By Derrick Goold
03/18/2008
JUPITER, FLA. — Top prospect Colby Rasmus and spring surprise Joe Mather were among six players sent to the Cardinals' minor leagues after Monday's game.
"All of these guys had real solid camps," general manager John Mozeliak said. "Not only did they open up a lot of eyes for our major-league staff, but I think they reinforced how a lot of us felt about them when we added them to the major-league roster.
"It wouldn't surprise me if I saw either one of them (this season) in St. Louis."
Rasmus, pitcher Clayton Mortensen and catcher Mark Johnson were reassigned to the minor-league spring training camp. Mather and pitchers Jason Motte and Mike Parisi were optioned to Class AAA. They will join the minors Wednesday.
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Lohse's preparation pays off
By Derrick Goold
03/18/2008
JUPITER, FLA. — A man without a mound in early March, Kyle Lohse decided not to wait for spring training to come to him. He went to his own spring training.
In the weeks leading up to his signing with the Cardinals, Lohse replicated a spring schedule as best he could, and the results of his preparation were clear Monday. The newly acquired righthander threw 70 pitches and recorded 20 outs — the equivalent of 6 2/3 innings — in a simulated game.
"I was impressed," pitching coach Dave Duncan said. "(Monday) was a good test for him. He passed it as far as I'm concerned. It's obvious that he's been working."
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Ankiel ready to provide protection?
By Joe Strauss
03/18/2008
On Monday, during prime time on the main field at Roger Dean Stadium, Rick Ankiel again suggested he is ready to provide protection rather than receive it.
More disciplined at the plate, and more comfortable addressing his station on the team, Ankiel extended his convincing spring with a two-run double in a 4-2 exhibition win over the Atlanta Braves.
"I'm doing pretty well, but I'm still eager to get more at-bats," said Ankiel, the Cardinals' leading hitter through 20 Grapefruit League games. "The more you get, the better your timing becomes. It's part of it."
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Why we're not as bad as the pundits say
By Vic Amato
- Iszturus is better defensively than Eck, even though he's rusty in the spring.
- Molina is a superior talent behind the plate and handles the pitchers well.
- Ankiel should be more at ease now that everyone but Elliot Spitzer was named in the Mitchell Report. He's a talent and he's at the prime hitting age.
- Colby Rasmus will make some impact this year when the time is right.
- Adam Kennedy was trying to adapt to a new league with a bum knee. He's a much better hitter than he displayed last year.
- Troy Glaus is a legitimate 5 hitter. Rolen and Fat Jimmy were no longer legitimate hitters in that spot.
- The bullpen is among the stronger in the game.
- Izzy is playing for his last contract.
- Lohse should take up at least 180 innings and be slightly over .500 -- just like Kip Wells was going to do. Just kidding... He'll be better than that. If they'd have signed Lohse in December, it would have gotten much better play in the press.
