STL Post-Dispatch: Return of Encarnacion seen as key

Three offense-free weeks have altered perceptions at 700 Clark Street.

Exhibit A: Juan Encarnacion, who would have been shopped last winter if not for December wrist surgery, has become the Cardinals’ missing cornerstone. The same team that won its final three World Series games with Encarnacion tethered to its bench now looks to him as the May answer for its April drought. Few items more clearly illustrate where the Cardinals have fallen.
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Short of trading for a starting outfielder, something the club found impossible last month, Encarnacion represents the best hope of providing stability to what has been manager Tony La Russa’s mix-and-match outfield… The need for more “damage” has caused the club to contemplate promoting John Rodriguez from Triple-A Memphis. So far, a greater need has existed for Skip Schumaker’s versatility.

Getting shut out by Jason Marquis was probably the Cards’ version of Arizona losing to Russ Ortiz, eh?