http://www.stltoday.com/sports/colum...e38f69399.html
What one thing doesn't go with the other thing?
- Non-roster outfielder Oscar Taveras made another loud noise during Thursday’s first inning at Roger Dean Stadium. With a ferocious lefthanded swing against former Westminster High talent Jacob Turner, the Cardinals’ top hitting prospect since Albert Pujols transformed a misplaced strike into a shot that cleared the right field wall for a grand slam. In his first game this spring Taveras punished an opposite-field fly ball to the left-center field warning track, where a circus catch denied him extra bases. The following day Taveras yanked a ground-rule double off the right-center field track.
Taveras is this camp’s bright shiny object, its unopened Christmas gift. He exudes a quality Cardinals manager Mike Matheny describes as “a presence” in the batter’s box.
His swing is always “on time,” according to Matheny, meaning that Taveras unerringly squares a round ball with the round barrel of his bat. There is no more desirable quality for a position player. Baseball American anointed Taveras its second-most prized position prospect.
- For Mozeliak, something bad would have to occur for Taveras to be on the opening day 25-man roster. Indeed, it makes more sense to the organization that first baseman Matt Adams make the club as a bench player than Taveras.
Im not buying this. With Beltrans balky knees, Jay's road woes, Halliday could use more rest over the season I think you could find plenty of at bats even if everyone stays healthy all season.