(Jon Way/The Associated Press)
Who fills out the Cardinals rotation behind Chris Carpenter will be the most closely watched spring theme.
While Tony La Russa has the final decision and says that the six or seven dudes vying for the other four slots are “even,” Dave Duncan apparently has a different idea:
According to Duncan though, Kip Wells, Anthony Reyes, Adam Wainwright and Braden Looper will get “priority” during spring training.
“You know what I think about Dave Duncan, and if he makes that claim that we’ve got five guys and the other two guys or three guys have to show something extra to nudge one of them aside, then he’s thought about that and he understands the pitcher better than I do, so we’ll go with that,” La Russa said. “But down deep, and I want to make sure I say this when he’s not around, I don’t agree with that.”
TLR, ever the diplomat. Sure, he has to say the right things to the media mopes, but deep down he has to realize there’s only competition for the No. 5 spot. Or is he willing to go with a rotation of Carpenter, Wells, Looper, Ryan Franklin and Brad Thompson? Methinks not.
