That was one idea kicking around the Cardinals, who at the time had not committed like they later did to Fowler at right field but still had visions of that OBP monster top dancing in their head.

At the winter meetings, Mike Shildt brought up a different possibility, one that would stack the OPS at the top of the lineup while turning the No. 3 spot over to a third-year player. This is that look:

1. Carpenter, 3B

2. Goldschmidt, 1B

3. DeJong, SS

4. Ozuna, LF

5. Fowler, RF

6. Molina, C

7. Wong, 2B

8. Bader, CF

9. Pitcher.

That balances out the L/R a little bit better and does veer toward the modern thought that the best hitter goes second, the best hitter at getting on base gets the most at-bats, that No. 3 isn't as important as you think it is, and that the cleanup hitter would come up most often with the most people on base.