Adam Wainwright (RP), STL - Alert: LOW
March 30, 2006
News: According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals confirmed that Adam Wainwright will make the team in the bullpen, as expected, and that while Alan Benes and Brian Falkenborg remain in the mix, Josh Hancock should win the final bullpen spot for the Cards.
Views: In six appearences, Wainwright had an 0.61 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP with 10 K in 14.2 IP. Bullpen work isn't always the best route for a good SP, but it's viewed as a great move for Wainwright.
Hancock was released from Cincinnati this off-season, but has responded with a great spring. In eight appearences, he has a 2.00 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP with 11 K in 9 IP.
That means the Cards should enter Opening Day with the following bullpen: Jason Isringhausen as closer, followed by lefthanders Randy Flores and Ricardo Rincon and righthanders Braden Looper, Brad Thompson, Wainwright and Hancock.
Fantasy Baseball 
The bench situation is more interesting. They released Deivi Cruz yesterday (no surprise), and optioned John Gall and Chris Duncan to Memphis (quite surprising...the two biggest power threats off the bench).
You've got six guys competing for five spots (with Bigbie on DL and assuming So Taguchi is the "primary" LF):
1. Gary Bennett
2. John Rodriguez
3. Aaron Miles
4. Hector Luna
5. Skip Schumaker
6. Scott Spiezio
Bennett's a lock, and J-Rod & Miles are pretty close to locks. Matthew Leach (beat writer for the Cards on mlb.com) said that if the team was sending down Schumaker, they would've done it already. That makes four.
If it's down to Luna and Spiezio, the Speez probably has the advantage. He's a vet who can switch-hit and play many positions; Luna is also versatile but still pretty green and only right-handed. He also has options left, and I think he's Memphis bound.
2nd one wasn't up yet.
2nd one wasn't up yet.
No problem, just thought it was funny.
2nd one wasn't up yet.
No problem, just thought it was funny.
I had to chirp somewhere...was about to write something about it in the NL Central forum, but you beat me to the punch.
BTW Jeff, heard the Brandon Phillips rumors swirling about?