First signs of spring

AUJarhead · « **on:** February 09, 2011, 01:14:48 PM »

Wench, when does this years Bitch and Moan thread start?

Quote

First signs of spring as some Cardinals take the field

JUPITER, Fla. -- There are still several days before pitchers and catchers officially report to Planet Jupiter and St. Louis Cardinals spring training, and yet there some were, a handful of players this morning on Field No. 1.

A gathering of Cardinals, majors and minors, and one National.

Pitchers Jake Westbrook, Adam Wainwright (a late riser, as a few of his teammates kidded), Jason Motte and Mitchell Boggs were among the Cardinals make their first appearances of spring training at the complex. Center fielder Colby Rasmus also stopped by with longtime minor-league roommate Bryan Anderson. Rasmus planned to take some BP before leaving. First-round pick Zack Cox also arrived late Tuesday and made his frist appearance at the facility on Wednesday, working out and taking some swings in the cage.

Washington Nationals outfielder Rick Ankiel, who lives nearby, came by to work out briefly with his former teammates. Ankiel also got congratulations all around for the birth of his son, Declan Ankiel, on Tuesday. He is Ankiel and his wife's first child.

You can see iPhone photos from the workouts attached to this blog, above and to the left. In the foreground of the warmup picture is lefthanded starter Jaime Garcia. The other picture is of Wainwright throwing a bullpen. He is surrounded by pitching coach Dave Duncan, bullpen coach Derek Lilliquist and Garcia.

At the YouTube channel, there is video of Wainwright's bullpen.

Also throwing off the mound today were minor-leaguers Lance Lynn and Adam Reifer. Westbrook will throw tomorrow. Garcia will throw Friday. Duncan ran through the schedule with some of the other pitchers. When official workouts begin Monday, Wainwright and P.J. Walters will be among the starters schedule to throw. Motte and Boggs will go Tuesday.

Duncan also has the starts plotted for when the games begin.

Wainwright is set to start the first game of spring, Feb. 28 against Florida. After him, the expected rotation uncoils from there: Chris Carpenter, Westboork, Garcia and Kyle Lohse, in that order. Reliever Kyle McClellan is scheduled for a start in the first week of spring games as the Cardinals prep him for relief by getting him innings early on in a "starting" role.

"These guys are just getting their conditioning, getting the time they need to get their game together," Duncan said of having a set rotation and mostly veteran candidates for the bullpen.

The informal workouts were done by lunch time.

Tiger Wench · « **Reply #1 on:** February 09, 2011, 01:33:50 PM »

Not til Opening Day. Right now, every team is going to the World Series, and Uncle Drayton hasn't raised beer prices or fucked anything up. So nothing to bitch about yet... YET.

War Eagle!!! · « **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2011, 02:21:59 PM »

Quote from: Tiger Wench on February 09, 2011, 01:33:50 PM

Not til Opening Day. Right now, every team is going to the World Series, and Uncle Drayton hasn't raised beer prices or fucked anything up. So nothing to bitch about yet... YET.

Until Pujols and the Cardinals come to terms...Jarhead has a lot to bitch about...

AUJarhead · « **Reply #3 on:** February 09, 2011, 03:17:49 PM »

No shit.

Although we were discussing this last week. If the Cards low ball him, and he leaves, they'll lose a good number of fans. If they offer him a fair value, say 27mil/yr, and he bolts for 28mil/yr, then I think the Cards fans would say fuck 'em. That being said, I really expect him to resign, and I'd be shocked if it weren't in the 29-30 mil/year range.

There was speculation about the Chicago Cubs entering the mix, simply for no other reason than to make the Cards spend money, as the thought of Pujols in Cubby Blue makes me sick (much like seeing Birkman with Birds on a Bat will do to Wench this year).

Tiger Wench · « **Reply #4 on:** February 09, 2011, 03:27:40 PM »

Quote from: AUJarhead on February 09, 2011, 03:17:49 PM

There was speculation about the Chicago Cubs entering the mix, simply for no other reason than to make the Cards spend money, as the thought of Pujols in Cubby Blue makes me sick (much like seeing Birkman with Birds on a Bat will do to Wench this year).

If Uncle Drayton wasn't such a fucking tightwad, we'd be in the mix for Pujols. I'd consider him an even trade for Benedict Berkman... that would make me do the buy-one-get-three-free season ticket offer.

Otherwise, Jarhead? Fuck you. Fuck you. And Fuck you. The wound, she is still raw.

AUJarhead · « **Reply #5 on:** February 09, 2011, 03:31:17 PM »

I know we could make this the bitch and moan thread!

AWK · « **Reply #6 on:** February 09, 2011, 03:53:30 PM »

I

the Braves... Braves > Cards > Astros. I win.

Buzz Killington · « **Reply #7 on:** February 09, 2011, 04:23:24 PM »

Damn...is it spring already?

#waittillnextyear

AUJarhead · « **Reply #8 on:** February 09, 2011, 05:03:52 PM »

Quote from: Buzz Killington on February 09, 2011, 04:23:24 PM

Damn...is it spring already?

#waittillnextyear

Thought you had to at least wait until May before saying that.

AUTiger1 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 09, 2011, 05:24:08 PM »

Quote from: Buzz Killington on February 09, 2011, 04:23:24 PM

Damn...is it spring already?

#waittillnextyear

Yeah for real. I see the O's went out and upgraded their pitching staff.........wait, I forgot, we don't do that kind of shit., we go out and get a DH for 8 million.

War Eagle!!! · « **Reply #10 on:** February 09, 2011, 05:27:02 PM »

Quote from: AUTiger1 on February 09, 2011, 05:24:08 PM

Yeah for real. I see the O's went out and upgraded their pitching staff.........wait, I forgot, we don't do that kind of shit., we go out and get a DH for 8 million.

I laughed out loud...

AUTiger1 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 09, 2011, 05:32:40 PM »

Quote from: War Eagle!!! on February 09, 2011, 05:27:02 PM

I laughed out loud...

I do too now. I have given up hope that they will do anything smart again. I know they signed Justin Duchscherer, but that ain't boosting my confidence any. Especially since he missed all of 09 with an elbow injury and clinical depression.

Buzz Killington · « **Reply #12 on:** February 09, 2011, 05:40:12 PM »

Quote from: AUJarhead on February 09, 2011, 05:03:52 PM

Thought you had to at least wait until May before saying that.

Nah...the June swoon comes earlier and earlier every year now.

Tiger Wench · « **Reply #13 on:** February 09, 2011, 06:03:02 PM »

Quote from: Buzz Killington on February 09, 2011, 05:40:12 PM

Nah...the June swoon comes earlier and earlier every year now.

I still haven't recovered from last year.

chinook · « **Reply #14 on:** February 09, 2011, 06:04:05 PM »

Chinook's MLB predictions...

AL East: Boston Red Sox
AL Central: Chicago White Sox
AL West: Anaheim Angels

Wildcard: NY Yankees

Tampa will fall off the radar...as well as Minnesota.

NL East: Philadelphia Phillies
NL Central: Cincinnati Reds
NL West: SF Giants

Wildcard: LA Dodgers

Atlanta will not contend.

ssgaufan · « **Reply #15 on:** February 09, 2011, 06:31:32 PM »

Quote from: chinook on February 09, 2011, 06:04:05 PM

Chinook's MLB predictions...

AL East: Boston Red Sox
AL Central: Chicago White Sox
AL West: Anaheim Angels

Wildcard: NY Yankees

Tampa will fall off the radar...as well as Minnesota.

NL East: Philadelphia Phillies
NL Central: Cincinnati Reds
NL West: SF Giants

Wildcard: LA Dodgers

Atlanta will not contend.

Jumbo · « **Reply #16 on:** February 09, 2011, 06:59:17 PM »

Quote from: ssgaufan on February 09, 2011, 06:31:32 PM

Tiger Wench · « **Reply #17 on:** February 09, 2011, 07:29:33 PM »

Up yours, nookie. THIS.. this is the Astros' year, man!! No more Disatros! How can you argue with the talent we got coming in? Thanks to Uncle Drayton and his magical checkbook, the pine is gonna be stacked end to end with stars, man! I mean, look, we got.... uh, well, there's... uh... you know, that guy... oh, how could I forget... uh, emm... oh, uh, yeah, we still got Carlos Lee...

FML.

AWK · « **Reply #18 on:** February 09, 2011, 07:45:00 PM »

Quote from: chinook on February 09, 2011, 06:04:05 PM

Chinook's MLB predictions...

AL East: Boston Red Sox
AL Central: Chicago White Sox
AL West: Anaheim Angels

Wildcard: NY Yankees

Tampa will fall off the radar...as well as Minnesota.

NL East: Philadelphia Phillies
NL Central: Cincinnati Reds
NL West: SF Giants

Wildcard: LA Dodgers

Atlanta will not contend.

Drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son.

Buzz Killington · « **Reply #19 on:** February 09, 2011, 08:23:20 PM »

Quote from: Tiger Wench on February 09, 2011, 07:29:33 PM

Up yours, nookie. THIS.. this is the Astros' year, man!! No more Disatros! How can you argue with the talent we got coming in? Thanks to Uncle Drayton and his magical checkbook, the pine is gonna be stacked end to end with stars, man! I mean, look, we got.... uh, well, there's... uh... you know, that guy... oh, how could I forget... uh, emm... oh, uh, yeah, we still got Carlos Lee...

FML.

Yeah, but we got Wood again.