Recap disclaimer – this may be more a random observations list than a specific blow-by-blow of the game. Spring training results are unimportant, right? It’s the process, after all.
Pre-Game Notes
From my wanderings around the back fields. And introductory tour of the media service room, et. al., as I picked up my press pass.
- Pitching plan – Liberatore starts today, to be followed by Shuster, Romero, Raquet, Romero
- I note that Dobbins is out of the rehab group and in with a pitching group now. Suspecting he has gotten full clearance then?
- Herrera at DH, Sags in LF today
- Bit of a local connection to this game … a kid from my neighborhood, Kellen Strahm, is starting RFer for the Astros. Total trivia … he was the QB for Sheldon High School (we put 5 kids through there) just before … Justin Herbert (you may have heard of him), another neighborhood kid. Kellen made a couple nice catches out there.
Pre-game w/ Oli
- On camera
- Sags – will get some time in left and center.
- Walker – sees/hears more productive and mature communications, positive on his direction
- Spring culture … overall this is a more connected group, many in the same boat and will play together for a while
- Off camera – way more informal
- Talked super utility role – Zobrist/Figgins/et.al., personality, staying and being ready for multiple positions, more intentional about fitting this role now than before. Once a guy realizes he is not going to be that everyday guy at a single spot, then the drive to stay drives a guy to adapt
- Update on Herrera throwing … throwing to all bases. Good carry on his throws. Getting better. Hope to DH today, catch on Sunday.
- Discussed six-man rotation logistics through spring. Will need backfield games to do this.
- Urias should be on the field tomorrow for his first spring exposure.
Game Observations
- Libby looked pretty well. 51 pitches in 3 innings. Command was not totally sharp (typical for February). Ball seemed to being coming out of his hand really well. Used a good variety of pitches.
- Walker got plenty of business in right. Continues to look more fluid out there. Displayed a strong arm.
- Winn with a couple nifty defensive plays. We’ve come to expect that as routine from him. He seems to be moving well after off-season knee surgery.
- Romero dispatched the Astros quickly in the 4th.
- Pozo golfs a wind-aided homerun. There is a new 2-deck club area built around the LF foul pole that appears to introduce some new wind dynamics down there. LFers beware!
- Burleson crushes a 3-run HR.
- Late inning power, with a lot of pop from Jon Jon Gazdar boosted the Cardinal offense.
Post-Game Notes
- Final score 9-4 Cardinals. 4 home runs (Pozo, Burleson, Crooks and Gazdar).
- Raquet, Blewitt and Shuster each game up runs in relief. Moreno had pretty nice 9th inning.
- The catcher Yerzy seemed pretty strong defensively, especially his arm. I haven’t seen him before, but will watch for more now.
- Game temp in the high 70’s. A few clouds, but a great day all around.
