Minus McGwire, Cardinals shouldn't miss a beat

ST. LOUIS (AP) _ Mark McGwire's retirement could end up being addition by subtraction for the St. Louis Cardinals. <br><br>Big Mac captivated baseball when he hit 135 home runs over a two-year period

Saturday, March 30th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ST. LOUIS (AP) _ Mark McGwire's retirement could end up being addition by subtraction for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Big Mac captivated baseball when he hit 135 home runs over a two-year period from 1998-99. But his last two season were injury-plagued and he batted just .187 in 2001.

Plus, his replacement knows how to replace a big name.

Tino Martinez, who signed a three-year, $21 million free-agent deal with the Cardinals, also inherited the New York Yankees' first base job from Don Mattingly in 1996. And while he won't punish the ball like vintage Big Mac, Martinez is a proven run producer with six 100-RBI seasons the last seven years. And he comes at less than half the price.

Manager Tony La Russa didn't fret about Martinez's light spring training production.

``We know,'' La Russa said, ``that he's going to do damage.''

Neither did Martinez, 34, although he was a bit anxious to show the Cardinals and their fans what he can do.

``It's just preparation,'' he said. ``You try to get your at-bats in, stay healthy and get ready for April 1.''

Martinez, who batted .280 with 34 homers and 113 RBIs last year, is the biggest offseason move for the team that didn't require much tinkering. The other major acquisition for the Cardinals, who tied the Houston Astros for the NL Central title with a two-month finishing kick last year, was free agent closer Jason Isringhausen.

``It's a solid team,'' general manager Walt Jocketty said. ``We built it that way.''

So solid that Martinez likely will bat sixth. The Cardinals have plenty of pop surrounding him with NL Rookie of the Year Albert Pujols, Jim Edmonds and J.D. Drew combining for 84 homers.

They have speed in Drew, Edgar Renteria and leadoff hitter Fernando Vina. They've got one of the NL's best defenses, with center fielder Edmonds winning Gold Gloves the last two years, second baseman Vina getting his first last year and catcher Mike Matheny winning in 2000.

Pujols was successful despite playing all over. He started at first base, left field, right field and third base last season.

``Last year I played everywhere and it doesn't bother me at all,'' Pujols said. ``If Tony asks me again, I'm more than willing to do it.''

The rotation is overloaded, even without Rick Ankiel, who'll start the season at Triple-A Memphis. La Russa enters the year with six starters to choose from, beginning with 22-game winner Matt Morris on Monday against the Colorado Rockies.

Garrett Stephenson, only 11 months after undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery, Woody Williams, no-hit rookie Bud Smith and Darryl Kile will likely follow Morris in the early rotation as La Russa seeks the best matchups and also gives Kile's surgically-repaired shoulder a few extra days to prepare for the long haul.

Andy Benes, on the comeback trail after his worst season (7-7, 7.38), likely will back up Kile in the early going.

``We've got guys that might not be on the staff that could pitch in the 2-3 spots somewhere else,'' Morris said. ``That's awesome.''

Isringhausen, who had 34 saves in 43 chances last year for the Oakland Athletics, gives the team the dominating closer it lacked the last few years.

Placido Polanco, who hit .307 while starting at three infield spots, isn't sure what La Russa has in store for him, but he's ready for anything.

``I have no clue,'' he said. ``All I'm going to do is come here every day and give it my best, like always.''

The Cardinals were the best team in the NL the last two months, going 37-15. They took the eventual World Series champion Arizona Diamondbacks to the limit in the first round of the playoffs, losing their three games by a total of four runs.

La Russa said the Cardinals, who were eliminated in the NLCS in 2000, have unfinished postseason business to attend to.

``There ain't nothing wrong with noticing we've got nine world championships and we're shooting for a 10th,'' La Russa said. ``We're shooting for the big dream.''