Looking forward to a Cardinals designated hitter for once

Due to the National League’s victory in this July’s All-Star Game, the NL entrant in the 2011 World Series, the St. Louis Cardinals, will enjoy the home field advantage. World Series Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 (as necessary) will be in St. Louis. The American League champion Texas Rangers will host Games 3, 4 and 5 (if necessary). For the first time in Tony La Russa’s three World Series since joining St. Louis, I am actually enthused by the opportunity for the use of the designated hitter. (Of course, this is required in the AL home parks.) Based on past history, that would be a crazy thing to say. After all, in La Russa’s other two World Series with St. Louis, his designated hitters have been more than bad. They were a combined 1-for-14 (.071) with three walks and a whopping eight strikeouts. In 2006, Scott Spiezio and Chris Duncan received the starts at DH. In the latter case, that pushed light-hitting So Taguchi into the starting lineup in left field. In 2004, Reggie Sanders and ano...