MartinKilcoyne's Blog

Just returned from Cards Spring Training in Jupiter. I have the perfect "Irish tan" to prove it. Which is to say I turn red as a tomato and then it becomes tan. The Cards GM Walt Jocketty it appears also falls into this category.

Here are some observations from watcing the Boys of Summer workout in late Winter.

ROLEN'S HEALTH (mental & physical)

Last Spring we pounded Scott Rolen on the shoulder. Would it be ready? Was he healthy? The results: 22 homers and 95 RBI. On the surface, not a monster season. But Rolen told me he considers it one of his best year's because of all the uncertainty he faced. Also said he never felt what we like to call quote "100 percent". The mental relief of knowing he made it back seems to be as important as anything. Rolen's a very introspective, thoughtful guy. What really kills him is letting the team down. I think that's why it's hard for him to go to LaRussa when he's hurting and asking out of the lineup. It's just not in his make-up. We had a nice long interview the other day. My favorite part is his honest answer to what he was thinking when Endy Chavez of the Mets robbed him of a homer in Game 7 of the NLCS. His candid thoughts will be part of our Cards special "Birds are Back" this Sunday at 9:30pm.

IN AND OUT (with apologies to Kevin Kline)

The rotation is crowded with candidates. And here's my not so bold prediction. This is not my hope, but I think it's definitely what the Cardinals have in mind. Braden Looper gets the 5th spot. Ryan Franklin (not happy about it) gets sent to the bullpen. If he has some decent outings, maybe the Cards could deal Franklin late in the Spring. The bullpen has it's own number crunch. I think Brad Thompson heads to Memphis in the AAA rotation. Ricardo Rincon gets hurt again. Seems unfair, but when I see him play catch and then see his arm wrapped like a mummy 2 hours later, I have a bad feeling. One Josh, not both. I don't think Kinney and Hancock both make the big-league roster. Tough call. Hancock perfect for long relief. Kinney with that wicked "scewball-type" pitch that dances is perfect to get a big out later in a game.

Position-wise. I don't see Eli Marrero making this team. The bench is as set as it's been in years this early in camp. (Cue the LaRussa clip saying everybody has to earn their spot on the team). If the Cards keep 12 pitchers, you have your starting 8 and 5 guys on the bench. Gary Bennett, So Taguchi, Scott Spiezio, Aaron Miles and Preston Wilson. Injuries to Edmonds and Encarnacion could open an early season spot for either John Rodriguez or Skip Shumaker. A leaner, very committed Rodriguez should have some more power this Spring. A sore shoulder truly hampered his homerun stroke last summer.

FUTURE STARS:

The Cards next legit big league position player is outfielder Colby Rasmus. Perhaps in the J.D. Drew mold. And I don't mean in need of a constant band-aid. A lefty who can run, field and hit. Not a big guy, but he's got a nice stroke. The best thing for Rasmus, a good old boy from Alabama, is being in the big league camp. He's working side by side with vets like Rolen and Pujols. And getting outfield tips from (coach) Larry Walker. Cards officials have him slated for Double A. The timing should be perfect. When he's ready, Edmonds will probably be on the way out.

On the mound, it's Blake Hawksworth. The kid from Canada. He was their top pitching prospect last season. He's bound for Memphis this year. But he should be ready to join the young guns in next year's rotation. One telling moment. I saw him throwing to hitters. He threw some heat to Chris Duncan then switched to off-speed. Duncan's bat went flying out of the cage. Now I know it's early and pitchers are supposed to be ahead of the hitters. And I know Duncan isn't exactly Rod Carew when it comes to his bat work. But it had me thinking this guy could be ready soon. And good.

WILD PITCHES:

--LaRussa is definitely looser this camp. Maybe not to the players, but at least to the media. He said his wife told him to be "cuter" this year. I asked if he was talking looks and wardrobe. No. He's attempting to be more witty.

--My bizarre analogy that kind of works. I asked LaRussa if he and Edmonds were like an old married couple. They get along, but also kind of bicker. When I prefaced that it was a weird question, the skipper told me he expects nothing less from me. Edmonds called it a weird analogy then gave me a great answer which basically said yes.

--The new uni's and hats that feature some blue features ARE NOT replacing game uniforms. But you will see the look during batting practice.

--Yadier Molina and Gary Bennett were very good about signing autographs in the days I was there. I also overheard LaRussa telling players to go visit with fans and sign. And he'll say it to stars like Chris Carpenter, not just the younger players.

--Fans do need to figure out when to ask players to sign and when not to. Here's a tip. If the player has a bat and he's walking towards the batting cage, he's kind of busy.

--But the constant chants of "can you sign?" "hey, over here" did lead to a funny moment. Adam Wainwright is sitting on the bench after throwing some pitches. A young girl yells through the chain-link fence "Mr. Wainwright, Mr. Wainwright". He says "not now sweetie". The girls responds "no, I don't want an autograph, I just wanted to know how excited you are about getting a ring". Everybody on the bench lauged.

--Albert Pujols told me he could care less what the media thinks of him. Clearly.

--The Indiana native Scott Rolen is a big Colts fan. Went to the Super Bowl.

--It's 60 and windy and Mike Shannon has on the black wind-breaker.

--If he wanted to Larry Walker would be a great broadcaster. The former Cardinal is pretty funny.

--It's 80 and sunny and Mike Shannon has on the black wind-breaker.

DID I MENTION, WE'VE GOT A CARDINALS SPECIAL THIS SUNDAY. "BIRDS ARE BACK" AT 9:30. JOHN ROONEY FROM KTRS WILL BE MY IN-STUDIO CO-HOST.

Among the topics.

Bill Dewitt answers the constant theory he'll sell the team and leave with a hefty profit.

Albert Pujols on how the New York press tatooed him and his surly behavior.

The Zen magic of Dave Duncan.

Wainwright on the battle over the ball. The one from the final out of the Series. The one Molina still has.

Extended visits with Rolen and Edmonds.

SUNDAY AT 9:30. "BIRDS ARE BACK"

email me your Cards questions if you like. for now, I'm searching for some aloe vera.

Martin