MLB: Cards need creativity to fill void

With slugger Mark McGwire struggling to play even part time, the Cardinals will need to find a way to survive without his presence in the lineup.

McGwire appears headed for the 15-day Disabled List in the next few days, and this should provide manager Tony LaRussa with a chance to find ways to win without the big man. The fact is the Cardinals may need to get used to the idea of a McGwire-less line up. At the time of this writing, LaRussa's solution has been simply to replace McGwire with Bobby Bonilla, at first and in the cleanup spot, though 3 weeks do not make a season, and Bonilla may be rusty after just recently recovering from a hamstring injury. It already appears this solution is mostly inadequate.

It is ironic that Tony LaRussa has the well-earned reputation as a tinkerer. He frequently uses different lineups (137 last year) and he loves flexible players (Polanco, Paquette, and Pujols all can play all over the field) With McGwire ailing, this is the perfect time to use that flexibility to put the best lineup on the field. But LaRussa seems committed to playing Bobby Bonilla, even with hot hitting Placido Polanco riding the bench.

If the Cardinals are to remain competitive, they will need to find a more permanent solution. While it may come in the form of a trade, it is unlikely that the Cardinals will be able to make any improvement at this time. Teams such as the Twins, Expos, and Philllies are all competitive at this point in the season, and no team is ready to give up and make a trade that would benefit the Cardinals (a veteran first baseman for middle range minor leaguers).

So the Cardinals may be forced to find a creative solution using only in house players. Looking back at the early part of the last year, which also featured an ailing McGwire, a Cardinal solution may present itself. Many Cardinals fans seem to have already forgotten that Jim Edmonds can play a little first base.

Though it seems totally illogical to move a gold glove center fielder to first base, the move may be perfect right now. Edmonds is nursing a groin that is affecting his defense in the outfield. A week or so at first would give his groin muscle a chance to heal. J.D. Drew, though he is struggling at the plate at the moment, is more than capable of playing Center Field. Rookie Albert Pujols has shown he can play an adequate if unspectacular right field. The same can be said for Palcido Polanco at third base. The loss in defense is minimal when you consider the fact that Edmonds is just as good at first as Bonilla, and this provides an improvement offensively.

With the change in personnel, two primary lineups become possible:

Lineup One:

Vina Renetaria Edmonds Lankford Pujols Drew Polanco Matheny

Lineup Two:

Vina Polanco Edmonds Lankford Pujols Rentaria Drew Matheny

These lineups are by no means a permanent solution, there is still a right- handed power void that will need to be addressed, but they can keep the Cardinals close to the top of the NL Central for at least a little while. With luck, McGwire will return to the lineup something close to healthy (probably around late June). That, or the Cardinals will know that he is done for the season and will need to shop for a first baseman when the annual post-All Star break fire sales begin.

Other solutions may be available to the Cardinals. Eli Marrero has at least earned a chance to show what he can do now that he is 100% healthy. He could play the gap at first at least temporarily. If he hits well, he may even give the Cardinals something to trade for a more permanent solutions at first.

One thing is sure though, the Cardinals are a much different team without Mark McGwire, and they will have to find some way to hold the line until his return.