Logjammin’

With the national media seemingly focused on the Cardinals’ rotation, I find the outfield situation much more vexing.

Even when at full health, the starting troika has its flaws. But with one, and possibly two, starters slated to open the season on the disabled list, a spot or two could open up for the multitude of fourth/fifth outfielders still in camp.

Juan Encarnacion is a near-lock to kick off 2007 on the D.L., a distinction that Jim Edmonds was supposed to share. But Edmonds got three innings Sunday in his first Grapefruit League action and played Monday and Tuesday as well. Even if he’s not swinging the bat well, he can contribute by taking his walks and playing his usual nifty defense.

So let’s just assume that just one free spot will open. And in Encarnacion’s absence, Scott Spiezio will get the bulk of the time in right field, which means after Aaron Miles and Gary Bennett, there will be three bench spots left. Here’s who should get in:

• John Rodriguez. J-Rod apparently has taken up residence in the John Gall Memorial Tony La Russa Doghouse. Sure, Rodriguez hasn’t gotten a hit since St. Patrick’s Day, but that’s also the last time he got more than two plate appearances in a game. Maybe his power surge in 2005 was a fluke, but he has shown an ability to get on base, a quality that doesn’t exist in this lineup beyond the No. 5 hole.
• Skip “Jared” Schumaker. The Skipster is slugging .568 so far this spring, but the bulk of that is from his two-homer game March 7. His defense is what is going to book his trip to St. Louis. Think of him as So Taguchi, only a decade younger and not Japanese.
• So Taguchi. Yes, carrying Schumaker and SoTags is an exercise in redundancy. But Preston Wilson has been terrible this spring, and you know TLR couldn’t start the season without his beloved Taguchi. P-Dub, thanks for your help last season. Now pack up your trash and get out.

So who gets whacked once Encarnacion comes back? Logic dictates that it would be Taguchi, but his is a charmed existence under La Russa. The smart money is on Rodriguez, unfortunately. Even more unfortunately, there’s no room in the Memphis outfield, either. He can be a useful part-time contributor at the major-league level. If he can’t do it in St. Louis, make a deal with a team who can make room for him.