Sports Columnist Bernie Miklasz [More columns] As the Cardinals prepare for the postseason, one unresolved area is the bench. With Troy Glaus hurting and other reserves trying to sharpen their skills as pinch-hitters, we wonder if help is necessary. Among the collection of non-fulltime players on the current 25-man roster, only Rick Ankiel (six for 19, two homers) has had reasonable success as a pinch-hitter. Others (Joe Thurston, Khalil Greene) have had good moments. But overall the bench lacks pop. Other than Ankiel, non-regular Cardinals on the roster were a combined 15 for 89 (.168) with a homer as pinch-hitters through Wednesday. That list includes Colby Rasmus, who shares time with Ankiel in center field. And the list does not include Skip Schumaker, who starts at second base against righthanded pitching. (Schumaker is... [read full story]
