Winter Warm-up: Mather, Perez Q & A
By Derrick Goold
01/19/2008 4:45 pm
DOWNTOWN — The rising closer prospect in the organization and a once-idling slugger getting closer to reclaiming his reputation as a prospect were part of the younger flavor at this year’s Winter Warm-Up.
(Them and Anthony Reyes’ red-dyed swathe of spiked hair.)
Chris Perez, a 2005 draft pick out the University of Miami, is earmarked to be Triple-A’s closer this summer, coming off a year that ended with an invite to join Team USA in the Olympic preview tournament. A bulky closer with a whirling slider, Perez had 77 strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings and nearly twice as many walks as hits allowed (41 vs. 23).
Joe Mather had a breakout year, hitting 31 home runs and leaping two levels – something he had not done in his four previous seasons of pro baseball. Mather was always considered one of the best athletes and strongest players in the system, but the frame and the ability didn’t connect with the production. Until 2007. He was added to the 40-man roster and is becoming more proficient in the outfield so he has a position to go with the bat.
Both Mather and Perez will be at major-league spring training this year, but first they answered questions from the assembled media at Winter Warm-Up:
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Q: What do you make of your first brush with this?
Mather: I had no what to expect. Last night we came into the lobby - me, Chris, Bryan Anderson, some of the young guys - no clue what the expect. It was awesome seeing all the fans camp out. It was awesome. Definitely rings true to what everyone says.
Q: You guys - Chris on Team USA, Joe starting in Springfield last year - are part of and have been with the group that the club is counting on to produce in the next few years. Can you tell us about that group of talent - yourselves, Colby Rasmus, you mentioned Anderson?
Perez: It’s pretty special. A lot of guys don’t have the opportunity to play with great players all the way through the system. It will be good when we get up there and we’re all used to playing with each other. We’ve built chemistry in the lower levels. Keep it going as we keep advancing levels. To have a core guys that are young and get along, it’s pretty special. You might not get that again in your career. I look at it as a great opportunity to help the Cardinals in the future. Comfortable with each other. Played a lot of games with each other. Played a lot of games with each other. If you’re comfortable off the field, it’s going to help you on the field. The clubhouse will be good.
We had a good time playing with each other in Springfield. We had a great team. A lot of young guys. It was a lot of our first times there. We gelled together. It’s our first time for all of us, so we’re learning together.
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