[Brian34Cook]

05/15/2008 1:15 AM ET
Schumaker eyes return to starting lineup
St. Louis (24-18) vs. Pittsburgh (19-21), Thursday, 12:15 p.m. CT
By Lee Hurwitz / MLB.com

ST. LOUIS -- Skip Schumaker may have sat on the bench the past two days, but manager Tony La Russa was adamant in saying nothing is wrong with his usual leadoff man. Schumaker sat because Pittsburgh threw two lefties in a row, not because the manager disapproved of the outfielder's play. La Russa said "he's fine" and noted Phil Dumatrait and Paul Maholm are more effective against left-handed hitters.

"I think we have five outfielders who are capable of playing," Schumaker said. "I don't question anything Tony does, because he's been doing it for a long time. He's done it right."

When the Cardinals play Pittsburgh in the series finale Thursday, Schumaker is likely to receive the starting job in the outfield. Schumaker, who had an excellent April while batting .317, has cooled off recently. On the team's recent road trip, he went 7-27 (.259) with two RBIs.

"You just keep working," Schumaker said. "It's a long season, and you're going to go through ups and downs. If I could hit .400 all year, I'd love to, but that doesn't happen."

The Official Site of The St. Louis Cardinals: News: Schumaker eyes return to starting lineup

[Brian34Cook]

Albert still streaking

By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

05/15/2008

-- Albert Pujols extended his hitting streak to 13 games, and that is tied with Houston first baseman Lance Berkman for the longest active streak in the majors. Pujols is hitting 15-for-45 (.333) during his current streak. This is Pujols’ second streak of at least 10 games this season and the 17th of his career. That is the fourth-most among active players. Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki (23), Miguel Tejada (20) and Derek Jeter (18) are the only hitters with more in their career.

-- According to Elias, Pujols is the first Cardinal since Stan Musial to post two single-season streaks of at least 40 consecutive games reaching base. Pujols is on 41 this season, nearing the personal best of 48 set back in his rookie season. Musial reached base in 55 consecutive games in 1943 and 40 consecutive games in 1952.

-- Since Cesar Izturis returned from a break to calm the swelling in his forearm after being hit by a pitch there, the Cardinals switch-hitting shortstop has hit .327 and raised his average to .250 for the first time since April 6. Izturis’ three hits Wednesday set a high for hits in a game as a Cardinal, and it is the fourth multi-hit game Izturis has had this month. Izturis returned to the starting lineup from his injury April 28, and he is one of four Cardinals to rank in the top 40 in baseball by average (minimum 50 plate appearances):

6. Rick Ankiel … 361
16. Ryan Ludwick … .347
34. Cesar Izturis … .327
39. Albert Pujols … .321

-- Manager Tony La Russa designated Ryan Franklin as the temporary closer as Jason Isringhausen recalibrates. "He is the guy," La Russa said. Wednesday’s score gave Isringhausen the ninth in a non-save situation, and it gave Franklin the night rest. Though Franklin was available -– he warmed up late in the game -– La Russa’s preference was to keep Franklin out of the game to recover after his 26-pitch appearance Tuesday. The Cardinals enter this afternoon’s game with a relatively rested bullpen and most arms available.

-- According to The Field Bible statistics released this week at Bill James Online, the Cardinals infield is crowded with some of the finest fielders so far this season. Using the statistics plus/minus –- which grades a player by the number of plays made outside his zone (plus) and the plays muffed in his zone (minus) -– here is where the Cardinals rank at each infield position:

1B Albert Pujols … +3 (tied for seventh MLB)
2B Adam Kennedy … +6 (third in MLB)
3B Troy Glaus … +13 (leads MLB)
SS Cesar Izturis … + 1 (ninth in MLB)

STLtoday - Albert still streaking

[Brian34Cook]

From Commish Hummel at the ballpark:

Cardinals:

Schumaker rf
Duncan lf
Pujols 1b
Ankiel cf
Glaus 3b
Molina c
Kennedy 2b
Pineiro p
Ryan ss

Pittsburgh:

Sanchez 2b
McLouth cf
Michaels lf
LaRoche 1b
Nady rf
Mientkiewicz 3b
Paulino c
Gomez ss
Snell p

STLtoday.com - STLtoday.com: Sports - Forums - Bernie's Press Box - Topic - Duncan bats No. 2 today

[Brian34Cook]

<table class="primaryBg" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="759"><tbody><tr align="center"><td rowspan="3" class="white" align="center" width="130">
Pittsburgh (19-21)
Lost 1 </td> <td width="509"> Pittsburgh 0, St. Louis 0 <select onchange="window.parent.location.href=this.options[this.selectedIndex].value"> <option value="#" selected="selected">Today's Boxes 5/15/08</option> <option value="/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2008_05_15_oakmlb_clemlb_1"> OAK 0, CLE 0 </option> </select> </td> <td rowspan="3" class="white" align="center" width="130">
St. Louis (24-18)
Won 1 </td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td> <table class="textSm" bgcolor="#cccccc" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#727272"> <td class="greyLite" align="right">May 15, 2008</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" width="100%"> <tbody><tr class="white" align="center" bgcolor="#cc0000"> <td class="white"> </td> <td> 1 </td> <td> 2 </td> <td> 3 </td> <td> 4 </td> <td> 5 </td> <td> 6 </td> <td> 7 </td> <td> 8 </td> <td> 9 </td> <td></td> <td class="white"> R </td> <td class="white"> H </td> <td class="white"> E </td> </tr> <tr align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Pittsburgh
</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td bgcolor="#cccccc">0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> </tr> <tr align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">St. Louis
</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td bgcolor="#cccccc">0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td class="textSm white"> Standings thru 5/15/08 | Gameday <script type="text/javascript">var game_status = 'IP';</script> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="759"><tbody><tr class="primaryBg"><td colspan="3" height="10">
</td></tr> <tr> <td class="primaryBg" width="95">
</td> <td width="569"> <!--Copyright 2007 MLB Advanced Media, L.P.--><table class="textSm" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="559"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top" width="276"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="276"> <tbody><tr align="center" bgcolor="#dedede"> <td align="left" width="130">Pittsburgh</td><td width="7%">AB</td><td width="7%">R</td><td width="7%">H</td><td width="7%">RBI</td><td width="7%">BB</td><td width="7%">SO</td><td width="7%">LOB</td><td align="right" width="10%">AVG</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Sanchez, F, 2B</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.253</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">McLouth, CF</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.304</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Michaels, LF</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.224</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">LaRoche, 1B</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.203</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Nady, RF</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.331</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Mientkiewicz, 3B</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.196</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Paulino, C</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.210</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Gomez, SS</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.262</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Snell, P</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.071</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left">Totals</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td><td width="7"> </td><td valign="top" width="276"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="276"> <tbody><tr align="center" bgcolor="#dedede"> <td align="left" width="130">St. Louis</td><td width="7%">AB</td><td width="7%">R</td><td width="7%">H</td><td width="7%">RBI</td><td width="7%">BB</td><td width="7%">SO</td><td width="7%">LOB</td><td align="right" width="10%">AVG</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Schumaker, RF</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.289</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Duncan, LF</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.250</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Pujols, 1B</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.355</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Ankiel, CF</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.294</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Glaus, 3B</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.250</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Molina, C</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.293</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Kennedy, 2B</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.287</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Pineiro, P</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.071</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Ryan, SS</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">.292</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left">Totals</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="276"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="276"> <tbody><tr align="center" bgcolor="#dedede"> <td align="left" width="130">Pittsburgh</td><td width="7%">IP</td><td width="7%">H</td><td width="7%">R</td><td width="7%">ER</td><td width="7%">BB</td><td width="7%">SO</td><td width="7%">HR</td><td align="right" width="10%">ERA</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Snell </td><td>0.0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">4.53</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td><td width="7"> </td><td valign="top" width="276"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="276"> <tbody><tr align="center" bgcolor="#dedede"> <td align="left" width="130">St. Louis</td><td width="7%">IP</td><td width="7%">H</td><td width="7%">R</td><td width="7%">ER</td><td width="7%">BB</td><td width="7%">SO</td><td width="7%">HR</td><td align="right" width="10%">ERA</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Pineiro </td><td>0.0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td align="right">4.05</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3">
Pitches-strikes: Snell 0-0, Pineiro 0-0.
Ground outs-fly outs: Snell 0-0, Pineiro 0-0.
Batters faced: Snell 0, Pineiro 0.
Umpires: HP: Marty Foster. 1B: Angel Campos. 2B: Angel Hernandez. 3B: Eric Cooper.
Weather: 56 degrees, drizzle.
Wind: 9 mph, In from LF.</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr></tbody></table>

[Brian34Cook]

Sanchez flyout to Ank.. 1 out

[Brian34Cook]

McLouth hits a HR.. umpire umm.. yeah.. change that to a HR.. 1-0 PIT

[Brian34Cook]

Michaels groundout to Ryan.. 2 outs

[Brian34Cook]

LaRoche groundout to Kennedy.. 3 outs

Mid 1: PIT 1 - STL 0

Due Up: S. Schumaker (.289, 2 hr, 13 rbi), C. Duncan (.250, 3 hr, 9 rbi), A. Pujols (.355, 8 hr, 27 rbi)