Third base was a major problem for the St. Louis Cardinals for the second consecutive season. A year after eight different players manned the position and posted a (non-pitchers) team-low combined OPS of .661, believe it or not, the 2010 group was even worse.
That’s right. The Cardinals’ third sackers collectively managed just a .655 OPS this past season.
Third base, a spot in the lineup from which offense is traditionally expected, has instead been a black hole for the Cardinals since Troy Glaus’ standout 2008 campaign. By position, only Cardinals shortstops and pitchers had a lower OPS in 2010.
A fast start by David Freese (.765 OPS) was more than iced by poor play from Felipe Lopez (.664 OPS as third baseman) and Pedro Feliz (.482 OPS) through the final two-thirds of the schedule. A September cameo by unlikely rookie cornerman Daniel Descalso (.648 OPS) wasn’t even enough to raise the position’s aggregate output.
For the second consecutive year, Freese’s season was scuttled by injury. He suffered what was originally called a bone bruise on his right ankle on June 5. The injury at the time was thought to be minor, but proved not. Before being placed on the disabled list, Freese tried to play through it for three weeks, during which time his average dropped from .316 to .296.
Freese’s next injury was a freak one, a broken toe sustained in the weight room. On August 2, during his very first rehab game, he suffered tissue and tendon damage to his right ankle that required season-ending reconstructive surgery. In September, a clean up procedure was needed on his left ankle, making three ankle surgeries in two years.
Signed at a bargain price in late February, veteran switch-hitting infielder Lopez was expected to be a versatile reserve. Instead, because of Freese’s injury, Lopez was pressed into regular duty. He played third base almost daily from late June until mid-August, struggling both with the bat and the glove. Lopez was summarily released in September amid concerns over his attitude and approach.
After failing to secure other alternatives, the Cardinals acquired the 35-year-old Feliz from Houston on August 19. He would prove to be better than Lopez defensively but a further step down offensively for a club that badly needed consistent hitting. Feliz showed his offensive fuel tank was bone dry.
Having seen enough of Feliz after 40 games, manager Tony La Russa turned to September call up Descalso. The 23-year-old was thrown into the fire at third base, not his regular second base spot. In limited action, nine starts, Descalso performed credibly, especially so considering it was his MLB debut.
Looking ahead to 2011, Freese is expected to be back and ready to go from his surgeries. Recent media reports are predictably rosy as to his rehab progress, but who wouldn’t continue to be concerned about his lack of ability to remain on the field?
La Russa announced a plan for Allen Craig to come to camp to compete to be the reserve at the position. An offense-oriented player, Craig was a third baseman in the minors but was later moved to the outfield due to concerns over his defense at the hot corner. Descalso could also figure in the mix and Tyler Greene can play third in a pinch as well.
Third basemen at the upper levels of the minor league system have not yet proven their readiness to contribute in St. Louis. Matt Carpenter had a strong season with the bat in Double-A but has no higher level experience. 2010 first-round draft pick Zack Cox has just four games of regular season professional play under his belt, but does posess a 40-man roster spot.
In other words, the Cardinals seem willing to forget about the offensive horrors from third base over the last two seasons and put their eggs in Freese’s basket once again in 2011. One must hope Freese’s ankles will prove to be stronger than those proverbial eggs.
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Our good friend Tom Orf adds the following.
Cards last multi-RBI hit by a third baseman was July 24th (Tyler Greene 2-run 1B) only 19 RBI in last 68 games by 3B in 2010.
RBI by Cardinal third baseman LaRussa era (1996-2010) 75-79-68-122-99-83-89-109-138-72-122-77-101-65-68.
Isn’t Adrian Beltre still available?
Its the happy talk time of the year, when anything is possible.
Come April, Allen Craig will not be playing a lot of 3B. TLR refused to even look at Craig at 3B a couple of spring trainings ago, favoring conversion of a wrist injured OF (Mather).
But during the Winter, every dream is possible, even Craig. More likely backup candidates are Greene, Descalso, and even Matt Carpenter.
There are some optimistic fans voting here at the CN blog. I cannot imagine Freese surviving more than 80 games, but we have some great fans here, who have more confidence.
Then there are some like you Jumbo who tend to have happy dreams all year long despite the realities
Let’s all hope and pray for the rapid development of Matt Carpenter and/or Zack Cox.
Freese did a good job April-May last year, but became less effective after twisting his ankle rounding third base on June 5th. The hard truth is that David, despite being handed the job as starting 3b-man for the last two years, has mustered just 2 healthy months of play and part of one unhealthy month over two seasons.
He could be an asset if we could keep him in the lineup, but it’s still a question mark, perhaps the biggest one facing the club since they didn’t pick up a utility IFer who can play 3B during this off-season. Greene-Descalso at 3B would be little better than Lopez-Feliz, depriving the lineup of run production at a key position.
I’d say that Freese’s health will be one of the key factors affecting how this team finishes in 2011.
Brian wrote: ‘Freese is expected to be back and ready to go from his surgeries. Recent media reports are predictably rosy as to his rehab progress…’
I wonder if those ‘recent media reports’ were by that cute Hispanic lady reporter… Rosie Scenario?
I pant for Rosie, but lately, have not been seeing enough of her.
Now you are squaring away this crew, HB, I have time to wink at some other gals.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2010/12/angels-pull-offer-to-beltre-off-table-but-door-is-still-open-to-sign-third-baseman.html
Is the situation in Texas that interesting? Thats quite a posture Scotty is taking. What is the Young situation? Angels are watching many variables. There isn’t much that will help them……..but Beltre took the weak contract last year…………and it worked……….he’s in the Catbird seat……….Scotty has to be under pressure here……………. what is Boras seeing………… is he just playing the balance in the AL West?
Speaking of happy talk and rosie scenarios, another good poll question would be who plays more innings in the field, Freese or Berkman?
Lance was on the radio today. He’s game, he’s all over the everyday outfielder thing. I just wanted to give him a hug.
Brian, I hope you don’t mind me putting the link to the Pujols, Musial, Holliday picture here so everybody can have a look. You can edit in an attribution if appropriate.
http://yfrog.com/h20vktj
Nothing wrong with thinking the glass is half full.Beats the hell out of thinking everythings a pile of dogcrap that you can`t avoid stepping in.Of course if thats your thing enjoy.
I am on the fence about Freese. Part of me thinks the surgeries will improve his chances of staying healthy; the other part thinks he may be done.
By the way HB, is Rosie Scenario at all acquainted with the very popular female reporter on this blog, Blissful Ignorance?
Never met Blissful…
Too bad, I hear she is a real trip .:)
Freese’s success is important partly because his acquisition for Jimmy ballgame was Mo’s first trade as GM (IIRC).
It has to be admitted that annointing an unproven youngster as a starter, not just last year as a rookie, but again as a patched together near rookie, is not something TLR would ever do by choice. Its a Mo thing.
Having no plausible alternative is strategery by Mo, he’s learned a thing or two about Tony, with trying to get Colby established to vindicate his buddy Jeff.
So we have to hope and pray David holds up or its another year of either a AAAA outfielder or a wheezing geriatric case out there at third. At least we have a prime SS with awesome range. Oh, wait . . .delete that last. Maybe Jose can don a glove and stand near the line.
If Freese can be healthy and productive for most of the season that would be pretty darn interesting.
But I used to be from Missouri and he will have to “show me” , I voted 80 games or less.
Would love to see Mr. Adrian Beltre at 3b for the Cardinals, in a rosario scenario the owners would step up and offer him a 1-3 year deal and see what happens. A few other teams are making some great moves like Phillies and Brewers, seems like the Cards are treading water or even less.
Beltre would never sign knowing he is a backup, and Mo will never sign anybody to bump Freese out of the starting spot, unless and until Freese goes down or is unable to produce at all. If any vet is signed, it will be a backup/utility calibre player, not a Beltre.
In my dreams they decide to bump payroll for Beltre, sign Pujols to a 7 yr. extension and do something exciting with Freese as the backup.
Beltre? Another Boras guy? No thanks. He only has good seasons in the year before he’s due for a new contract, or at least it seems that way.
BTW Chief, are you any relation to Hannah?
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/beltrad01.shtml
He’s been averaging 89 RBI, 25 HR and 81 Runs per season over 13 seasons, granted his OBP is low,
but he wouldn’t be batting leadoff. Slot Beltre #7 in the batting order behind Rasmus until Berkman has to sit.
The glove is as good or better than Freese,Greene or Theriot.
But I’m dreamin’ , the FO won’t increase payroll that much and sign Pujols.
HBTexas–I have no relations named Hannah but do have a couple girlfriends with that name !!
I hope your dream comes true, Chief.
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