Joe Mather, who played mostly outfield in his rookie year in the major leagues, appears to have seized the third base job, albeit a temporary one, with veteran Troy Glaus recovering from right shoulder surgery in January.
Mather, a former minor league infielder, has been impressive in his instincts at third base, and his arm has been strong and true. Originally, it was presumed that David Freese, who had 26 homers and hit .306 at Class AAA Memphis last year, would have the inside track until the expected return of Glaus in May. But Freese suffered an Achilles tendon injury in a one-car accident in January and was unable to play any exhibitions in the first two weeks of camp.
Manager Tony La Russa said, "As soon as I heard about Glaus, I thought about Joe Mather."
And after watching Mather in the first exhibitions, La Russa, hoping that Freese wouldn't put too much pressure on himself to return quickly, said, "If all things were equal ... Joe would play third and David would go to Triple-A. Joe deserves a lot of credit for how he's working."
Mather perhaps surprised himself a bit in the field.
"I thought I would be a lot more uncomfortable, a lot more hesitant," he said.
Arizona State product Brett Wallace, the Cardinals' first-round pick in last year's draft, was thought to have an outside shot to contend for the third base spot with Glaus out. But La Russa has given Wallace very few at-bats, preferring to concentrate on those players who have a chance to make this year's club.
"He has to prove he can hit Triple-A pitching first," said La Russa of Wallace. "He's got some t's to cross and i's to dot, yet."
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