Postcard from Cardinals spring training camp for Sunday, March 10, 2024
Result: Cardinals 12, Marlins 8
Weather: 81 degrees, partly cloudy
By Rob Rains
JUPITER, Fla. – As the Cardinals try to figure out the best alternatives to overcoming the injuries to Tommy Edman and Lars Nootbaar, there are at least two factors that will come into play.
The first, how long will either or both of the outfielders be sidelined?
“We need to figure out what short-term means,” manager Oli Marmol said Sunday. “I think right now we have an idea of what Nootbaar can look like but there is still some uncertainty to Edman and what that timeline looks like.”
The second factor, how to balance offense and defense in deciding who should fill those two positions.
That topic was discussed internally the last two days, leading to Victor Scott II getting the start on Sunday and hitting in the leadoff spot against the Marlins.
It’s also why Scott likely will be there more in the next few days.
Scott hit the game’s first pitch of the game for a single and lost a stolen base when Nolan Gorman was thrown out behind him at second on a double steal attempt. He later scored on a wild pitch.
Scott also showed off his speed, beating out a ground ball to first for an infield single in the fifth but then was thrown out at second trying to steal on a perfect throw from Christian Bethancourt. He reached base again with a walk in the seventh and came around to score another run.
“We’re going to continue to throw him out there and see what it looks like,” Marmol said.
If the expectation is that Nootbaar, or especially Edman, is going to miss a significant amount of time, there is a better chance the Cardinals might promote Scott. If it is determined the stint on the injured list will be shorter, it’s more likely Scott will begin the year in Memphis.
Here is how Sunday’s game broke down:
High: Thomas Sagesse went 4-of-4 and drove in six runs even though he didn’t come into the game until the fourth inning.
Low: Tekoah Roby struggled in his spring debut, giving up two hits and walking two, leading to two runs, in his inning of relief.
At the plate: Alec Burleson singled twice, raising his spring average to .375 as he also tries to compete for one of the outfield jobs … The Cardinals had 15 hits, including doubles from Nolan Arenado, Matt Carpenter, Masyn Winn and Sagesse … Sagesse had an RBI single in the fourth, singled again in the sixth, drove in two runs with a third single in the seventh, then drove in three runs with his double in the eighth.
On the mound: Gordon Graceffo got the start and worked 2 2/3 innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on six hits … Drew Rom worked three scoreless innings, giving up one hit while striking out four … Andrew Kittredge pitched a scoreless inning.
Worth noting: The last Cardinal to have six RBIs in a spring training game was Brian Barton in 2009.
Up next: Miles Mikolas will get the start on Monday when the Cardinals host the Nationals in Jupiter.
Follow Rob Rains on Twitter @RobRains
