Recently in United Cardinal Bloggers Category

United Cardinal Bloggers Release "Happy Flight"

You've probably heard me talk time and time again about the postseason publication the UCB was working on.  Now, we've finally got it out and ready to be downloaded.  Let me tell you, even before you get to the quality writing, you'll be impressed by the photography of Erika and the design of Jon.  Then you get to the writing of all the bloggers that you have come to know and love, 15 different ones in fact.  Put that with the fact that it's a free download and, well, why are you still here?

Cards Continue To Avoid Arbitration

Yesterday, the Cardinals settled their last remaining arbitration case, signing Jason Motte to a one-year, $1.95 million contract.  That figure represented the midpoint between what the club had offered and what Motte had filed for in arbitration.

Related articles

• Jason Motte Returns to the Cardinals (mcbrayer-baseball.blogspot.com)
• Motte Avoids Arb (elmaquino5.wordpress.com)
• Cards Avoid Arbitration With McClellan (i70baseball.com)
• Quick Hits: Fielder, Motte, and A New Series? (2birds1bat.wordpress.com)
• The Cardinals and Jason Motte talk arbitration buyouts; Prince Fielder talks to himself (vivaelbirdos.com)
• Club confirms Motte agreement (yourenotagolfer.mlblogs.com)
• The Closer Gets A Deal (aeryssports.com)
• How Mlb Arbitration Works (elmaquino5.wordpress.com)

Another Farewell

I've written too many of these recently.

Carlos Beltran Bits from WWU...

A few quick bits from Carlos Beltran in media scrum at Winter Warm-Up:

* He will wear number 3 for the Cardinals. Says family wishes factored into decision.

* Carlos says, "Lance called me...recruited me. I also talked to Holliday. It's gonna' be fun to play with good ballplayers."

* Carlos indicated he said (while with Mets), "Let's turn the page and let Pagan play center field and let me play right field."

* Carlos said, "Right field is easy for me." He then later smiled and said, "If I knew it was going to be that easy, I would have made the switch a long time ago."

* Beltran said, "Last year, the games I missed weren't because of the my knee...it was because of an injury to my wrist. My knee felt great."

* Beltran said, "Pujols is a hole maybe no one can fill...but with myself, Berkman, and Holliday, those are three guys who can produce in the middle of the order."

* Beltran said, "New York is a city, it's not for everyone...to play there, you have to be strong mentally."

* On his decision to come to St. Louis: "The decision was based on being on a team to give me the opportunity to play in the playoffs."

* The list of teams Carlos says were in on him: Cleveland, Tampa Bay, San Francisco, and, of course, St. Louis.

* Beltran said another team was in it with a 3 year deal for less money (he did not specify the team), but "At the end of the day, I came here because I felt it was a good fit for him."

- Kevin

David Freese says 2012 will be different for him...

Last year David Freese saw his season start with various levels of concern focused on his surgically repaired ankles. As a result, he saw the number of games he was scheduled to play limited from day one. Add to that the break-out play of reliable, gold-glove finalist Daniel Descalso, and Freese saw multiple interruptions in playing time. Some days it was just a day off, other days it was getting an inning or two of rest as Descalso finished the game at third.

This year, however, Freese says he and Matheny have talked, and things seem to be looking up.

"I think 2012 is going to be different," said Freese. "I think it's just going to be, 'Hey, Dave...just go play.'"

During the rest of his time with the media, David touched on several points, not the least of which was his ability to relax this season and just play the game. Fully recovered from both ankle surgeries and a broken hand, he's looking forward to handling as many games as possible at third base for the Cardinals in 2012.

"I would like to handle 162, but I'm not going to throw a number out there...I'm not nervous [about it], and that's a good thing."

- Kevin

Matheny views Cards as a "well-rounded" / "pitching club"...

After taking what has been a decidedly offensive club the last several years under Tony La Russa - at times, at the expense of specific defensive sacrifices - it's natural to assume a 4-time gold glove winner behind the plate will begin to pull the team a bit closer to center.

But when asked to characterize the identity of his 2012 team and beyond, Matheny declined to pigeon hole a club he hasn't even put through Spring Training yet. He did, however, have some insight as to what is there work with.

"You look at what we have right now," said Matheny, "We have a team that has respect for how they can drive the ball, how they can hit the gaps...but i believe we're also a well-rounded club."

Citing players such as Furcal and Tyler Greene, the manager stated his belief that this team has intangibles such as grit as well as more measurable traits such as speed. Ultimately, though, Matheny couldn't help but at least somewhat define the club's personality.

"I believe we're a pitching club. You look at the five starters we have and bringing back Adam...that amounts to a very strong rotation and a young bullpen that opened everybody's eyes."

The managers favorite theme to "pound into the ground," however, is admittedly his desire to work with what he's given by the front office and insist that it's "quite a bit."

"You take all that and there's really not one characteristic that you hang your hat on."

Just a bit more...

Earlier in the conversation, Matheny gave a bit of insight into his scheduled Spring Training work.

"We're gonna' be hitting base-running hard again," the new manager said. "Even some of the players said they'd like to have a little bit of focus on breaking some things down (regarding base-running)."

Matheny indicated Aldrete and Oquendo will be key coaches involved in base-running improvements as well as several "guest instructors" and "guys from the past" that may not have been able to fully fill that role in previous Spring Trainings.

Winter Warm-Up coverage continues throughout the day...

- Kevin

Allen Craig's knee may have influenced last out of WS...

Allen Craig met with the media briefly this morning before his signing session. He indicated that although he has started working out, he's not getting ahead of himself.

"I'm not running yet," he said. "That wasn't part of the plan at this point. I'm walking around great and doing light strengthening exercises. It feels really good. I feel like I'm on track if not a little bit ahead."

A lot has been discussed about Craig's knee since he played through pain in the postseason of 2011, making more than one significant play in the outfield that included catching the final out of the Series. When asked about that play at the BBWAA dinner on Sunday night, Craig again mentioned turning the wrong way on the ball before turning and making an adjustment to get back on the ball.

"I don't really know why I did that," Craig said about initially turning the wrong direction. But Monday's Winter Warm-Up scrum may have offered a possible explanation.

When asked about any discussions during the Series centering on Craig's knee and his ability to make potential plays in the outfield, Craig offered the following:

"Nothing specific but maybe subconsciously that's why I turned the wrong way (on the final play)...I don't know."

The statement brings back memories for Cardinal fans of David Freese's triple over Cruz's head in Game 6 to tie the game. It's possible the Cardinals came much closer to a similar fate than they would like to admit. With the World Series already infamous for it's quirks and mishaps as much as it's drama and comebacks, a misplayed potential out to end the Series in Game 7 would surprise no one.

Fortunately, Craig was able to adjust on the fly...and the rest is history.

- Kevin

John Mozeliak: Man of the People

One would think a man who manages a $110 million payroll and just won perhaps the most improbable World Series Championship in history would be a bit cold...calculating...cautious.

Not so with John Mozeliak.

The man recently named "Executive of the Year" by MLB.com is anything but distant and suspicious. Recently appearing before a gathering of fans at the 2012 Winter Warm-Up in St. Louis, the GM (known as "Mo" to most) seemed relaxed...calm...open.

One would hardly guess that little more than a month ago, he slipped out a side door of his Winter Meetings hotel, boarded a plane, and attempted to gather his thoughts after presiding over the departure of this generation's greatest hitter...beloved Cardinal, Albert Pujols.

Given a moment to reflect on the outcome of negotiations he called "exhausting and frustrating" in the media room, Mo briefly described his emotional state.

"[I] was down," said Mozeliak. "I mean frankly, I was
like you get vested in a negotiation and one that was as exhausting as this one
was...it was very emotional. At that point it was more about taking a quick time
out...trying to asses our situation as best we could and prepare. Fortunately I
was able to hop on a plane and gather my thoughts before we addressed the media. And I do think that was beneficial."

The personable GM has demonstrated an openness with fans and others before. Previously engaging in now-infamous chats with Cardinal fans on StlToday.com, Mozeliak was candid, honest...and even a bit playful with questions and comments that were less than pleasant in their presentation. Some would say the chats ceased because John was too candid and too willing to engage fans in what he perceived as a simple exchange of wise-cracks and friendly jabs.

And again, just last season, during the United Cardinal Bloggers Day at Busch Stadium, Mozeliak engaged bloggers (better known as "super fans with a voice") in a thirty minute question and answer session before the game. He fielded questions about Theriot and the pending Pujols contract negotiations, chatting with fans in an informal setting that had the feel of a fireside chat rather than a press conference. Upon leaving, Mo noticed a baby in a stroller near the door, touched her head, smiled, and said, "Gotta' kiss the baby."

Hardly the face of a stone-cold negotiator.

Flash forward the length of a season. The Cardinals are World Champions - largely due to the daring trades the GM was able to construct mid-season - Albert and Tony are gone, and Mozeliak walks down the hall and enters the media room, pausing briefly along the way to lean in and discuss things intimately with familiar faces. He does that when he speaks with people. He gets in close, breaking the "personal bubble" barrier to establish a cordial conversation rather than a distant discussion.

Then he stands at the podium, facing down scribes and TV personalities in an aptly-named media "scrum." He's in control, launching into a casual "state of the organization" speech before the first question is asked - pausing once to accommodate a late arrival ("Are you ready? Ok...I'll start over.") - asking, "Now, who is Leach's replacement?", shaking hands with the new scribe ("Oh...welcome!"), and settling in for yet another fireside chat.

For the most part, he meets each question with a well-worded, professional response...but every so often, the temptation to break out "playful Mo" is too much to control.

"Oh...ya' think so?" he answers sarcastically, a response to a comment stating the bench is undergoing some fine-tuning. He gets a chuckle and continues.

A few moments later, well after the Albert Pujols line of questioning has ended, I frame my question with, "Mo, I hate to bring you back to this..."

Mo: "Then don't," with a bit of mock why-would-you-do-that-to-me tone.

Me: "Uh...what was that?" temporarily thrown off by the unexpected teasing. He said it again. I chuckled and said, "But I have to..."

Mo: "Oh...well, ok," with feigned resignation.

Later, when it was just Mo and myself at the entrance to a separate media room, he asked for my name. I gave it, quickly explaining I was a blogger here with a group of bloggers invited by the Cardinals to cover the Winter Warm-Up. "Oh, great," he said sincerely, and then answered my question.

As he walked away, he offered a parting apology.

"Sorry about giving you a hard time earlier," he said. "I'm just a wise-[rear] by nature. It's what I do."

I quickly said, "Oh, no...that was fine. I didn't mind at all."

And then I turned to a fellow blogger and said, "What's he talking about? I loved that!"

A Bit More...

* That question I asked Mo was in regards to accolades such as Organization of the Year, etc. "Organization of the Year is great because it recognizes what we've done top to bottom in the organization."

* Mo expanded on various things that have been reported elsewhere: K-Mac very likely to be with the club in the future (rumors of shopping pitchers simply because team has so much depth), Tyler Greene going to be given every opportunity to play at 2B and get ABs, and Albert Pujols negotiation results put no pressure on anyone with regards to the Yadi contract talks in the future.

* Mo said, "I don't think Yadi loves the autograph process." Says he spoke with Yadi's agent and expects Yadi to make a donation to cover the loss of charitable income from his absence.

- Kevin

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

Ryan Jackson and Ozzie Smith...?

The St. Louis Cardinals have recently found success in drafting or trading for prospects and eventually turning them into Big League success stories. Albert Pujols. Yadier Molina. Adam Wainwright. Jaime Garcia. David Freese. Allen Craig. The list continues to grow, as does the Cardinals gradually improving farm system. It's seen catchers and pitchers, first baseman and second baseman, third baseman and closers, and a bevy of outfielders graduate from "Cardinals U" and go on to bigger and better things with the Redbirds.

But one thing that much-improved farm system has yet to produce is a viable shortstop.

For a while, many thought Brendan Ryan might be the answer. The enigmatic glove man was a defensive "wiz" - if not a full-fledged wizard - but his erratic nature and spotty bat eventually bought him a one-way ticket to Seattle. The Cardinals replaced him by signing the defensively challenged Ryan Theriot. They replaced Theriot mid-season with late acquisition, Rafael Furcal. After signing a 2-year free agent contract this offseason, Furcal brings temporary continuity to an ever-shifting position and projects as the Cardinals much-needed lead-off man.

But what about 2014? How will the Cardinals bring stability to a position that has proven nigh impossible to develop within their own system? Are the Cardinals simply destined to wallow in mediocrity at a key middle infield position? Will Cardinals fans be forced to endure a carousel of oft-injured, free agent shortstops well past their prime?

Not so fast. The answer to the Cardinal Conundrum may be closer than one would think.

In 2011, the Springfield Cardinals - Double A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals - saw one player have an eye-opening year at the plate. Hitting .278 with a .334 OBP and .415 Slugging Percentage, the rising star complemented his season by knocking 11 home runs and 73 RBIs in 533 ABs. The young player's name...Ryan Jackson. His position...

Shortstop.

Saturday morning, Jackson took the podium in the Winter Warm-Up media room and attempted to explain his sudden offensive proficiency.

"The Cardinals have a great player development program," said Jackson, "Since day one, I've been just learning so much from every coach that I've worked with...I think it's just been building up, all the information that I've taken in, and I've been applying it to myself and just continuing to work and get better."

But why now? What change in Springfield led to greater consistency and promising production in 2011?

"I'd say I was able to find and focus on an approach that works for me," Jackson explained. "I think for a young hitter, you kind of don't know what works for you until you start doing it and get a lot of at-bats."

Whatever the change, it seems to be working. For the first time in recent memory, the Cardinals have a SS in their system worth noticing. The buzz created by Jackson's offensive campaign in Springfield has more than a few fans talking...and coaches. And it seems Jackson is listening.

"You know, Springfield was a big year for me...a good year," he said, pausing briefly to reflect before continuing. "That's where I first heard some feedback from people, and I thought, 'hey, I might be able to do something here.'"

Usually, the kind of long-term need associated with the Cardinals shortstop problem, combined with the kind of promising year Jackson put together, results in more than just feedback...it brings expectations...and comparisons. But Jackson swears he's heard none of it...well...not really, anyway.

"You know, I haven't heard anything specific. People will talk like, 'You know, we haven't really had anyone to talk about here since Ozzie..." (picture a sudden widening of the eyes, two hands up as if fending off some infectious disease) "...and I think, 'Wow!' I mean, I'm not trying to be Ozzie...he was great...but just that people think of his name when they're talking about me..."

He didn't have to finish his sentence. The sentiment was apparent.

Of course, the comparison to Ozzie is an odd one to apply in Jackson's case. The young infielder is, so far, no defensive gem. Committing 19 errors in just 135 games, he's no Wizard. In fact, the Arizona Fall League has apparently been used to try him at various positions around the diamond - shortstop, third base, second base...

"I got to play first base for the first time since T-Ball," said Jackson. "So that was cool."

Of course, the musical positions approach is by no means intended to abandon his development at shortstop. Jackson himself seems to be taking it in stride and placing his focus, instead, on simply becoming a "complete player."

"In baseball, if you think you know it all, it's going to hit you. So I try to learn everyday and try to get better."

Fortunately for Jackson, he has time to get better. With Furcal entrenched for the next two seasons, there's no rush to push a young shortstop fresh off a season at AA...but don't be surprised to see him turning heads in AAA sooner rather than later. And once that happens...his cup of coffee in The Show may be as close as a simple September call-up and a flight to St. Louis.

A Bit More...

* Jackson did well at the podium, dropping the occasional sound-bytes that have become common among Cardinal prospects, but you could tell he was just a bit frazzled. He seemed genuine, though, and a truly likeable guy. He also quickly granted my request for a brief one-on-one (which is where the Ozzie mention came from).

* During his media time, he made his like of Nick Punto very clear (apparently Punto was more than willing to work with the young infielder): "Punto's Awesome! I can't say enough about Punto. He's a great guy, great teammate...would love to play with him one day."

* The Cardinals seem fond of packaging their young prospects together in groups for media time. I'm sure this is largely due to efficiency and the significance of the players' profile being so different from, say, a Chris Carpenter...but I couldn't help but wonder if it was also a way to offer a bit of protection and comfort for young guys just learning how to deal with major media scrums. Jackson was paired with Jordan Swagerty, and earlier, Lance Lynn, Matt Carpenter, and Tyler Greene appeared as a Memphis trio (of which Lynn seemed to take the role of elder statesman). If I remember correctly, only Zack Cox was left alone...but Tony Cruz was noticeably absent.

- Kevin