Indians will try to track down first win at ASU

JUPITER, Fla. -- The competition for a new St. Louis Cardinals second baseman is wide open, manager Tony La Russa said Tuesday.

Veterans Bo Hart, Marlon Anderson and Brent Butler, as well as rookie Hector Luna are in the running for the job.

La Russa will get his first look at his team today, when the club holds its first full team practice at the Roger Dean Stadium training complex.

"The second base position is going to be interesting to the players and staff because guys enjoy competition, and there will be real competition at second," La Russa said.

Bo Hart played 77 games for the Cards last season after he was called up and hit .277, after a blistering major league start.

Marlon Anderson, signed to a free agent contract with the Cardinals, hit .270 in 145 games with Tampa Bay last year.

Brent Butler, signed as a free agent from Colorado, hit .211 in 37 games with the Rockies last year but spent most of the season with Triple-A Colorado Springs, where he hit .332 in 54 games.

Rookie Hector Luna, who played shortstop, hit .297 in the minor leagues at Akron.

This year marks Hart's first major league camp. He was called up to St. Louis last year after hitting .297 at Akron and immediately created a sensation.

"Who knew he was going to jump in there and perform like that?" said La Russa. "He hit about .600 for a month. We had seen him in spring training, and knew he was a great competitor. He competes hard every inning, every day, and that's the beginning of a winner."

Hart said, "Things just fell right for me for a while. I got off to a hot start and then they finally caught up with me."

The 28-year-old from Phoenix ended up hitting .277 with four home runs, five triples and 28 RBI.

"I am happy to be in the major league camp with an opportunity to win a spot, wherever that spot may be," Hart said. "There is going to be a battle for second, and competition brings out the best in you. So Marlon, Brent and myself are going to be pushing each other, and it should be fun to watch."

La Russa likes the fact that Anderson hits from the left side.

"That is a plus for him playing for a team with extra right-handed hitters, like the Cardinals," La Russa said. "He also has good speed which makes him a candidate for the leadoff spot in the lineup."