Tony La Russa Points to "Secret Weapon" To Carry Out Latest Plan

Tony La Russa is not afraid to score his points in an unconventional manner.

After all, this is the guy who once had the left-handed Mike Squires play catcher and third base for the Chicago White Sox.

And the skipper of the St. Louis Cardinals still scoffs at tradition when he regularly tabs his pitcher for the eighth spot in the lineup. 

Now the future Hall of Famer with 2,461 wins (trailing only Connie Mack and John McGraw on the all-time list) has commenced with the Skip Schumaker Project.

All Schumaker did last season was hit .302, score 87 runs and fill a critical void in the leadoff hole for the Cards. He also played solid defense at all three outfield positions.

So there was Schumaker at this year's Spring opener, starting at second base.

The "why" for this move is fairly evident. The Cards dumped last year's starting second baseman, Adam Kennedy, and the team is also loaded in the outfield with Rick Ankiel, Ryan Ludwick, Chris Duncan, and top prospect Colby Rasmus.

The "how" this move might actually work is more of an organizational secret. There is little major-league precedent for turning outfielders into middle infielders, and Schumaker hasn't played there since his days as a college shortstop. 

But the Cardinals have third-base coach Jose Oquendo. Known to St. Louis fans as the "secret weapon" during his playing days, Oquendo did it all, even pitching during blowouts and donning the catching gear during extra-inning emergencies.

Oquendo is now the professor during student Schumaker's six-week crash course in playing second base.

"The object is to make a below-average guy average, an average fielder a good fielder, and a good fielder a guy who might win a Gold Glove," Oquendo explained to stltoday.com, and he knows what he's talking about. Oquendo's drills helped turn an outfielder named Albert Pujols into a Gold Glove first baseman.

La Russa appears comfortable with both teacher and pupil at this point.

"If it doesn't work, it's not the coaches' fault. It's not Skip's fault," La Russa said. "If it doesn't work, it's my bad idea."

Doubtful that opposing managers are banking on bad ideas from La Russa, who in his 14th season in St. Louis, will be trying to take his Cardinals to the National League Championship Series for a seventh time.