Brian34Cook

Glaus is looking forward to a full, healthy season
03/02/2008


New Cards third baseman Troy Glaus (above) struggled with foot issues with Blue Jays last year.

JUPITER, FLA. — Maybe the perception lingers because Troy Glaus reached the major leagues at 21, barely two years after he mashed four home runs for Team USA in the 1996 Summer Olympics at long-ago-demolished Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

Or maybe it's because the first of his 277 major-league home runs came off new teammate Chris Carpenter during Carpenter's first full season with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Or perhaps it's because Glaus established the American League single-season home run record for third basemen barely a month after his 24th birthday.

Then again, maybe those who believe Glaus is older than 31 watched him suffer through last summer with the Blue Jays while walking on the hot coals created by plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Glaus played fewer than 120 games for the third time in five years, managed 20 home runs and 62 RBIs, and submitted to surgery on Sept. 16.

"I'm 31. I'm not 37 or 38. I'm fortunate enough to have already played a long time. But I'm 31 years old," said Glaus, the Cardinals' replacement for Scott Rolen at third base and quite possibly their opening day cleanup hitter.

The Cardinals also hope Glaus is the answer to two problems they encountered in 2007: a dysfunctional relationship between the team's third baseman and manager Tony La Russa, and lineup protection for first baseman and No. 3 hitter Albert Pujols.

"I just want to get back to playing every day. Last year was frustrating because I couldn't do that," Glaus said. "I look forward to playing without distractions for 20-25 days in a row. It's tough to get in a groove otherwise; but unfortunately that was the reality of what happened."

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