Brian34Cook

Tuesday camp tidbits
Posted by Matthew Leach on Tuesday, 26 February 2008 at 10:44 AM

* Brian Barton went to get his surgically-repaired right knee checked out today. No word on the results. I'll have more when I know more.

* TLR discussed the leadoff spot at length today, but probably the most interesting thing about it was that he confirmed more firmly than at any previous point that he plans to hit the pitcher 8th again this year.

* They're having a "coaches' game" -- ie, an intrasquad game with coaches throwing BP -- this afternoon. "Team Matheny" includes Matt Pagnozzi (DH), David Carpenter, Mark Johnson (1B), Jarrett Hoffpauir, David Freese, Brian Barden (SS), Cody Haerther, Colby Rasmus and Nick Stavinoha. "Team Walker" features Brandon Yarbrough (DH), Nick Derba, Bryan Anderson (1B), D'Angelo Jimenez, Rico Washington (3B), Brendan Ryan (SS), Amaury Marti, Joe Mather (CF) and Gabe Johnson (RF). TLR said not to read anything into Ryan being in this game, even though he's the only guy who played in the Majors for STL last year.

As always, check the site for notes and features and plenty more later on today.

-M.

Posted by Matthew Leach on Tuesday, 26 February 2008 at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Brian34Cook

Living Blog: Barton’s knee barks
By Derrick Goold
02/26/2008 10:56 am

JUPITER, Fla. — Cardinals outfielder Brian Barton left the spring training facility Tuesday morning to have his right knee checked out after experiencing soreness in the joint for several days. Manager Tony La Russa said the Rule 5 pick has felt “restricted.”

Barton had surgery on the knee after last season to repair a chronic clicking and discomfort in the joint. The surgery, as described in an earlier blog entry, was what Barton called ”lateral release”, which is a procedure that stops the patella from rubbing against the femur. Barton said he also had some cartilage damage in the knee and that a bone bruise or small fracture had developed.

The Cardinals selected Barton in the offseason’s Rule 5 draft from Cleveland. A year, Barton was considered one of the best prospects in the Indians system, and MiLB.com picked him as its preseason player of the year for Cleveland’s organization. He slipped to the Cardinals in the draft partially because of concerns about his knee. For the Cardinals to retain control of Barton he will have to spend the entire season on the 25-man roster; otherwise, he has to be offered back to Cleveland or a trade agreed upon.

It is possible for Barton to start the season on the disabled list or even on a rehab assignment as he recovers from the knee.


The Cardinals will play a coach-pitch scrimmage today, with Brendan Ryan being the only player from last year’s major-league team scheduled to appear in the game. Ryan has been asking coaches what his best way to make the team is — is it as a backup shortstop? As a utility infielder? He wants to know where he should be taking groundballs during drills. The answer: second, short and third. Get busy.

The lineups for today’s scrimmage, understanding that La Russa bats the players according to their position number (or there about), with “1″ being the designated hitter.

TEAM MATHENY

1. Brandon Yarbrough, DH
2. David Carpenter, C
3. Mark Johnson, 1B
4. Jarrett Hoffpauir, 2B
5. Brian Barden, SS
6. David Freese, 3B
7. Cody Haerther, LF
8. Colby Rasmus, CF
9. Nick Stavinoha, RF

TEAM WALKER

1. Matt Pagnozzi, DH
2. Nick Derba, C
3. Bryan Anderson, 1B
4. D’Angelo Jimenez, 2B
5. Brendan Ryan, SS
6. Rico Washington, 3B
7. Amaury Marti, LF
8. Joe Mather, CF
9. Gabe Johnson, RF

Going with Team Matheny today.. umm Barton wouldnt have to be sent back if he's on the DL with us would he? Not sure about that..

Brian34Cook

Rasmus rips, Marti snares, Matheny leaves
By Derrick Goold
02/26/2008 5:40 pm

JUPITER, Fla. — When Colby Rasmus dug in against the crafty veteran in Tuesday’s game, the Cardinals’ could-be rookie outfielder had a simple plan.

“Just trying to work the count,” he said, grinning. “Get a good pitch to hit.”

Of course, the purpose of the coach-pitch game is to have plenty of pitches to hit and plenty of action for the defense. Many of the Cardinals’ younger players and non-roster invitees squared off in the annual coach pitch game, a scrimmage with all-time pitcher Dyar Miller on the mound and plenty of action in the field. In his first at-bat of the game, Rasmus raked a home run over the right field fence.

In the coach-pitch game, Josh Phelps hit an opposite field home run. Ryan, playing shortstop for Team Walker, had a snazzy, leaping play on a bad hop — as described to me by MLB.com’s Matthew Leach – that led to Ryan creating my new favorite word:

Team Walker had a two-run cushion on Team Matheny headed into the final batter of the scrimmage. A runner was on first and Nick Stavinoha (pride of LSU, former long snapper) mashed what observers called the hardest hit ball of the game. The wind said otherwise. Amaury Marti tracked it down at the fence in left to preserve a 4-2 victory and assure Team Matheny served Team Walker refreshments.

STLtoday.com - Bird Land - Blog Archive - Rasmus rips, Marti snares, Matheny leaves

Kyle

Thats sucks about Barton

__________________

Brian34Cook

Team Walker holds on: In Tuesday's intrasquad "coaches game," Team Walker defeated Team Matheny. With Minor League pitching coordinator Dyar Miller throwing batting practice to both teams' hitters, Larry Walker's team eked out a close victory over Mike Matheny's squad.

Team Matheny got the tying run to the plate in the final inning with Nick Stavinoha at the plate, and Stavinoha drilled a deep, deep drive to left field. Unfortunately, the ball was hit into the teeth of a stiff Jupiter wind, and Stavinoha's ball fell into Amaury Marti's glove right at the fence.

Josh Phelps, DH'ing for both teams, did much more damage for Team Walker -- he singled, homered, and scored two runs for the victors. Colby Rasmus went deep for Team Matheny, and Gabe Johnson hit one out for Team Walker.

On the defensive side, the star was Brendan Ryan, the shortstop for Team Walker. Ryan made a slick play on an extremely high hop off the bat of Jarrett Hoffpauir, then went deep in the hole and made a strong throw to retire David Freese.

"You try to stay as athletic as possible," Ryan said. "You saw Ozzie [Smith] play, and he was always in an athletic position no matter what it was. I just kind of had my feet shuffled and was able to make a different move."

The Official Site of The St. Louis Cardinals: News: Notes: La Russa to bat pitcher eighth

Kyle

I'm supprised they had Phelps DH twice.

__________________

Brian34Cook

Me too.. maybe they just wanted to see what he can bring? Or didnt wanna play anyone else?