Cardinal Controversy at Closer, Cleanup?

Posted Apr 06, 2009 7:34PM By Ed Price (RSS feed)

As Opening Day approached, Tony La Russa wouldn't proclaim Jason Motte his closer or commit to Khalil Greene as his cleanup hitter.

Good thing.

Motte, a hard-throwing rookie, blew a save chance as the Cardinals lost 6-4 to the Pirates today. And Greene didn't look like sufficient protection for Albert Pujols (right).

Pirates 6, Cardinals 4: Recap | Box Score | Full Scoreboard

The Bucs showed some gumption, getting three doubles in the top of the ninth inning after trailing 4-2, with Jack Wilson's three-run double capping the rally.

Pittsburgh last year won six games it trailed entering the ninth inning, an above-average rate.

Motte, a former catcher, had a strong spring. And Chris Perez, who had seven saves last year, didn't make the team.

Now, it being St. Louis, no one will be calling for a new closer after one game. But it certainly bears watching. The Cardinals' 31 blown saves last year led the NL.

Greene had an RBI single, but he left six other runners on base in the game.

Scenes From Opening Day

St. Louis Cardinals' Skip Schumaker, left, jogs across the field as he is introduced along with the rest of his team before the start of an Opening Day baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates Monday, April 6, 2009, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Jeff Roberson, AP

Former President George W. Bush throws out the season opening first pitch with Nolan Ryan looking on before the baseball game between the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Monday, April 6, 2009.

Tony Gutierrez, AP

The grounds crew runs across the infield to spread a tarp as it starts to rain at Fenway Park during a practice after opening day was postponed due to the weather in Boston, Monday April 6, 2009. The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays are rescheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

Charles Krupa, AP

A general view of the pregame festivities before the Philadelphia Phillies game against the Atlanta Braves on April 5, 2009 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Today's game is the opening of the 2009 major league baseball season.

Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

Cameron Dallas, 10, front, and her dad Jay Dallas, of Mansfield, bundle up to stay warm before Opening Day as the Cleveland Indians play the Texas Rangers at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas, Monday, April 6, 2009.

Max Faulkner, Fort Worth Star-Telegram / MCT

Arizona Diamondbacks' Stephen Drew, right, slides safely under the tag of Colorado Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta during the third inning of an MLB baseball game Monday, April 6, 2009 in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Matt York, AP

Cleveland Indians catcher Kelly Shoppach, left, looks back after grabbing the throw to see Texas Rangers' Marlon Byrd (22) sliding safely home in the second inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Monday, April 6, 2009. Byrd and Hank Blalock scored on an RBI single by Jarrod Saltalamacchia. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Tony Gutierrez, AP

Groundskeeper Angel Avila carries shoveled snow off the field at US Cellular Field after the Chicago White Sox's home opener baseball game against the Kansas City Royals was postponed until Tuesday due to snow in Chicago, Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Charles Rex Arbogast, AP

Led by pitcher Jamie Moyer, the Philadelphia Phillies are greeted as they pass through two rows of fans in center field during opening night ceremonies before the start an MLB baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, April 5, 2009, in Philadelphia.

Tom Mihalek, AP

Ryan Ludwick, who hit fifth today, may end up being the better choice at cleanup. Ludwick, who hit 37 homers last year, led off the bottom of the eighth with a blast to center to break a 2-2 tie.

Greene, who came over from the Padres in a December trade, got the cleanup job after a monster spring, but he had hit fourth just four times in his career. Last year he slugged just .339.

Meanwhile, Ludwick slugged .591 -- second-best in the NL to Pujols. It was a breakout season in the year he turned 30, and he showed, at least for a day, he might be able to back it up.

La Russa left himself room to rotate at cleanup.

"It's important to have somebody who the other club respects," La Russa said. "Play one club who he hits .800 against them and the other guy hits .100. And the next club those things are opposite. Why not switch them?"

La Russa, typically, used 16 players in the game.

And, of course, La Russa will hit the pitcher eighth sometimes. Just not today.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

4-06-2009 @ 8:01PM

jmaneuv011 said...

The way Greene hit last season he's lucky to be considered for the #8 hitter

4-07-2009 @ 12:22AM

kramraton said...

La Russa as always is the major league managers biggest gambler. For that, he is also the MLB's managers biggest idiot! Get in the game Tony, quit trying to rewrite the game to your terms. Moron!!!