Tagged: Cardinals
Twitter Talk – Let the Games Begin
Spring Training is a few days old and all those invited to Major League camp have reported. Drills are in full swing and the team has started to take live batting practice. Here’s the weekly Twitter Talk update on word around camp.
Players make sure to have some fun before the season starts. Matt Holliday and Matt Carpenter play a game of ping pong.
#Cardinals new toy, courtesy Holliday and Aminis. Holliday and Carpenter play a game. #stlcards pic.twitter.com/Uty6czEyYe
— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) February 13, 2014
Jason Motte appreciated the support after the Cardinals’ Twitter account posted a picture of his beard.
Was wondering y I had all the mentions out of no where. Thanks for the love #cardinalnation. @Cardinals
— Jason Motte (@JMotte30) February 13, 2014
Outfielder Randal Grichuk enjoyed his first day in Cardinals’ camp.
Good first early workout in Jupiter #Cardinals
— Randal Grichuk (@RGrich15) February 14, 2014
Mike O’Neill tried to get clever on Twitter during Valentine’s Day.
Happy Valentines Day to my Valentine @taylorswift13
— Mike O'Neill (@MikeONeillUSC) February 14, 2014
Infielder Xavier Scruggs enjoys a good tune now and then.
The Radio is on point with the old school Jams this afternoon
— Xavier Scruggs (@Xavier_Scruggs) February 14, 2014
It’s not everyday you refer to a kitchen appliance as “the Bugatti of blenders.”
Enjoying some protein shakes from the Bugatti of blenders with @T_Coons and @LeeStoppelman #Blendtec @Blendtec pic.twitter.com/ADMCKvXhIp
— Zach Petrick (@Zach_Petrick) February 17, 2014
The funny things that happen when pitchers get together.
@JosephKellyJr RT @PDPJ: Funny watching @JMotte30 and Kelly photo bomb the time lapse camera in #stlcards camp today pic.twitter.com/8UnAYmAoIH
— Jason Motte (@JMotte30) February 19, 2014
Even the players keep tabs on when ESPN shows up to camp.
Warming up the set here. @espn @ESPN_BBTN pic.twitter.com/Esm3JIkhtC
— Jordan Swagerty (@JordanSwagerty) February 19, 2014
Prospect Report – Oscar Taveras
“From a running standpoint, we just want to be smart and patient,” St. Louis Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said about OF prospect Oscar Taveras. “We don’t open tomorrow, so there’s no reason to push him as if we were. We have six weeks, and he needs to take advantage of those six weeks. But where he is physically is very encouraging.”
Check out more here
Which Players Are Coming To The Cardinals Caravan?
The St. Louis Cardinals Caravan is making its annual trip to Memphis and visiting AutoZone Park on Sunday, January 20. The event is slated to begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Champions Club on the club level. The program will offer first-come, first-served seating with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free and the event will feature complimentary food and soft drinks.
This year’s attendees include former Redbirds Matt Adams, Sam Freeman, and Brad Thompson. Former Memphis Chick and National League All-Star Ryan Franklin and Cardinals’ 2012 first round pick Michael Wacha will also join the Caravan along with broadcaster Dan McLaughlin. Players will discuss the past and upcoming season during a question and answer session with youth autograph opportunities to follow.
The Cardinals will be implementing a new Autograph Ticket system this year. The first 400 kids (15 and under) through the door on the day of the event will receive a free Autograph Ticket which guarantees one autograph from each current and former player. Autographs will only be available for kids 15 and under.
Adams enters the 2013 season ranked as the Cardinals’ #7 prospect by Baseball America. The 24-year-old batted .329 and belted a team-leading 18 home runs in 67 games at first base for the Redbirds last season while also making his Major League debut for the Cardinals. The Cardinals’ 2011 Minor League Player of the Year batted .244 with a pair of homers and 13 RBIs for St. Louis while filling in for the injured Lance Berkman.
Freeman continued a successful comeback from Tommy John surgery in 2012, logging a 1.89 ERA between Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis before making his Major League debut for the Cardinals in June. The southpaw concluded his breakthrough season by pitching in the prospect-laden Arizona Fall League and being named to the Rising Stars Game.
Franklin spent the final five seasons of his 12-year career with St. Louis and was named to the 2006 National League All-Star squad. Franklin pitched for the Double-A Memphis Chicks in 1997 and currently serves as a special assistant to the GM in the Cardinals baseball operations department.
Thompson, who pitched parts of six seasons with the Redbirds from 2004-09, primarily worked out of the St. Louis bullpen for five seasons and was a member of the 2006 World Series Champion Cardinals.
Wacha enters the 2013 season ranked as the Cardinals’ #6 prospect by Baseball America after being St. Louis’ first round selection (19th overall) in the 2012 draft out of Texas A&M University. The 6-foot-6 right-hander posted a miniscule 0.86 ERA in 11 games across three levels in his first professional season and collected a Texas League Championship ring with the Springfield Cardinals.
Over? It ain’t over ’til we say it is!
Six 2010 Memphis Redbirds join winter league teams
MEMPHIS, TN – Although the Memphis Redbirds have wrapped up their season, baseball is far from gone. The Arizona Fall League and Caribbean League began in mid-October are underway.
Away in Arizona
The Arizona Fall League was founded in 1992 as a way for top minor leaguers to improve their skills and have the chance to perform in front of major and minor league baseball scouts and team executives. The AFL, owned and operated by Major League Baseball, begins in early October and concludes in mid-November. Instead of having a select affiliate for each AFL team, all Major League teams provide seven players who, combined, fill the 35-man roster of each team.
This year, both Adron Chambers and Tony Cruz were the sole Memphis Redbirds selected to participate in the AFL. While Chambers had the chance to make a bit of noise with the ‘Birds, Cruz only appeared in four regular season games at the Triple-A level. Although he was relied upon during the Pacific Coast League play-offs, it wasn’t until this past week when he caught some well deserved attention playing for the Surprise Rafters.
As of October 27th, Adron Chambers has gone 7-for-24 (.292 average) with four RBI, two walks and four strikeouts. Known for his speed, he has also collected a double and two stolen bases. Tony Cruz has compiled a .235 average (8Hx34AB) with three walks,eight strikeouts and five runs scored. Cruz’s career day came during the October 20th game against the Peoria Saguaros where he went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI; it was the first time the Florida native had ever hit consecutive homers during a game. His 10 RBI rank second-highest amongst the Cardinals’ prospects playing winter ball.
Cruisin’ the Caribbean
The Caribbean League is made up of four nations, the Dominican Winter League, Mexican Pacific League, Puerto Rico Baseball League and the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. It was the idea of Venezuelan Pablo Morales to create such a league that was established in 1949. Each league’s season runs from October to December with a playoff series in January to determine league champions who go on to play in the Caribbean Series each year.
Currently, the Memphis Redbirds have four players from the 2010 roster partaking in the Caribbean League. Amaury Cazana is playing for the Tomateros de Culiacan which is part of the Mexican Pacific League. He has flourished during winter ball, appearing in 12 games while hitting .333 (16Hx48AB) with seven extra-base hits, eight runs scored and 13 RBI. Ruben Gotay joined the Puerto Rico Baseball League last week, playing for the Gigantes de Carolina. Going 2-for-13 in his four games, he has collected four walks and four strikeouts for a .507 on-base percentage. Oneli Perez is a reliever in the Dominican Winter League, pitching only one inning thus far as part of the Tigres del Licey with one walk. Rich Rundles joined the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League to play for the Tigres de Aragua. He has successfully fanned eight batters, issuing only one walk and three hits in six games to pitch 5.2 scoreless innings collectively.
For more information on past, current and future Redbirds, check out the Chirp Chatter blog, our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter!
Social Butterfly
With Halloween just three days away help us reach our “FOLLOW-EEN” goal of 4,000+ followers on Twitter and 2,000+ ‘likes’ on facebook before the ghoulish holiday hits! The Memphis Redbirds also have other Halloween fun to be had, with our pumpkin carving designs and costume contest. Send pictures of your pumpkin carving masterpieces to jordan.johnson@memphisredbirds.com to be featured on our blog and post your creative costumes to our facebook page for a chance to win a prize!
Player Spotlight: Relief Pitcher, Josh Kinney
Josh Kinney has had a great season as a Memphis Redbird this year. With 10 saves, three wins and four losses on the season, Kinney has been one of our most relied upon relievers appearing in 48 games.
He was the first Cardinals farmhand from the Springfield (MO) Double-A affiliate to reach the Major Leagues. While with St. Louis in 2006, Kinney played in 21 games giving up nine runs on 17 hits with eight walks and 22 strikeouts. His ERA was 3.24 in 25.0 innings pitched. He also made two appearances in the playoffs that year.
After his spectacular season with the Cards, Kinney missed all of 2007 to undergo “Tommy John” surgery on his right elbow then fractured his arm during rehabilitation.
Making a comeback in 2008, he rehabbed with Double-A Springfield in late September and made his way back to the St. Louis roster where he closed out the season. He began 2009 with the Cardinals before being optioned down to the Memphis Redbirds where he spent most of the year. Kinney still appeared in 17 games as a Cardinal, being recalled twice.
Full Name: Joshua Thomas Kinney
Nicknames: My buddies back home call me ‘the Movie Star’
Hometown: Port Allegany, PA
Favorite baseball player of all time: I don’t really have one…I always liked Bob Gibson, I thought what he did was awesome so if I was going to pick one it would probably be him.
What is your best moment on the diamond? Winning the World Series in 2006
What team did you watch growing up? The St. Louis Cardinals
If you weren’t in baseball, what would you be doing? I’d probably be doing something involved in the outdoors. I spend a lot of time hunting and fishing and I like to get into outdoors television of some sort.
Most embarrassing moment while playing baseball: Knock on wood, I haven’t really had any yet but…to be continued.
Favorite play in a baseball game: In 2006, it was game two of the National League Championship Series against the Mets in the eighth inning, tie game. I think I had bases loaded with one out facing (Carlos) Beltran who’s a Cardinal Killer. I got him to hit into a double play to end the inning, we went onto win and I got the win.
Best prank pulled that you’ve seen or been a part of while in pro ball? I always like the ‘jump out of a locker at somebody.’ You hide in someone’s locker and scare them- we just did it the other day here for the first time to Lance Lynn. The funny part about it is he’s the only person I’ve ever seen not really jump.
What is your favorite off-day activity? My wife and I own a farm back in Springfield, MO and on off-days I usually go home and work on the farm. Just spend time with my wife outside.
What is the most difficult part about playing professional baseball? Being away. No matter where you’re at, in the minor leagues or major leagues, you’re still away from your family.
Where do you see yourself in 25 years? Hopefully I’ve got a whole house full of kids, doing something else I love to do, and my family is healthy and I just hope I have a really big family.
If you were on a reality TV show, which one would it be and why? Oh, that’s a no-brainer. I’d go on the Drury Outdoors: Dream Season.
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? A baseball player and maybe a professional hunter.
Favorite food: Steak. Deer steak. Deer, Elk or even Moose. Bear is pretty good too.
Favorite movie: Jeremiah Johnson
Song that gets you pumped up: “On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson
Favorite TV Show: Grey’s Anatomy
Newest Hobby: I’m always outside- I don’t feel right sitting inside watching television but during baseball season there’s only so much you can do! So, I started watching TV shows. My roommate (Matt Scherer) keeps me updated on all the drama and we stay up and have ice cream and watching television.
I’m afraid of…Snakes…and spiders aren’t really a friend of mine either.
Tell us one thing about you the fans don’t already know: I can whistle like any bird and I’m as normal as you can get.
Who is your greatest influence? My dad
Do you have any autographs? Not really, I’ve gotten a few but I give them away to family and friends. I like to give that kind of gift away.
What do you like best about the city of Memphis? The food. They have really good food here.
Any broken bone stories? Yea, I broke my elbow pitching. It was after I had Tommy John surgery and I was rehabbing from that. I made a throw and I cracked my funny bone- it sounded like a carrot snapping in half. Now I have an inch screw holding my bone on, they screwed it back onto my arm and…I’m actually lucky to even be playing again.
Describe yourself in five words or less: Boring and simple.
Three things you can’t live without: Air, food and water.
Lightning Round Responses
Dogs or Cats
Summer or Winter
Fruits or Vegetables (He chose steak)
Movies or Books
Offense or Defense
Ketchup or Mustard
Sunflower Seeds or Bubble Gum (Neither)
Have the ability to fly or read people’s minds
Know it all or have it all
Be able to stop time while you slept or never have to do laundry
Hit a grand slam or turn a triple play to win a game
That’s all for Josh Kinney!
Jordan. Out. 🙂
Player Spotlight: Outfielder, Jon Jay
Although Jon Jay is currently playing for the Cardinals, and very well I might add, before he left I
had the opportunity to pick his brain and get some insight on who he is as a person, not just as a baseball player.
But before we get to the question and answer part, I’d like to take some time to show you how well Mr. Jay has been doing while with the Cardinals, just in case you haven’t been paying attention as close as you should be.
His last seven games:
|
DATE |
OPP |
AVG |
AB |
R |
H |
2B |
3B |
HR |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
|
7/3 |
MIL |
.318 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
7/4 |
MIL |
.319 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
7/6 |
COL |
.327 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
7/7 |
COL |
.352 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
7/8 |
COL |
.368 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
7/9 |
HOU |
.377 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
7/10 |
HOU |
.385 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
His totals after all 33 games:
|
G |
AVG |
AB |
R |
H |
2B |
3B |
HR |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
SB |
CS |
|
|
33 |
.385 |
65 |
11 |
25 |
6 |
0 |
3 |
9 |
2 |
12 |
0 |
1 |
And his first Major League hit on 4/30/10 against Cincinnati:
And his first Major League start as right fielder 5/16 against the Reds
Keep it up Jay!
And now for why I wrote this blog in the first place…the interview!
Full Name: Jonathan Henry Jay
Nicknames: Jay and The Bomb
Favorite baseball player of all time: Ken Griffey Jr.
Team you watched growing up: Atlanta Braves
If you weren’t in baseball, what would you be doing? I’d be a businessman.
Where do you see yourself in 25 years? Hopefully I can have a good baseball career and do community work around where I’m living.
Newest Hobby: Dominating World Cup FIFA 
Best prank pulled that you’ve seen or been a part of while in pro ball? In ’06 when we (Quad Cities) won the championship, a guy put on Clyde the Drexler mascot head and ran around the locker room.
Favorite movie: Bad Boys II 
Greatest memory since playing baseball: All the years of hard work, to make my major league debut this year and the relationships I’ve created.
Who is your greatest influence? My mom
Song that gets you pumped up: Anything Jay-Z song
Most embarrassing moment while playing baseball: Dropped a fly ball to lose a game in college against the Florida Gators.
Describe yourself in five words or less: Fun, easy-going and simple
If you were a drink, what kind of drink would you be? Pina Colada because it’s ‘daytime fun’.
Favorite play in a baseball game: Robbing hits from guys in the outfield
Any broken bone stories? No, thank God. Knock on wood.
If you were a kid would you rather be the one in Rookie of the Year, Angels in the Outfield or Little Big League? Rookie of the Year, definitely.
Three things you can’t live without: My phone, any type of ball (basketball, baseball, soccer ball) and my family.
Lightning Round Responses
Dogs or Cats
Summer or Winter
Fruits or Vegetables
Movies or Books
Offense or Defense
Ketchup or Mustard
Have the ability to fly or read people’s minds
Be able to stop time while you slept or never have to do laundry
And that’s a wrap on Jon Jay. We wish him the best in St. Louis!
Player Spotlight: Outfielder, Joe Mather
Full name: Joseph Paul Mather
Nicknames: Joey Bombs, Jumper, Joe Joe
Favorite Color: Right now it’s royal blue.
So it changes? How often does it change? If I see a color that I really start liking, I’ll just change it.
Favorite baseball player of all time: Trot Nixon
What team did you watch growing up? The Red Sox
If you weren’t in baseball, what would you be doing? Hopefully I’d be traveling around. If I had to have a job, I’d like to try and play tennis.
Where do you see yourself in 25 years? On a lake somewhere with my family watching my kids grow up.
Do you have any rituals? Drink a cup of coffee, hot tub, stretch and then pre-game high-fives.
Newest Hobby: FIFA 2010 Soccer for Play Station
Best prank pulled that you’ve seen or been a part of while in pro ball? I saw a cop come into the clubhouse and fake arrest a guy for being out after curfew.
Favorite movie: Hot Rod 
Favorite movie quote: “Life is short- stunt it.” ~ Rod Kimble from Hot Rod
Greatest memory since playing baseball: There’s so many…probably getting called up to St. Louis for the first time.
Who is your greatest influence? My parents
Song that gets you pumped up: “Forever” by Drake and “Drop the World” by Eminem
Most embarrassing moment while playing baseball: Running all the way back into the dugout with only two outs.
Describe yourself in five words or less: Goofy (just a little bit), fun-loving and super rad
Can I have five dollars? Sure. 
If you were a drink, what kind of drink would you be? Water because I love it. That’s pretty much all I drink, it’s good for you and…I like to be good for people?
Favorite play in a baseball game: Home run, it’s got to be a home run.
Any broken bone stories? Yes, I broke my hand. I broke it in Phoenix, we were playing the Diamondbacks and I was facing Randy Johnson and I swung and broke that bone. I ended up
striking out after that.
If you were a kid would you rather be the one in Rookie of the Year, Angels in the Outfield or Little Big League? Rookie of the Year
Three things you can’t live without: Pizza, Nerf basketball hoop and my iphone
Three people you can’t live without: My mom, my dad and Andy Sandberg
Lightning Round Responses
Dogs or Cats
Summer or Winter
Fruits or Vegetables
Offense or Defense
Movies or Books (although books are usually better)
Ketchup or Mustard
Cold or Hot
Have the ability to fly or read people’s minds
Be able to stop time while you slept or never having to do laundry again
Joe Mather, everybody.
Jordan. Out.
Surprise!!! More Baseball
The Arizona Fall League starts today out in the dessert and several other Winter Leagues are already underway. The Arizona Fall League is probably the most glamorous of all the Winter Leagues due to the fact it is normally a who’s-who of top prospects from all 30 MLB teams. Let’s just run down the list of who will be in Arizona for a few extra weeks of fun in the sun. Well the top two picks from this summer’s draft will be there with Stephen Strasburg (Washington Nationals) bringing his millions of dollars and 100-MPH fastball. No. 2 pick Dustin Ackley will be there representing the Seattle Mariners. Including Strasburg and Ackley, five of the first 10 picks from last summer’s draft are scheduled to be in Arizona. The Giants uber-catching prospect Buster Posey will be there. The Marlins are sending Andrew Miller in hopes of getting the big lefty back on track. The Kansas City Royals top prospect Mike Moustakas will play third for the Surprise Rafters. Former Ole Miss Rebel and Collierville, TN-native Zach Cozart will represent Cincinnati. And all those guys are just a few of the best, future big leaguers.
So if this the best-of-the-best prospects league, who are the Cardinals sending? Since the Cardinals traded four of their Top 10 prospects from last year fans will definitely see some new, yet familiar faces wearing the Birds on the Bat while playing for the Surprise Rafters this fall. The players the Cards have slated on the Rafters Opening Day Roster are below along with their position and the highest level they reached in 2009.
- Gary Daley – RHP – Double-A Springfield – Daley pitched in just nine games, all in relief, for the S-Cards this past season going 0-2 with a 4.76 ERA. The right-hander didn’t make his debut until August 19 for Springfield after starting the year with Single-A Quad Cities, where he went 4-3 with a 6.93 ERA in 32 games, 10 starts. Daley was the Cardinals third round pick out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2006.
- Scott Gorgen – RHP – Double-A Springfield – Gorgen reached Double-A in just his first full year of pro ball after being a fourth round pick out of California-Irvine in 2008. The right-hander went 4-5 with a 5.20 ERA in 11 starts for the S-Cardinals after posting a 3-5 record with a 2.93 ERA in 14 games, 13 starts, for Single-A Palm Beach. Gorgen’s twin brother was a 16th
round pick of the Rays last year.
- Mike Parisi – RHP – Single-A Palm Beach – Former Redbird Mike Parisi will be one of very few guys in the Fall League with MLB experience. Parisi pitched in 12 games, two starts, for St. Louis in 2008 before blowing out his elbow in a game with Memphis at Sacramento in early August. The right-hander missed almost all of 2009 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
- Adam Reifer – RHP – Single-A Palm Beach – Reifer racked up 21 saves in 54 games for the Cardinals this past summer going 4-7 with a 4.47 ERA along the way. In his first full year of pro baseball Reifer followed up a stellar 2008 when he was tabbed the third-best prospect and best pitching prospect in the New York-Penn League after punching out 41 batters in 30.1 innings.
- Bryan Anderson – C – Triple-A Memphis – Anderson is another former Redbird scheduled to get some extra at-bats in the Fall League after missing significant time due to an injury. Anderson was the ‘Birds starting catcher before going down with a shoulder injury sustained in a collision at the plate in late June. The California-native is still considered one of the Cardinals best prospects but needs to use the Fall League to vault into 2010.
- Daniel Descalso – 2B – Triple-A Memphis – The Arizona Fall League will be the icing on the cake to an amazing 2009 campaign for Descalso. After crushing the Texas League for a .323 average and 26 doubles in 73 games, Descalso was promoted to Memphis for 46 games before joining Team USA for their gold medal run in the World Cup. He’ll share the Rafters infield with Team USA teammate Ike Davis from the New York Mets organization.
- Tyler Henley – OF – Double-A Springfield – Henley just wrapped up the best season of his young career leading Springfield with a .303 average and 31 doubles in a career-best 123 games. The former Rice star hadn’t even played in 123 games in his two previous years as a pro until this past summer. Henley is on the taxi squad for the Rafters, which means he is only active on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
- Daryl Jones – OF – Double-A Springfield – Jones has been one of the Cardinals top prospects since he was drafted in the third round out of high school in 2005. However, since then his career has been up-and-down until 2008 when he was named the Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year. Jones will be making up some at-bats this fall as well after missing a lot of time in the second half of the season with a leg injury.
Other former Redbirds playing ball this fall are Jon Jay, who is hitting .400 in four games for Leones del Caracas in the Venezuelan Winter League, and Fernando Salas, who has turned in 1.1 scoreless innings for Naranjeros de Hermosillo in the Mexican Pacific League. Naranjero translates to orange seller in case you were wondering. Follow us on twitter (@memphisredbirds) and check back here for updates on our Boys of Fall. You can also follow the Arizona Fall League games pitch-by-pitch over on MiLB.com. Games start at 1:35 p.m. CT so if you’re bored at work or like us and get to say it’s part of your job check it out.
We took an in-office poll, and last weekend was voted as pretty great.
Last weekend’s exhibition games against the St. Louis Cardinals was significant in that it issued in the Redbirds first taste of baseball in AutoZone Park of 2009, but it was special for other reasons as well. Primarily, it introduced two vulnerable, naive youths named Ben and Alex to the tumultuous, tenacious world of professional baseball.
We did manage to have some fairly great experiences. In a weekend certainly filled with more highs than lows, the two of us are pleased to announce some of our personal highlights and not-so-highlights of the weekend.
Ben
The Best:
1. Getting quotes in the Cardinals clubhouse – My first brush with a major league clubhouse was an absolutely surreal mix of stonewashed denim, tattoos and Rambo. Everyone was extremely personable and answered questions, which was great for a guy who was unbelievably nervous about the whole thing. Awesome.
2. Albert Pujols’ monster performance over the weekend – On Friday night alone, he posted a 3-for-5 outing with a homer and six RBI. He definitely put on the performance everyone wanted to see over the weekend. Super awesome.
3. Jose Oquendo – The Cardinals third-base coach and all-around legend decided to get in an at-bat in Saturday’s exhibition game, earning the walk and eventually making it all the way to third base. Baseball dreams do come true. Undeniably awesome.
Not the best:
Tripping in the Redbirds radio booth – It’s hard to make friends with broadcasters when you misjudge steps and form-tackle trash cans live on-air. I can only assume the sound of clanging aluminum raises more questions than answers from the listeners’ perspective. Embarrassingly awesome.
Alex
The Best:
1. The Cardinals Clubhouse – Finally getting experience interviewing professional athletes. Who better to break me in than Tony La Russa? I was fortunate enough to be in there with a few other interviewers, who knew what they were doing. Pretty cool.
2. Getting stared down by Albert Pujols – I enjoy taking photos and I was granted access to the field during warm-ups. I was really close to Albert Pujols and started taking some photos. A few pictures in he turned his head and stared me down. It was evident he wasn’t going to back down so I turned and took pictures of the player he was throwing to. Really just being able to take photos on the field was a privilege.
3. Action in Press Box – I was finally able to see how it all works. From the FOX Sports truck to the delicious buffet, there were a lot of people running around and getting everything in order, including myself. There was a buzz in the air. I think everyone was ready for professional baseball in the AZP.
The Worst:
Yellow – I never thought I’d be saying this about my favorite color, but wearing a pale yellow game day polo in a Cardinal-red dominated clubhouse certainly didn’t help me blend in. And for a rookie interviewer unsure who to interview, I have trouble believing that I didn’t stick out like a sore thumb. Still, the experience will not forget.
This weekend was unquestionably phenomenal, but it’s only the tip of a giant, diamond-shaped iceberg. The Redbirds officially kick off their season Thursday, April 9, when they take on the Oklahoma City RedHawks, so expect the good times to keep rolling all summer long. All-in-all, we’re pretty pumped about some catching some Redbirds baseball this year.
Gregerson sent to the Padres
Bust out the sunscreen, Luke Gregerson, you’re going to sunny San Diego. And just in time for Spring Break, too!
As part of their trade for shortstop Khalil Greene, St. Louis sent the right-handed pitcher to the Padres on Monday. Gregerson was selected as the player-to-be-named in the December 4, 2008 deal, which initally sent right-handed pitcher Mark Worrell to San Diego. The Cardinals 2006 draft pick posted a 7-6 record with 10 saves and 3.35 ERA in 57 relief appearances for Double-A Springfield in 2008.
Chirp Chatter 