me hes a cheaper more talented So. I know Colby is on the rise, but Skip could be valuable. Is it likely that Colby makes the club NEXT year as the 4th or 5th OF the year before he has to take over for Jimmy?

I'm curious as to why you think he's more talented.

Schumaker carries a .289/.351/.378 career line in the minors. That includes a .306/.348/.382 season last year as a 26 year old in AAA.

Taguchi has a nearly identical .281/.331/.399 career line in the majors. He had a poor year last year, but it's not exactly like Schumaker made the most of his 54 AB's in the majors last year either.

Skip is indeed cheaper, and younger, and probably plays better defense at this point. However, Taguchi bats left handed, which is important when we plan on sitting Edmonds and Duncan both against southpaws often this year. Wilson is not an ideal CF'er. So the backup CF'er should probably bat right-handed. Taguchi still carried a decent .280/.337/.389 line against lefties in 2006.

--P--

[Hungary Jack]

To me hes a cheaper more talented So. I know Colby is on the rise, but Skip could be valuable. Is it likely that Colby makes the club NEXT year as the 4th or 5th OF the year before he has to take over for Jimmy?

I'm curious as to why you think he's more talented.

Schumaker carries a .289/.351/.378 career line in the minors. That includes a .306/.348/.382 season last year as a 26 year old in AAA.

Taguchi has a nearly identical .281/.331/.399 career line in the majors. He had a poor year last year, but it's not exactly like Schumaker made the most of his 54 AB's in the majors last year either.

Skip is indeed cheaper, and younger, and probably plays better defense at this point. However, Taguchi bats left handed, which is important when we plan on sitting Edmonds and Duncan both against southpaws often this year. Wilson is not an ideal CF'er. So the backup CF'er should probably bat right-handed. Taguchi still carried a decent .280/.337/.389 line against lefties in 2006.

--P--

Taguchi bats righty. The Cobbler hits lefty.

I don't think Schumaker is competing against Taguchi for a spot. He's up against J-Rod, and he's probably ahead of him right now. The fact that Jimmy's hurting only builds Schumaker's case.

Who knows if Schumaker can hit major league pitching? His MiLB stats suggest that he's right on the borderline.

[valley_card22]

To me hes a cheaper more talented So. I know Colby is on the rise, but Skip could be valuable. Is it likely that Colby makes the club NEXT year as the 4th or 5th OF the year before he has to take over for Jimmy?

I'm curious as to why you think he's more talented.

Schumaker carries a .289/.351/.378 career line in the minors. That includes a .306/.348/.382 season last year as a 26 year old in AAA.

Taguchi has a nearly identical .281/.331/.399 career line in the majors. He had a poor year last year, but it's not exactly like Schumaker made the most of his 54 AB's in the majors last year either.

Skip is indeed cheaper, and younger, and probably plays better defense at this point. However, Taguchi bats left handed, which is important when we plan on sitting Edmonds and Duncan both against southpaws often this year. Wilson is not an ideal CF'er. So the backup CF'er should probably bat right-handed. Taguchi still carried a decent .280/.337/.389 line against lefties in 2006.

--P--

Maybe ya mean hits RH vs. LHP...hehe. I think is range is better, and has a bigger upside vs. SO. We know what SO can do. I think Skip has more speed. I like what So can do. But I think Skip could be a good 4th OF. You never know what hes going to do until he gets a chance.

[Popeye_Card]

Maybe ya mean hits RH vs. LHP...hehe. I think is range is better, and has a bigger upside vs. SO. We know what SO can do. I think Skip has more speed. I like what So can do. But I think Skip could be a good 4th OF. You never know what hes going to do until he gets a chance.

I did reverse that.

I don't see this "upside" you see in Schumaker. He put up a decent season at AAA at age 26 last year--a tad old to be a "prospect". I don't think he's better than So at the MLB level. He's a slap-hitting lefty bat. We've already got one of those on the bench in Miles, and I'd rather have J-Rod as my lefty OF bat.

And I imagine we'll have a good chance to see Schumaker at the MLB level this year. We don't have a whole lot of people blocking him, and our projected outfielders aren't exactly Wolverine.

--P--

[Jmodene]

Actually, Skip reminds me more of Colin Porter, a lefty-hitting outfielder with a similar skillset that we used to have.

However, there are a lot of people who were apparently intrigued by the strides he made in that late-season tournament thing for Team USA, which may be why, even at his advanced age, he's getting such a long look.