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Cardinals manager Tony La Russa formally named switch-hitting infielder Aaron Miles the team's Opening Day second baseman on Saturday morning before the Cardinals' 2-1 loss to the New York Mets in their Spring Training finale. Miles, 5-foot-8 and 177 pounds, narrowly beat out proven veteran and former All-Star Junior Spivey and Hector Luna for the starting spot, and will most likely bat eighth in the batting order in Monday's opener at 2:05 p.m. CT at Philadelphia. La Russa said Spivey and Luna "are losing playing time to the guy that was the underdog," but the move is not permanent.

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Second baseman Junior Spivey appeared on the Class AAA roster for the Cardinals affiliate on Wednesday, implying the infielder cleared waivers and will open the season today with the Memphis Redbirds. Spivey, signed to be the Cardinals everyday second baseman, struggled during the spring and accepted the reassignment to the minors. Memphis opens the season tonight in Spivey's hometown, Oklahoma City.

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Four games are hardly a fair or indicative trial, but Cardinals right fielder Juan Encarnacion is struggling to get out of the gate in the early days of the season. So far Encarnacion is batting .222. He's one for nine with runners in scoring position, and he's stranded 16 runners. Obviously, better days are ahead for the corner-outfield solution who signed a three-year, $15 million deal with the Cardinals on Jan. 5.

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Cardinals manager Tony La Russa does not expect center fielder Jim Edmonds to play in the three-game series that starts today at Pittsburgh, and instead "we'll have him ready for Chicago (the following series)." Edmonds received a cortisone shot in his right shoulder Friday night and was not available Saturday and Sunday. He said the arm felt somewhat better after Sunday's game, but he felt uncomfortable when he tried to take a couple of swings in the morning.

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Tony La Russa gave a game ball to Marion Ingber, a longtime fan, on Sunday before Albert Pujols' third home run. Ingber was attending the last of her 1,860 consecutive Cardinals home games. She and her husband have been flying in from California for games, but are moving to Florida.

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Cardinals OF John Rodriguez was scratched Monday because of an allergic reaction to some shrimp tempura he had eaten in a restaurant at the team hotel, according to the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH.

Rodriguez's body swelled up but the swelling was reduced by medication he took before and during the game. "He's a lot better," trainer Barry Weinberg said.

"They had to cover his face. It was ugly," said La Russa.

And it wasn't just Rodriguez's face. "Everything. Eyes, nose, lips, hands," Weinberg said. "He had a total body reaction."

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After receiving complaints from some ticketholders about obscured views at Busch Stadium, the Cardinals are moving to replace the foul poles in left and right fields, which measure some 20 inches in diameter at their bases, compared with eight inches at the former Busch Stadium. Club President Mark Lamping said the Cardinals had asked the engineers and architects involved in the construction of the stadium to design new foul poles that meet major league standards and safety standards. They must withstand winds of up to 90 mph.

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In the Tony La Russa era, the Cardinals have amassed a 51-21 record against the Chicago Cubs in St. Louis.

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The Cardinals acquired outfielder Timo Perez from Cincinnati in a minor-league deal Friday. Perez started in left field for Class AAA Memphis on Sunday and went one for five with a run scored. The 29-year-old outfielder was on the World Series winning White Sox team last fall, and he's a .263 hitter over six years in the majors. He hit .218 in 76 games with Chicago last summer.

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Durango53

As manager Tony La Russa repeatedly reminds us, it's only April. Still, the numbers being posted by Cardinals outfielders are alarmingly weak. And that must change. Overall, Cardinals outfielders are batting .210 with four homers and 18 RBIs. Edmonds has 12 RBIs, but he's batting only .185 with 19 strikeouts in 54 at-bats.

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Adam Wainwright is having fun just being in the big leagues. But the 24-year-old rookie is also proving to be a valuable asset in the St. Louis Cardinals' bullpen. "From the first day he showed up in Spring Training, he looked like he had a lot of confidence and he was determined to show us what he could do and let the cards play out," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said before Sunday's game against Chicago. "Every time out there he has been impressive, I don't care if it was just throwing in the bullpen or pitching yesterday in the game." Wainwright has a 1.04 ERA after allowing just one run on five hits over 8 2/3 innings. He has struck out six batters and walked two. He has retired the first batter he's faced in all six of his appearances.

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Desi Relaford, a 10-year veteran of the major leagues, joined the Cardinals' Class AAA Memphis affiliate on Sunday. The infielder, last in Baltimore's organization for spring training, most likely will be activated Wednesday.

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Tony La Russa emphatically insisted that all of Albert Pujols' actions, even such little ones, be cast in the proper light. Especially, and most recently, in regard to the Great Pittsburgh Bat Toss. "This is as (miffed) as I've been in the first month," Tony La Russa said to reporters Tuesday afternoon. "I've always been taught you earn the benefit of the doubt. Here this guy's into his sixth year - an exemplary pro - so he flips the bat and right away a number of people start jabbing him. ..."

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The Cardinals expected third baseman Scott Rolen to join the team for the series in Houston that begins tonight, barring complications from recent workouts in St. Louis. Rolen, sidelined by an unspecified viral condition since last playing April 24, fielded balls and took batting practice Tuesday. Poor weather prevented him from going on the field Monday, according to a club official, but he hit in the indoor cage. The club wants Rolen to regain strength along with nine pounds he lost before returning him to the lineup.

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The Cardinals have won nine of their past 14 games but started May 0-4 for the first time since 1958. It was their worst start for that month, going back to 1900, since they went 0-9 in May 1903. Albert Pujols set a major-league record for April home runs with 14, which equaled Kansas City's and San Diego's team totals for that month. The Cardinals' five starting pitchers have combined for 15 wins.

Who's hot: Jim Edmonds has nine hits in his past 26 at-bats with one double and five RBI.

Who's not: Yadier Molina has five hits in his past 37 at-bats.

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