News
Glaus adjusting to being odd man out
Veteran knows to be ready when needed for stretch run
By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com
09/06/09 1:45 PM ET
PITTSBURGH -- This is a little more like what Troy Glaus is used to.The third baseman has been an everyday player his entire career. Just a year ago, he played in 151 games for the Cardinals, hitting 27 homers and 99 RBIs. But the 2009 season became a lost one when he was first slow to recover from offseason shoulder surgery and then developed back problems when he began his first rehab assignment.
When he finally returned, on Sept. 1, things were obviously different. Playing time has been hard to come by, with Mark DeRosa as the everyday third baseman. In his first four games back, Glaus got a grand total of four at-bats. In the past two days, however, he's gotten a little taste of what used to be his normal routine.
When Tony La Russa gave Albert Pujols the night off Saturday against the Pirates, Glaus got the start, doubling his season's at-bats in one game. He got a second straight start, on Sunday, and his first of the season at the hot corner. La Russa may have been helped by DeRosa's balky back, but there clearly was an attempt to get Glaus some repetitions.
"He's been gone so long, it's good to give him a couple of games, so we can see where he is and how much he can help us here in the last month," La Russa said. "He's coming from a significant handicap, which is the guys he's competing against."
DeRosa has pretty much been the daily third baseman since he joined the club, missing a little time with a wrist issue and now the minor back problem. With Brendan Ryan taking over at shortstop, Khalil Greene has been in the same place as Glaus, a regular trying to find a way to get on the field. Greene started at third Saturday with Glaus at first. Getting regular at-bats has been difficult, and for a guy used to being out there on an everyday basis, being in the starting lineup on consecutive days is welcomed.
"It helps, obviously," said Glaus, who went 0-for-4 on Saturday and has gone 1-for-8 since his return. "It's a little harder to find your rhythm getting one at-bat, two at-bats here and there. Hopefully, I can get it going and maybe have some more starts down the road."
Glaus understands that for as long as the 2009 season lasts, he's not going to regain his role as the starting third baseman. But if he can find some kind of groove at the plate, a guy who has four 100-RBI seasons and more than 300 career home runs on his resume can come in handy coming off the bench. His marching order since his return has been pretty simple: Stay ready. His manager hasn't been oblivious to how Glaus has managed to keep himself involved in the game.
"You do the best you can and be ready to do whatever you can for us," La Russa said. "He's a vet. A lot of those guys, they can do some amazing things as far as mentally staying sharp and compensating."
That's been a learning process for the 33-year-old Glaus. Sure, he's dealt with injuries in the past. He missed large chunks of the 2003 and 2004 seasons, his final years with the Angels. He played in just 115 games with the Blue Jays in 2007. But in those instances, whenever he returned from injury, his spot as an everyday presence at third and in the middle of the lineup was immediately restored.
To his credit, Glaus knew as he rehabbed that wouldn't be the case this time around. And at no point has he demanded his job back or for more playing time. With a commanding lead atop the National League Central and the postseason lurking, the last thing Glaus wants to do is rock the boat.
"It's been a transition," Glaus said. "My whole goal was to get back here and try to help contribute down the stretch. Yeah, I'd like to be playing all the time, but I understand with the personnel we have at this point, that's probably not going to happen.
"If my job is to sit for two or three days, I have to be ready those days. If [La Russa] calls on me to start, then I have to do the best I can."
Jonathan Mayo is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
