Rolen: 'It had to happen'
By Joe Strauss
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/27/2008
DUNEDIN, FLA. — Scott Rolen says he misses St. Louis, the fans and "the celebration of the game ... being a St. Louis Cardinal."
But dressed in the deep tones of a Toronto Blue Jays jersey, the one-time Cardinal for life is also visibly relieved.
"I'm happy to be here with the Blue Jays. It's a great environment. It's a fresh start. It's a new challenge with a good group of guys and a good team," offered the Jays' new third baseman. "Never in a million years did I think it would be the situation. I never wanted that situation. I was never looking for a fresh start.
"It came to a point where it had to happen. Because it had to happen, I'm glad to be where I am."
Rolen offered the same theme almost six years ago when the Cardinals rescued him from a ruined relationship with the Philadelphia Phillies. The son of the Midwest had come home. His reward was a World Series ring, a top four MVP finish and four Gold Gloves.
My take:
Whatever you big cry baby... I think we should start a pool for how many weeks/months it'll take before he starts whining about something up there in the frozen north.
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No worries for La Russa — until they start playing
By Bryan Burwell
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/27/2008
..."You know how sometimes you watch a game and it's one of those sleepy spring training games?" the manager said. "Well, I'll be absolutely shocked if you see us play any of those. A lot of the positions in these games are being manned by guys who are playing for their lives; they're fighting to see how many at-bats they can get, how many innings will they pitch."
So La Russa walks around with his typical "glass is half-full" optimism, even though most of Cardinal Nation is full of "glass is half-empty" trepidation. We see sore arms everywhere. We see an everyday lineup banking on salvation from a former two-time MVP who hasn't taken a major-league at-bat since 2005 and has Mitchell Report whispers lingering around him.
But no one's started to keep score yet, so La Russa wants us to squint a bit and share his vision. "I'm not blowing smoke," he says. "I'm optimistic, and here's the difference. If I said right now that we're as good a club as there is in baseball that would be nonsense, because we've done nothing to establish that. But here's what I do know: We're going to play hard enough. I just don't know if we're going to play good enough. We'll have to wait to see how that all works out. But I can tell you this: Playing hard enough can be a very attractive thing."
It's February, and no one's started to keep score. Let's check back with him again in June and see if he still feels that way.
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Matheny leaves, but Cards hope he returns
By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/27/2008
JUPITER, Fla. -- Former Cardinals catcher Mike Matheny spent his last day in spring training Tuesday, but he’s been told the door is open for his return.
The Cardinals and manager Tony La Russa hope that Matheny, a former Gold Glove winner, will drop by the ballpark during home stands and continue his work with the catchers.
My take:
Matheny went on to say something about the next 10 years were for his kids which is pretty awesome. Wouldn't surprise me to see him wander in and out of Cardinal stuff for a few years before taking on a more official role...
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Cards Notebook: Clement update
By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/27/2008
JUPITER, Fla. -- Righthander Matt Clement is scheduled to throw his last long toss today before returning to the mound this week and restarting his progression toward games.
Clement, coming off shoulder surgery, had his schedule rewritten around a long-toss program to improve his arm strength.
"There’s a big difference," he said. "It’s a matter of now being able to get out there and go with high intensity and stay with it, rather than just going out there and just doing it."
My take:
At this rate, maybe the Ticket Office should look at a Pitcher Rehab Weekend Ticket Package in July. Carp could start the Saturday game and Clement the Sunday one. Brutal.
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