Duncan It Again

It's really starting to look like Chris Duncan is healthy.

He had another strong game against the Tigers yesterday, going 2 for 2 with his second home run of the spring, raising his average up to .385.  I don't think anyone expects Duncan to be challenging for a batting title this season, but if he can continue to show that he's healthy, he could be a valuable guy for this team.

A lot of people don't care much for Duncan (he's on the schedule for the approval ratings later in the week, so we can see just how much), but there's not much denying that, when he's healthy and on, he's a pretty solid offensive threat.  Whether he'll last all year in St. Louis is another matter.  He'd be pretty attractive on the trade market if he keeps it up through May or so.

Rick Ankiel also had a strong day, going three for four and raising his spring average up to .400.  I know that it's spring and all the caveats apply, but if you've got Ankiel running like that and Duncan healthy, this offense really could click.  In fact, I think they've been projected for about five runs a game, which is pretty nice.

Skip Schumaker also got a couple of hits but, more importantly, didn't make any errors.  It won't matter how much he hits if he's routinely muffing balls.

On the pitching side, Kyle Lohse gave up a long ball but only one other hit in his 4.1 innings of work. I think he's going to be a pretty strong third starter behind Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter.  It's really going to be nice this year to expect a solid game out of your starter almost every night.

Jason Motte locked down his first save of the spring.  As Derrick Goold Twitters, that's the second ninth he's gotten in a row and nothing happens by accident, though obviously it's not his role just yet.  In the last roster projection he had, Matthew Leach had Motte going to Memphis.  That might not be accurate anymore.  Someone's going to be the odd man out, though, because I don't think they'll be taking 13 pitchers north.

Colby Rasmus is dealing with a little hamstring soreness, just as he started to look like he was bouncing back.  Hopefully it won't keep him out too long.  He doesn't need any more obstacles in his way--there are enough as it is.

A little off the field news.  It's not a surprise, but the Padres are going to grab a minor league pitcher to finish up the Khalil Greene trade.  Don't know which one yet, but should soon.  I wouldn't expect to see anyone big leaving.  Possibly Italian WBC starter Adam Ottovino?  That'd probably be the biggest possibility.

Before I get into the last piece of Cardinal news, I want to say congrats to the Netherlands.  I said yesterday I didn't think the Dominican would let them win again, but sure enough, the DR is going home.  Can you believe that team didn't score until the 11th, though?  That offense should have been raking from the get-go.

El Hombre gets the front cover of Sports Illustrated this week with the message that he's clean and you can believe in him.  Which means one of two things.  Either he's exactly as he says and never has done any steroids, which I believe, or the man's got a ton of nerve and guts to run a big bluff like this. 

This puts even more attention on him and puts his word on the line.  It's different when people write about you and say that he must be clean.  To come out yourself and say, "Look, I'm not using and I'm not going to" invites scrunity and makes you look even worse if something comes out.  Look at the flak Alex Rodriguez got for lying to Katie Couric in an interview.  A-Rod wasn't anywhere as emphatic as Pujols comes across and yet it was a front-page story.

Things like this just reaffirm that we are watching a special player in St. Louis and we should appreciate it while we can.

Which is why today, he's the topic of the approval ratings.  We know he's a special talent, but how do you feel about Mr. Pujols?  He can be a little gruff with fans sometimes--does that bring him down?  What about his baserunning?

Yesterday's subject, Kyle Lohse, posted a 77.3% rating.  Pretty good for a guy that's only spent one year in Cardinal Red.

Don't forget the UCB Radio Hour is on tonight!   Hope to have you call in!


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