New leadoff hitter battles early slump

ST. LOUIS -- A week ago, Skip Schumaker owned the leadoff job for the St. Louis Cardinals. Now no one could blame him for having a little less certainty.

That's what going 0-for-14 on the opening homestand can do to a 28-year-old player who has never been a major league regular. Even if Cardinals manager Tony La Russa tells you to keep your chin up.

"I know it's not a lot of at-bats," Schumaker said. "But it's still tough to get that monkey off your back."

There were few positives for Schumaker during the Cardinals' 5-1 start: Four walks and a powerful relay from left field that was a bit offline but timely enough to cut down the Rockies' Todd Helton at the plate. His best play, a diving catch in left-center that robbed Troy Tulowitzki of extra bases, was washed away when rain postponed the season opener in the bottom of the third.

After only six games, the impressive numbers he put up in spring training are fading from memory.

"You've got to look at it as a couple of 0-fers, and if it was mid-year it wouldn't be a big deal," Schumaker said. "But it is to start the year, and that's what's tough."

Schumaker batted .394 this spring with a .427 on-base percentage, while leading the team with 28 hits and 17 runs and homering twice with 11 RBIs. Only Rick Ankiel (74) had more at-bats than Schumaker, who proved himself over a lengthy 71 at-bat trial in Florida.

But after starting the first three games, Schumaker was a defensive substitute for Rule 5 Brian Barton the last three games. And his replacement dazzled.

Barton turned what might have been a cameo first career start into an impressive three-peat, going 5-for-11 and showing off blazing speed with a triple that didn't even wind him Saturday. The Cardinals won all three games.

"He's sparked our offense," La Russa said Sunday, adding he had a tough call for the leadoff slot Monday at Houston to start a seven-game trip.

La Russa gave the right-handed hitting Barton starts against a trio of Nationals left-handers. The Astros' Wandy Rodriguez made it four straight lefties Monday, but then they had two straight righties that could provide the next opening for the left-handed hitting Schumaker. Shortstop Cesar Izturis led off for the Cardinals, while Chris Duncan started in left Monday.

Still, there's plenty of competition for playing time in an outfield minus 2007 regulars Jim Edmonds (trade) and Juan Encarnacion (eye injury). Ryan Ludwick also had a big first week, while Ankiel settled in at center field with a handful of catches along with three homers and six RBIs, and Duncan appears to have recovered from a hamstring strain sustained in the rescheduled opener.

Then there's Schumaker.

"He's having good at-bats, he just can't force hits," La Russa said. "Just keep doing the right things and the hits will come."

La Russa said Schumaker has Gold Glove defensive ability, which makes it an easy swap for Barton when the Cardinals have the lead.

Schumaker seemingly has the experience to overcome his early troubles, making the opening day roster the last two years. Still, he totaled only 255 at-bats in three previous stints with the team before this season. He's tried to make the best of his time out of the lineup, realizing that he had been pressing.

"By the third game, I was forcing it to try to get a hit, instead of just relaxing and believing in myself," Schumaker said. "It's not like I'm sitting the whole game, so I still feel comfortable at the plate.

"But I'm just not getting hits, that's the bottom line."