Luvofthegame
09-02-2006, 04:56 PM
By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
09/01/2006
Granting that his fill-in center fielder has the range, the speed, the arm and often the glove to handle the most vast position in the field, manager Tony La Russa said there was only one thing that could keep Juan Encarnacion from being a regular center fielder.
Does he really care for the position?
Part of the Cardinals' patchwork of fielders, which also includes first baseman Chris Duncan learning left field and second baseman Aaron Miles filling in at shortstop, Encarnacion has handled the position well in Jim Edmonds' absence. Not entirely foreign to the territory, Encarnacion was signed as a center fielder and had dabbled in the position previously.
"If I had to play in center, it's not going to make a difference to me," Encarnacion said. "Center field is more fun, more room. I'm used to right. Center may be more fun. You can show more of your ability."
With no Hector Luna around and David Eckstein healing from an oblique strain, Miles has received prime time to show he's more versatile. He said getting the chance to show he can handle routine plays at shortstop -- he made his 14th start and just his third error there Thursday -- has expanded his resume. Miles, who singled in Encarnacion for the Cardinals' tying run Thursday, called the chance "big for me."
Encarnacion in center could prove big for the Cardinals.
The 30-year-old outfielder was courted this past offseason by several teams, including Boston, for the possibility of playing center field. The Cardinals signed him to a three-year, $15 million deal to start in right field, where Encarnacion said he's "more used" to playing. Edmonds' post-concussion syndrome has pressed Encarnacion into service in center, even with center fielders So Taguchi and Preston Wilson available.
The Cardinals have a $10 million option on Edmonds' contract for 2007, and there is no clear replacement for the Gold Glove center fielder on deck. Encarnacion's willingness to play the position offers a backup plan.
"Juan's the kind of athlete who, if he challenged himself, there isn't a whole lot he couldn't do," La Russa said of Encarnacion's ability to play center.
If Encarnacion's 69 RBIs had come as a center fielded this season, he would rank third among regular center fielders in the National League. His 17 home runs would be sixth. (Edmonds' 16 is sixth now.) CARDS-MARLINS
Encarnacion, who will make $5 million next season, had two superb diving catches in center field Sunday, and his loping range has been apparent. On Wednesday he had a line drive glance off the tip of his glove, and he sashayed enough to turn a bloop to shallow center into a double. Thursday was his 15th game in center, the 331st game there in his career.
He can play it. The question is would he like to?
"If you can run -- that's the only thing that's really different," Encarnacion said. "I like it. I can play all three. It's all what you're most used to. That's right (field) for me. If they put me in the lineup playing center, then I'm playing center."
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
09/01/2006
Granting that his fill-in center fielder has the range, the speed, the arm and often the glove to handle the most vast position in the field, manager Tony La Russa said there was only one thing that could keep Juan Encarnacion from being a regular center fielder.
Does he really care for the position?
Part of the Cardinals' patchwork of fielders, which also includes first baseman Chris Duncan learning left field and second baseman Aaron Miles filling in at shortstop, Encarnacion has handled the position well in Jim Edmonds' absence. Not entirely foreign to the territory, Encarnacion was signed as a center fielder and had dabbled in the position previously.
"If I had to play in center, it's not going to make a difference to me," Encarnacion said. "Center field is more fun, more room. I'm used to right. Center may be more fun. You can show more of your ability."
With no Hector Luna around and David Eckstein healing from an oblique strain, Miles has received prime time to show he's more versatile. He said getting the chance to show he can handle routine plays at shortstop -- he made his 14th start and just his third error there Thursday -- has expanded his resume. Miles, who singled in Encarnacion for the Cardinals' tying run Thursday, called the chance "big for me."
Encarnacion in center could prove big for the Cardinals.
The 30-year-old outfielder was courted this past offseason by several teams, including Boston, for the possibility of playing center field. The Cardinals signed him to a three-year, $15 million deal to start in right field, where Encarnacion said he's "more used" to playing. Edmonds' post-concussion syndrome has pressed Encarnacion into service in center, even with center fielders So Taguchi and Preston Wilson available.
The Cardinals have a $10 million option on Edmonds' contract for 2007, and there is no clear replacement for the Gold Glove center fielder on deck. Encarnacion's willingness to play the position offers a backup plan.
"Juan's the kind of athlete who, if he challenged himself, there isn't a whole lot he couldn't do," La Russa said of Encarnacion's ability to play center.
If Encarnacion's 69 RBIs had come as a center fielded this season, he would rank third among regular center fielders in the National League. His 17 home runs would be sixth. (Edmonds' 16 is sixth now.) CARDS-MARLINS
Encarnacion, who will make $5 million next season, had two superb diving catches in center field Sunday, and his loping range has been apparent. On Wednesday he had a line drive glance off the tip of his glove, and he sashayed enough to turn a bloop to shallow center into a double. Thursday was his 15th game in center, the 331st game there in his career.
He can play it. The question is would he like to?
"If you can run -- that's the only thing that's really different," Encarnacion said. "I like it. I can play all three. It's all what you're most used to. That's right (field) for me. If they put me in the lineup playing center, then I'm playing center."