Bits from the Winter Warm-Up: 1.14.12

Just a few bits and bytes from the morning of the 14th at the Winter Warm-Up:

Zack Cox

* "I don't really know how much I showed in camp last year, but I got the experience. Experience is a lot of it."

* "I haven't played anywhere but third base, so that's where I've been working. Until they tell me differently, I'm gonna' keep working there and just see what happens."

* "Guys say 'you don't want to go for more power because then you'll lose average,' but that's not the case because there was times last year I got balls middle in and I didn't really turn on them like I should've. That's what I'm working on this year is to go ahead on turn on them." (noted he's seeing a lot of improvement)

* Indicated he's working with Arkansas coaches and guys he knows during the off season.

Jordan Swagerty

* (Are you a starter or a reliever now?): "That's the question. Whatever they want me to do. I just like being on the mound and facing hitters."

* "I think I have a closer mentality."

* "Never being a starter, I had to go about things a bit differently, but at the end of the day, it's still baseball and you still have to get outs."

* "I hit a hundred games and I was like, 'Whoa...we still got a couple months left.'"

* "It's nice having 100 pitches to throw instead of just 12. You can really work on some things and hang out on the mound...and figure things out."

* Indicated he lives in Dallas and was able to attend three of the World Series games in Texas.

* "I think it's all about location. I like to command my secondary pitches and I think I have that down." (indicated working on fastball outs and improving them is a focus of his...still working on a change-up)

Chris Carpenter

* Greeted Rick Hummel with, "High, Hall of Famer...How are ya'?"

* "I'm excited about this team. I'm excited about the opportunity we're gonna' have."

* "The things he (Albert) brought to this organization and this community are enormous. He should be praised for that, not beat up. They'll welcome him back at some point in time."

* "Guys are excited about the change, excited about Mike, excited about Beltran, excited about getting Waino back..."

* "I think Yadi's gonna' have a huge presence in the clubhouse this year with taking over a role that he might not be 100% used to but I think he's going to evolve into that leader that we need."

* "Lot of expectations about 'Cy Young Adam Wainwright'...I hope 100% that happens, but everybody has to remember he's coming off major surgery. It's gonna' take some time to get back to his form. I think that he'll be great...just hope that it's also known that it takes time."

* "Limitation level...there is none. His arm's healthy. He'll be fine." (On Waino)

* "I feel good. I started throwing two weeks ago and everything feels good."

* "That's why I train the way I do so I can throw out those innings and be strong. I always start throwing just right after the New Year."

* "My shoulder feels better now than it did last year when I started throwing." (referenced typical 'aches and pains' as the shoulder becomes active again)

* "You media guys are unbelievable...blowing things all out of proportion. My toe is fine...bumped it a little bit." (referring to anaconda story on fishing trip with Doc Halladay...clarrified: "The story is true" but the toe bump and a few details have been exaggerated)

* "Looked over and there was a naked guy sitting in a tree. So we went over and talked to him." (just my favorite part of his fish story :)

* On Dave Duncan: "I've texted him back and forth and I'm gonna' leave him until he's ready to call me. He knows how I feel about his wife and his family. He's a special man and hopefully everything will work out good and we'll see him back in this organization doing something special soon."

* On Duncan: "He has instilled so much in all of us that I'm not sure we'll ever forget. I think it's gonna' be a little transition but I think it's gonna' work out just fine."

* "I know that Mike's gonna' be prepared. I've known Mike before you guys knew Mike. I played with him in Toronto. He's a special man. He's a great leader, positive guy...excited, prepared. Not that you can replace Tony La Russa, but I'm not sure you could pick a better guy to lead this organization. I know he's excited about it. I know the players in the clubhouse are excited about it. I'm looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to seeing his face every day and looking forward to what he's gonna' bring to this team."

* "I'm a respect guy. I respect Mike more than anything in the world just like I respected Tony and Dunc. I respect guys that are my bosses. I do what they tell me...not gonna' question, argue. He's the boss and it's gonna' be fun to have him as my boss...'cause he's a great guy."

More later...night!

- Kevin


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