Derrick Goold wrote:LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — In what could pass for the Cardinals’ opening day lineup, David Eckstein is batting leadoffer, Albert Pujols is hitting third and playing first, Scott Rolen is playing third and batting fifth and Chris Carpenter is starting.
And that’s not even what cinches it as a potential April 1 order.
With Tom Glavine on the mound for the New York Mets that night, manager Tony La Russa is bound to put a few righthanders wherever he can and where he can is in the outfield. If neither Jim Edmonds or Juan Encarnacion are ready on opening day (a well-covered possibility this past week), the today’s outfield might just be the outfield that takes the field for the first game since the last game of last season.
THE CARDINALS (8-6-2)
1. David Eckstein, SS
2. Chris Duncan, LF
3. Albert Pujols, 1B
4. Scott Rolen, 3B
5. Scott Spiezio, RF
6. Preston Wilson, CF
7. Yadier Molina, C
8. Adam Kennedy, 2B
9. Chris Carpenter, RHP
Starting pitcher: RHP Carpenter (65 pitches). Followed by: LHP Randy Keisler, LHP Ricardo Rincon, RHP Andy Cavazos, RHP Josh Hancock. Backed up by: LHP Tyler Johnson, RHP Kelvin Jimenez.
ATLANTA (8-6-1)
1. Kelly Johnson, 2B
2. Edgar Renteria, SS
3. Chipper Jones, 3B
4. Andruw Jones, CF
5. Brian McCann, C
6. Jeff Francoeur, RF
7. Scott Thorman, 1B
8. Matt Diaz, LF
9. Mark Redman, LHP
