From 1999 to 2001, the Boston Red Sox turned 380 double plays -- fewest in the American League and nearly 200 fewer than the Kansas City Royals.Think Pedro Martinez, Bret Saberhagen and Derek Lowe would have liked a few more DPs turned behind them?
We bring this up because the St. Louis Cardinals appear ready to go with Skip Schumaker as their second baseman.
Schumaker, 29, is a career outfielder, except for six games at third base in 2004. But after dumping Adam Kennedy in the offseason and passing on Orlando Hudson and Mark Grudzielanek, the Cards decided to move Schumaker to second (even though their best infield instructor, third base coach Jose Oquendo, missed time in camp to manage Puerto Rico in the WBC).
We talked to a scout who has watched Schumaker this spring, and he's the one who brought up the 1999-2001 Red Sox.
"I like the kid, he swings the bat good," the scout said, "but it's going to be a lot like when Jose Offerman was in Boston. They're not going to turn the double play, and it's going to hurt that (pitching) staff."
Ouch.
And it's not like St. Louis has made an unwavering commitment. General manager John Mozeliak told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
"We were open-minded to see how far this would go. He's played well, and this may be something where we get well into the season and realize it's not the right fit. We don't know that answer. As long as he plays well and is effective offensively. . . it's positive for the Cardinals."
