No Edmonds Opening Day?
Posted: March 12 07, 8:57 am
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."
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports ... enDocument
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.
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."
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports ... enDocument
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.