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| Lance Berkman will remain a spectator even if the Cardinals advance to the World Series. (Getty Images) |
While the Cardinals right now are far more concerned about surviving their Game 7 NLCS showdown with the Giants on Monday night, here's a worry to file away: Hobbled slugger Lance Berkman almost certainly won't be available for the World Series should St. Louis make it that far.
Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Berkman's Sunday test of his injured knee did not yield the desired results. Strauss writes:
Berkman still experiences pain in a knee that has required two procedures this season. Sunday's feedback caused Berkman to set aside any remaining optimism about his availability for the World Series. Though the switch-hitter is encouraged by his swing, Berkman recognizes that carrying a player unable to run the bases for himself is a luxury too pricey to carry on a postseason roster.
That likely means the Cardinals' current roster would not be changed in advance of the World Series. That, in turn, means outfielders Shane Robinson and Adron Chambers would likely each remain on the roster.
Berkman this season hit a productive .259/.381/.444 across 97 plate appearances. In 2011, he hit 31 homers. He's a career .317/.417/.532 hitter in the postseason.
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