Archive for the “2009 opening day rosters” Category

Colby Rasmus (photo by Dustin Mattison)

Before I get into my column today, I wanted to introduce myself. My name is Dustin Mattison and you may have read my work at a variety of places. You will find most of my work over at the Birdhouse where I cover the minor leagues along with some major league work. Since joining the Scout.com network, I have had the opportunity to meet and interview quite a few of the minor leaguers we all love to talk about at places such as Future Redbirds.

Some of you may remember that one of my question and answer sessions caused quite a bit of stir back in early December. It was a piece I did with Mark Worrell the day before he was sent to San Diego for Khalil Greene.

I got my start at my blog, Whiteyball. The site is up and running again thanks to a good group of guys who take their Cardinal baseball very seriously.

During the summer, if my children, Anna and Zac, are not playing, you will hopefully find me in a minor league park somewhere. My first trip is already planned; I will be in Springfield during the team’s opening weekend. (Writer’s note: Luckily my wife Christina is tolerant and has developed a love for the minor league game as well.) But enough about me, let’s talk some baseball.

I know that this is a prospect site but I feel the make up of the opening day roster is pertinent to what is discussed hear on a daily basis. With the news of Joe Mather being sent to Triple-A Memphis, the St. Louis Cardinals now have 25 players on its roster. Unless there are some unforeseen changes, this is the team that will take on the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday.
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Sick of hearing about the latest A-Rod saga already? I know I am. Here’s a good distraction:

Click here for the color coded spreadsheet. These are just my guesses for who goes where on opening day. The color codes are for prospects, sleepers, fringe and fungible. Debate if you want how I’ve coded some of the players, or debate if you will the merits of a what makes someone fringe and fungible. Then you have players who have either a season of big league service or are 28 years old or older.

A couple of quick notes:

• If you don’t see someone, it’s probably because I think they are short season bound, or they are hurt.  Let me know of a major oversight if you see one.
• Feel free to trade out DeJesus with Henley if you want. I put DeJesus in Springfield because he played the entire season, but Henley is obviously the better prospect. I just think Henley will start in PB since he missed so much time last year.
• I think Cruz/Hill will split catching duties for SPR.
• Where is Freese? The big leagues, of course.
• I have Allen Craig at 3B for Memphis, but I think he’ll see time at 1B and the corner outfield spots.
• I’m not even going to try and speculate on piggyback rotation possibilities for PB and QC, at least not for the moment.
• I’m expecting to see a lot of somewhat surprising cuts during spring training.