Redbirds aren't thrilled over options at second base as season bears down

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Time is growing a bit short in spring training and the St. Louis Cardinals still have two unsettled positions, left field and second base.

The team is confident everything will work out just fine. Manager Tony La Russa noted Thursday before an exhibition game against the Dodgers that roster turnover on recent teams hasn't hurt much, considering the Cardinals are coming off consecutive 100-win seasons and a World Series appearance in 2004.

"Last year there was a lot of concern about second base and shortstop, and I didn't have a big concern," La Russa said. "I like what I see."

The Cardinals filled one of their three offseason vacancies by signing right fielder Juan Encarnacion to a three-year, $15 million free agent contract. Encarnacion replaces Larry Walker, who retired.

The team is still searching for replacements for two players who left as free agents, Reggie Sanders and Mark Grudzielanek. They're likely to go with a platoon of So Taguchi and Larry Bigbie or John Rodriguez in left, but they're less satisfied right now with the options of Junior Spivey, Aaron Miles or Hector Luna at second.

Spivey was an All-Star in 2002 but has been plagued by injuries the last two seasons and played only 77 games last year, batting .232 for the Brewers and Nationals. There might be some rust this spring, considering he's hitting .149 with 17 strikeouts in 47 at-bats.

"He's had a lot of tough moments, and he's had some good moments," La Russa said. "We're trying to evaluate everything.

"What he is this year, how much of it is getting his timing back after missing time, that's all part of the deal."

The switch-hitting Miles injured his left wrist in his first spring training game. His playing time has been limited and he has been unable to bat right-handed.

Taguchi is the only given in the left field derby off his emergence last season. He batted .288 last year with 53 RBIs in 396 at-bats after accumulating 248 at-bats his first three years with the Cardinals.

Rodriguez, who impressed at the plate in his major league debut at age 27 last summer due to injuries, has had a so-so offensive spring that he blames on shoulder tendinitis. He's begun to make more solid contact in recent games.

"It's a lot better and you can see it," Rodriguez said. "They know what I can do."

Bigbie, signed to a low-key free agent deal, has been hampered by a bone bruise in his heel, but is hopeful of playing Friday.

"So's done a great job for us, he's proven himself, and I really like the athletic ability of Larry," center fielder Jim Edmonds said. "And I believe, not knowing this, that we traded for him to play. So, hopefully he can be the player he can be."

At least, some decisions are out of the way. The Cardinals finalized their rotation earlier this week, giving Sidney Ponson the fifth spot when they optioned Anthony Reyes to the minors and reassigned Adam Wainwright to the bullpen.

The Cardinals will be patient with the other moves that must be made, including a few openings in the bullpen, before the April 3 opener at Philadelphia.

"It's not settled, but I'm not concerned," general manager Walt Jocketty said. "It'll play out, and we'll be ready to go."

Noteworthy

* Jim Edmonds has been hampered all spring by tendinitis that is causing numbness in his right forearm, but he had two hits and an RBI on Thursday. He had an MRI exam earlier in the week. "I think it's getting a little too much attention right now, but that's how it is when you go to the doctor," Edmonds said.

* RHP Josh Hancock, fighting for a bullpen job, pitched another scoreless inning against the Dodgers and hasn't allowed a run and has given up only three hits in 7 1-3 innings.

* Setup man Braden Looper, coming off shoulder surgery last October, has thrown three straight scoreless innings and said Thursday it was the best he's felt since August 2004.