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April 2009
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February 2009 ArchivesHitters are now facing pitchers in live batting practice. The pitchers are throwing close to top speed and mixing in breaking pitches, so this is the first drill that simulates game conditions for the hitters. Early in camp the pitchers are well ahead of the hitters. I stood behind the batting cage as Albert Pujols faced Adam Wainwright and then Jason Motte. Albert faced Wainwright twice and Motte once. In all three times at the plate Albert s... Chris Carpenter threw again today off and the mound. His progress is being closely monitored by pitching coach Dave Duncan. He doesn't want Carpenter to throw at top speed yet, more like 70 to 75 percent. So far, so good. Carpenter has been throwing free and easy and says his surgically repaired elbow and shoulder feel great. The Cardinal relievers filmed a commercial today before practice. The top three candidates to become the new c... Cardinals pitcher Joel Pineiro just came out of the clubhouse to make a statement to the media here in Jupiter. Pineiro says he's very upset that he won't be able to pitch for Puerto Rico in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. The manager of the Puerto Rican team is Cardinals coach Jose Oquendo, and Oquendo told Pineiro that he wouldn't be one of the starting pitchers during the WBC. Pineiro says he feels disrespected and hurt by the snub. He... The entire team is here now. Today marked the first full squad workout, though most of the players have been here for a few days already. Troy Glaus checked into camp. He's not practicing yet, but he is working out. Glaus had the shoulder surgery last month and will likely miss the first month of the season. Joe Mather and David Freese are the front runners to hold down the third base job while Glaus is out. Freese had a big year at AAA Memphi... Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak just stepped into the media room at the spring training complex to say that he had reached a contract agreement with the agent for Ryan Ludwick. Ludwick was eligible for arbitration and had a hearing scheduled in Phoenix on The Cardinals new shortstop, Khalil Greene, checked into camp today and put on the Redbirds uniform for the first time. Greene is extremely soft spoken and didn't want to do any television interviews today. He says the experience of coming to a new team, after spending the first five years of his career with the Padres, is a little overwhelming right now. He said he thought he'd start doing tv interviews tomorrow. Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick both checked into camp today. Pujols did a little hitting in the cage, but Ludwick didn't work out at all. He's in the middle of contract negotiations with the Cardinals, and may have to fly to Las Vegas tomorrow for an arbitration hearing on Tuesdays, if he and his agent failed to reach a new deal with the Cardinals. It's not just warm, it's actually hot here in Jupiter. Temperatures are in the mid-80's for the Cardinals first official workout for pitchers and catchers. The Cardinals already have two pitchers having some arm problems; Mitchell Boggs and Matt Scherer. Both guys spent most of '08 in triple A and don't figure to make the roster out of spring. They'll take it easy in these opening days of camp. Tony La Russa said today every position o... Not that he was probably very worried about it, but Skip Schumaker has already made the final roster. Tony La Russa just said Schumaker is on the team. In a brief chat with the five or six reporters here at Cardinals camp, La Russa said that Schumaker can go ahead and buy a house in St. Louis. Schumaker's name was mentioned in trade rumors over the off-season, and his spot on the roster appeared to be somewhat in question because of t... Skip Schumaker was the first guy on the practice field today. He worked for at least an hour with Jose Oquendo, as he tries to learn the second base position. I watched him take at least 100 ground balls and he handled most of them very well. Schumacker is very quick, and has a powerful arm. I haven't seen him turn any double plays yet, but if he proves he can handle that he could be well on his way to making a serious run at winning ... I just arrived at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter. It's hot and muggy down here. Much warmer than usual for this time of year. I've been here before and needed a winter coat at times, but I don't think that'll be the case this year. Pitchers and catchers aren't required to check in and take their physicals until Saturday, but many of them have been in camp for several days already. Chris Carpenter has been throwing, to... |
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