Editors Note: Safe travel wishes for the Eckert's and their families as they travel to Spring Training next week. Maybe we'll get some behind the scenes feedback - of course that goes for all - if you have any good tidbits, forward them on and they'll get posted. Go Cards!
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Rolen and Sanders look ahead
By Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch
03/14/2005
The Cardinals third baseman and outfielder Reggie Sanders are both hitting .133 this spring, with four hits between them, but they couldn't care less about the numerical results.
"At the beginning, you take a ball you normally wouldn't," Sanders said. "For the most part, it's not about the results. You're gauging the pitch, how you see it. Right about now, I want to start putting things together."
On Sunday, Rolen went through the whole progression. His first at-bat "went poorly." His second at-bat went better. On his third at-bat, he hit a home run but was more pleased with how he felt, how he eyed the ball, recognized the pitch and reacted.
Larry Walker's slow start is a little different. The Cardinals' right fielder has yet to get a hit in seven at-bats. He missed the first weeks of spring training with a back sprain.
"I'm not really fretting," Walker said. "I don't like the results. But if I was hitting the ball well, hitting it hard, I'd accept the results a little better."
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Cardinals report: Notes, quotes
March 15, 2005
The Sports Xchange
--After a loss to the Mets in the exhibition opener, the Cardinals rattled off six straight wins, with no starter allowing more than two runs. Through the first week of spring games, the Cardinals led the majors in earned-run average at 2.67.
--RF Larry Walker, who had been bothered by a bad back, finally made his first appearance of the spring on Thursday (March 10) and went 0-for-2.
"It's been a few days (without pain) and I probably could have played a few days ago," Walker said. "But we wanted to stick with somewhat of a cautious approach, not getting myself into trouble."
--Through 10 games, the Cardinals have won seven with an ERA under 3.00, including splitting two games on Sunday (March 13), beating Atlanta 7-3 and losing to Baltimore 5-3.
--LHP Mark Mulder became the first Cardinals starter to go five innings Sunday (March 13). He gave up three runs and seven hits but didn't walk a batter. One of the hits was a two-run homer by Atlanta's Mike Hampton, one of baseball's best hitting pitchers.
--Rookie RHP Anthony Reyes got his welcome to the big leagues by allowing a home run to Baltimore's Sammy Sosa at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in a 5-3 Cardinals defeat. Reyes is the top pitching prospect in the organization.
--LHP Ray King has appeared just once this spring as he rests a biceps injury.
BY THE NUMBERS
13. Number of big-league games won by Rick Ankiel before he quit as a pitcher.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"I was as frustrated as I could be. I wasn't sure I still wanted to be part of the game or not." -- LHP Rick Ankiel, on why he gave up pitching.
Copyright (C) 2005 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.
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Cardinals report: Inside pitch
March 15, 2005
The Sports Xchange
RHP Chris Carpenter, who will be the Opening Day starter in Houston on April 5, became the first Cardinals pitcher to work four innings on Thursday (March 10). Carpenter held the Astros to one run and three hits in a 4-2 Cardinals' win.
RHP Matt Morris, who had shoulder surgery in December, made his first appearance of the spring Saturday (March 12), working the first two innings of the Cardinals' 3-2 loss to the Mets. Morris threw 21 strikes on 32 pitches. He allowed two hits (one an infield grounder) and struck out three -- all three called.
