Quotebook: Spring Training Day 5
I’m anxious to see Ank. He’s done really well in the drills. The outfield competition is going to be heated. I talked to guys who have watched him closely, and what you can see from far away is even more impressive up close. He’s going to do good things. Rick’s got a beautiful swing.
– TLR
Interesting. Sounds like the organization has gone from a “what can you lose?” approach to actually thinking that Ankiel will be a major-league hitter someday. But it also sounds like the key with Ankiel making it as a batter is the same for when he was pitching: He may have a beautiful swing, but he also had a beautiful delivery, fastball and curve. You can’t fall in love with what you see, but with what he does.
The way I look at it, you need three outfielders every day. You don’t have a crystal ball to know how Jimmy (Edmonds) will be out there or Juan (Encarnacion) or So. You play for six months with three outfield spots. We’re not going to leave here with just three outfielders.
– TLR
So, as a regular, would give the team a fairly righty-heavy lineup, which at first glance would seem to necessitate a platoon, with lefties Bigbie and Rodriguez around. However, the Cardinals have a strange situation in that none of the potential leftfielders hits lefties well — Taguchi’s actually more adept vs. righties:
| 2003-05 | vs. L | vs. R |
| Taguchi | .715 | .775 |
| Rodriguez | .737 | .834 |
| Bigbie | .673 | .782 |
Are you ready to be champions?
– Astros owner Drayton McLane greeting players as they left the playing field Saturday
Evidently, Mr. McLane didn’t read Jayson Stark’s “Most Unimproved Teams (NL)” list (Astros, #2).
I want to work with Oquendo and strengthen my defense and get it where it needs to be. I know he’s leaving here pretty soon (to manage Puerto Rico’s national team) and I want to get a chance to take advantage of his knowledge. I saw what he did for Womack. I saw what he did for Grudzielanek. There’s no secret what’s going on here. It’s all about defense.
– Junior Spivey
It’s doubly great to see Spive in camp early and hear his explanation why. It’s particularly interesting that he’s stressing defense, when he is the most accomplished offensive player of the lot.
Every third baseman in here just got nervous.
– Reds pitcher Kent Mercker on Scott Rolen being in the Reds clubhouse
That must’ve been a funny sight: Rolen walking into the Reds’ clubhouse Saturday to get examined by Reds medical director Dr. Tim Kremchek, who did Rolen’s shoulder surgery. Speaking of Rolen, here’s a story that won’t get a lot of media attention but gives you a window into who the man is.
… We did accomplish a lot, but I also didn’t have a great year. I get to the mode where I come into camp with a little bit of a chip on my shoulder and really want to prove something.
– Jim Edmonds
It’s a pleasant surprise to see JEd in camp early and to hear that he’s hungry. Let’s just hope that chip on his shoulder doesn’t become a bone chip in his shoulder…
Yeah, I’d like another shot at (Albert) Pujols.
– Brad Lidge when asked about the opportunity to represent his country in the WBC
The more he mentions it (even in jest), the more he remembers it. Like I’ve said before, this is gonna be fun. To quote Crash Davis: “Bring it, meat.”
Everyone needs to chill out and know that Roy and I are No. 1 and 2 just like last year.
Unlike Lidge, Pettitte is an unlikely one to embarrass himself with public remarks. Spring Training isn’t even a week old, and already players (veterans!) sound edgy. It’s a good indicator of just how much the Clemens kerfuffle has affected the mental state of the Astros this offseason. Regardless of what Clemens decides to do, he might’ve thought about the effects of his inaction on his teammates.
Since the time I’ve been in St. Louis, we have not had a better teammate than Alan Benes.
– TLR
On the subject of teammates, this is high praise, no matter what team you’re on, but especially considering that the Cardinals haven’t exactly been staffed with ne’er-do-wells over the years. Benes’ competition includes Mike Matheny, Joe McEwing, Woody Williams, Reggie Sanders and, of course, the Great Pujols.