Second Thoughts: Mateo Gil Offers A Short Answer At Position Cardinals Have Covered For Years To Come

As the shift happened within their minor-league system and the Cardinals could spread talent to areas beyond a traditional strength — pitching development is the calling card — they filled in open crevices at the corners and added another layer of options for the outfield. The depth chart that once looked like a doughnut had more substance and greater density, becoming more of a boiled bagel.

Birdland

Cardinals Spring Training Starting Lineup 3-11-2020

Tsunami Alert! 🌊 pic.twitter.com/Wiz9oX7Xg5

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) March 11, 2020

Even With Yairo Munoz AWOL, Infield Depth Forces Tough Decisions For Cardinals

Yairo Muñoz took his ball and went home to the Dominican Republic because he didn’t believe there was sufficient playing time available to him with this version of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Belleville News Democrat

Cardinals Starting Lineup 3-9-2020

Headed west as we take the show on the road! pic.twitter.com/DTvyRvwTPX

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) March 9, 2020

Cardinals Beat Nationals 11-0: Carlos Martinez Strikes Out Two Over Five Scoreless Innings For The Win; Tommy Edman Singles, Homers, & Drives In Three Runs; Austin Dean Doubles Twice & Knocks In Two Runs

Ending the day the right way! pic.twitter.com/qK2ODgtjGp

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) March 6, 2020

Individual Highlights:
Tommy Edman started at shortstop and moved to second base, batting leadoff.  2-for-5 with one home run, three RBIs (one w/two-outs), one run, and assisted in two double plays.
Dylan Carlson started in centerfield and batted second.  2-for-4 with one run and one walk.
Tyler O'Neill started in left field and batted fourth.  2-for-5 with one double, one RBI, one run, and three strikeouts.
Rangel Ravelo started at first base and batted fifth.  2-for-5 with two doubles, one RBI, two runs, one strikeout, and assisted in two double plays.
Austin Dean started in right field and batted sixth.  2-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs, and two runs.
Andrew Knizner started as designated hitter and batted seventh.  1-for-3 with one home run, two RBIs, and one run.
Justin Williams entered late in game as designated hitter and batted seventh.  1-for-2 with one home run, two RBIs, one run, and one strikeout.
Max Schrock started at second base and moved to third, batting eighth.  1-for-3 with one run, two walks, one strikeout, and assisted in one double play.
Carlos Martinez started and pitched five innings.  He allowed three hits, no runs, and struck two out for the winning decision (1-0).  (g/f:9-2)
Zack Thompson entered in the sixth and pitched one inning.  He allowed no hits or runs, and struck one out.  (g/f:2-0)
Jake Woodford entered in the seventh and pitched one inning.  He allowed one hit and no runs.  (g/f:2-0)
Ryan Helsely entered in the eighth and pitched two innings.  He allowed two hits, no runs, one walk, and struck one out.  (g/f:2-1)

Boxscore
Cardinal Beat Post Game
STL Sports Page Post Game

Mike Leake Fans Five In Simulated Game

Back at Salt River Fields, Mike Leake threw 68 pitches over four innings in a simulated game behind a screen, with a trainer catching return tosses from touted catching prospect Daulton Varsho. Leake -- who is still sporting a cast for his recovering left wrist fracture -- will next need to begin catching baseballs to increase the impact his wrist can withstand.

Arizona Official Site

Cardinals Spring Training Starting Lineup (Game Two) 3-5-2020

Photo 1: Result of Game 1.

Photo 2: Lineup for Game 2. pic.twitter.com/G6lI9zlBM2

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) March 5, 2020

Alex Reyes Makes Strides Each Outing; Dusty Baker Sees Astros' Job 'Kind Of Sent From Heaven'; Yairo Munoz To Have MRI, Kwang-Hyun Kim To Start Thursday; No Jitters For Mike Shildt

The 6-3 exhibition win by the Cardinals over the Houston Astros Tuesday featured a couple of things the Cardinals already knew they possessed and one they hope they have.

Post-Dispatch

Cardinals Beat Astros 6-3: Paul Goldschmidt Singles & Hits A Solo Home Run; Matt Wieters Walks & Hits A Solo Home Run; Max Schrock Singles, Doubles, Walks Twice, & Drives In One Run

Ending the 9th with a strikeout and the game with a win!#ThatsAWinner pic.twitter.com/ZairqaIY6K

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) March 3, 2020

Individual Highlights:
Kolten Wong started at second base and batted leadoff.  0-for-3 with one RBI, one strikeout, and assisted in two double plays.
Paul Goldschmidt started at first base and batted third.  2-for-3 with one home run, one two-out RBI, one run, and assisted in two double plays.
Paul DeJong started at shortstop and batted fourth.  2-for-3 with one run, one strikeout, and assisted in two double plays.
Matt Wieters started at catcher and batted sixth.  1-for-2 with one home run, one RBI, one run, and one walk.
Dylan Carlson started in left field and batted seventh.  1-for-3 with one double and two runs.
Max Schrock started at third base and moved to second, batting ninth.  2-for-2 with one double, one two-out RBI, one run, and two walks.
Dakota Hudson started and pitched four innings.  He allowed two hits, one earned run, one home run, one walk, and struck two out for the winning decision (1-1).  (p-s:46-29)(g/f:7-0)
Matthew Liberature entered in the seventh and pitched one inning.  He allowed no hits or runs, and struck one out.  (p-s:11-7)(g/f;1-0)
Tyler Webb entered in the eighth and pitched one inning.  He allowed no hits or runs, and struck one out.  (p-s:16-11)(g/f:2-0)

Boxscore
Cardinal Beat Post Game
KMOV Post Game
STL Sports Page Post Game

Max Schrock Deserves A Shot In 2020

While he hasn’t been tearing up the minor leagues, Max Schrock could be a surprising player if given the chance with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Redbird Rants

Video: Max Schrock Drives In One Run 3-3-2020

A Max Schrock-et. #STLCards up 2-0. pic.twitter.com/DV1Seb9PPP

— FOX Sports Midwest (@FSMidwest) March 3, 2020

Cardinals Spring Training Starting Lineup 3-3-2020

In his first start of Spring Training, Dak is ready to attack! pic.twitter.com/LsyovaHIpL

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) March 3, 2020

Mets Beat Cardinals 3-2: Paul Goldschmidt & Austin Dean Each Hit Solo Home Runs; Daniel Ponce De Leon Strikes Out Four Over Three Scoreless Innings

Individual Highlights:
Austin Dean entered late in the game as designated hitter and batted leadoff.  1-for-1 with one home run, one RBI, and one run.
Paul Goldschmidt started at first base and batted third.  1-for-3 with one home run, one two-out RBI, and one run.
Andrew Knizner entered late in the game at catcher and batted fourth.  1-for-1 at the plate.
Harrison Bader started in centerfield and batted sixth.  2-for-4 at the plate.
Max Schrock started at second base and batted eighth.  1-for-4 with one double, one strikeout, and assisted in one double play.
Adam Wainwright started and pitched three innings.  He allowed four hits, one earned run, one walk, and struck two out.  (g/f:1-3)
Daniel Ponce De Leon entered in the fourth and pitched three innings.  He allowed two hits, no runs, and struck four out.  (g/f:2-1)

Boxscore
Cardinal Beat Post Game
KMOV Post Game
STL Sports Page Post Game

Cardinals Starting Lineup 2-28-2020

That pitcher-catcher duo though 🙌 pic.twitter.com/51h9kGtLRg

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) February 28, 2020

Cardinals Spring Training Starting Lineup 2-27-2020

Start 2️⃣ for 2️⃣2️⃣ pic.twitter.com/VSWKaj9eXo

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) February 27, 2020

Buy Stock In Yairo Munoz; Austin Gomber Makes His Pitch For Rotation; Worth Noting; Up Next

One of the more underrated competitions this spring is the battle for an infield utility spot. The Cardinals signed veteran Brad Miller to a one-year deal at the beginning of camp, and Tommy Edman figures to play six different positions this season. Yairo Muñoz and Edmundo Sosa are in the mix, and Max Schrock is also a candidate.

St. Louis Official Site

Nationals Beat Cardinals 9-6: Paul DeJong Homers & Drives In Four Runs; Yairo Munoz Hits A Two-Run Homer; Alex Fagalde Strikes Out One Over One Hitless/Scoreless Inning

Individual Highlights:
Kolten Wong started at second base and batted leadoff.  1-for-2 with one double and one run.
Max Schrock entered late in the game at second base and batted leadoff.  0-for-1 with one run and two walks.
Paul DeJong started at shortstop and batted third.  1-for-1 with one home run, four RBIs, one run, and one sac fly.
Yairo Munoz entered late in the game at shortstop and batted third.  1-for-3 with one home run, two two-out RBIs, and one run.
Rangel Ravelo started as designated hitter and batted sixth.  2-for-2 with one walk.
Ivan Herrera entered late in the game as designated hitter and batted sixth.  1-for-1 at the plate.
Evan Mendoza started at first base and batted ninth.  1-for-3 with one run and one walk.
Alex Fagalde entered in the ninth and pitched one inning.  He allowed no hits or runs, and struck one out.  (p-s:5-5)(g/f:1-1)

Boxscore
Cardinal Beat Post Game
KMOV Post Game
STL Sports Page Post Game

Harrison Bader Shows A Flair For Leadoff Spot; Max Schroick, Edmundo Sosa Shine Late Again; Daniel Ponce De Leon Dazzles

Harrison Bader didn’t bat leadoff much for the Cardinals last season, his .205 batting average and poor .650 OPS mitigating against that.

Post-Dispatch

Harrison Bader Tater, Early Spring Hiccups; Adam Wainwright, Carlos Martinez Lose Some Command In Second Innings; Pitching Plans; Edmundo Sosa, Max Schrock Shine Late

Harrison Bader spent the offseason in Miami, working on his swing with hitting instructor Lorenzo Garmendia. After a down year at the plate that included being optioned to Triple-A Memphis for three weeks, the Cardinals' center fielder knew he needed to rework his swing and get back to driving the ball.

St. Louis Official Site

Cardinals & Mets Tied 3-3: Edmundo Sosa Singles & Hits A Two-Run Homer; Harrison Bader Doubles & Hits A Solo Home Run; Daniel Ponce De Leon & Jake Woodford Each Strikes Out Three Over Two Scorless Innings

A wins a win... unless it’s a tie! pic.twitter.com/DrwOJCFtjb

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) February 23, 2020

Individual Highlights:
Harrison Bader started in centerfield and batted leadoff.  2-for-3 with one double, one home run, one RBI, one run, and one strikeout.
Max Schrock entered late in the game at second base and batted second.  2-for-3 with one triple, one run, and assisted in one double play.
Edmundo Sosa entered late in the game at shortstop and batted third.  2-for-2 with one home run, two RBIs, one run, and assisted in two double plays.
Angel Rondon entered in the second and pitched to one batter.  He allowed no hits or runs.  (g/f:1-0)(ir-s:2-0)
Daniel Ponce De Leon entered in the fifth and pitched two innings.  He allowed one hit, no runs, one walk, and struck three out.  (g/f:1-0)
Jesus Cruz entered in the seventh and pitched one inning.  He allowed no hits or runs.  (g/f:1-2)
Jake Woodford entered in the eighth and pitched two innings.  He allowed two hits, no runs, one walk, and struck three out.  (g/f:2-0)

Boxscore
Cardinal Beat Post Game
KMOV Post Game
STL Sports Page Post Game