Astros' castoff gives Cards a boost

~ The outfielder has provided the Cardinals speed and power at the top of the batting order.

ST. LOUIS -- The extended absences of Jim Edmonds and David Eckstein could have been a lot more painful for the St. Louis Cardinals if not for Preston Wilson.

He's supplied a dose of power while the Cardinals wait for Edmonds to return from post-concussion syndrome. Wilson's combination of speed and pop has also made for a compelling leadoff option while Eckstein recuperates from a strained side muscle.

"I like the way he's going about it," manager Tony La Russa said. "He's into it. That's kind of what you're looking for."

Signed by St. Louis after he was released by Houston, Wilson has helped the Cardinals rebuild a comfortable lead in the NL Central without two of their All-Stars.

Wilson was planted on Houston's bench with only nine home runs before being designated for assignment on Aug. 12. The Cardinals, who were interested in him last offseason before he signed a free-agent deal with the Astros, gave him new life.

"It's amazing, isn't it?" Wilson said. "I'm very glad I'm here."

The Cardinals got Wilson, 32, for a bargain-basement price -- while hoping he can regain the form that produced an NL RBIs title in 2003. Given the uncertainty surrounding Edmonds -- he didn't accompany the team on its seven-game trip while hoping rest will clear up his symptoms -- they'll be counting on Wilson.

The free-swinging Wilson had eight RBIs in his first 13 games with the Cardinals. La Russa has used him in the leadoff slot against left-handers.

Before trying it, La Russa emphasized to Wilson that he just be himself.

"I told him, 'How would you hit if you're hitting fourth or sixth?"' La Russa said. "I said, 'Don't be up there taking pitches and pecking the ball. Just take your best at-bat.

"Putting power in the first spot, it's been done many times before."

Just playing is plenty right now for Wilson, the stepson of former Mets outfielder Mookie Wilson. He doesn't want to look back too much on what went wrong with the Astros while he concentrates on rebuilding his career.

"I'm not the one making the decisions over there," Wilson said. "I just go to work every day and do the best I can."

That said, Wilson couldn't hide puzzlement over his rapid fall from grace in Houston. Although he had only nine homers, he was second on the team with 55 RBIs when he was designated for assignment.

"I thought scoring runs should be what it's all about," Wilson said. "When you're second on the team in RBIs and they designate you for assignment and you're hitting .300 with men in scoring position, then you have to wonder what it is."

Then he considers his new bottom line. The Cardinals led the Central by six games while the Astros were struggling to make it back to .500.

"They really did me a favor by sending me to this team," Wilson said. "This is a great team. They're going to do their thing, and I'm going to deal with what I've got here."