Notes: Eckstein gets a sick day
03/16/2006
JUPITER, Fla. -- The Cardinals sent shortstop David Eckstein home on Thursday after he arrived at camp complaining of stomach sickness. Head athletic trainer Barry Weinberg characterized the illness as the "stomach flu," and said Eckstein was sent home for rest.
It's the second internal illness for a Cardinals infielder this month. Travis Hanson battled a parasite that caused him to lose 12 pounds.
Eckstein was originally in the lineup for Thursday's game against Baltimore, but he was scratched. Hector Luna, initially expected to play right field, was moved to shortstop, while Skip Schumaker was inserted in right field and the leadoff spot.
"Barry just came in and said he's not feeling well," said manager Tony La Russa.
Ank's status: Weinberg provided a little clarification on the situation surrounding Rick Ankiel's troublesome left knee. Ankiel is trying to recover from a strained patellar tendon.
He is progressing gradually from the injury, which he sustained on Feb. 27. He has not played in a game this spring.
"It's a day-by-day thing, but it's not a 'Something's going to happen tomorrow that's going to make him feel good' thing," Weinberg said. "It's going to be a length-of-time thing. Right now, you say it's an undetermined length of time. You take little steps and see how he does. You've just got to be real careful."
Weinberg acknowledged that there is a good chance Ankiel will not get in any Grapefruit League games. The Cardinals break camp on April 1, two weeks from Saturday.
"There's a lot of things [that need to be done]," said Weinberg. "He's got to go through an entire running program, he's got to go through a bounding program, a plyometric program. You're not talking days.
"Right now, it's hard to say. But you've got to think the process will take longer than a couple weeks -- if successful."
Miles smiles: Aaron Miles made his first game appearance since March 3 on Thursday. Miles, who sustained a bone bruise on his left hand, grounded out as a pinch-hitter in the fourth inning. He is expected to start on Friday.
"He was happy," Weinberg said. "He said it was the best jam shot he's ever hit."
Wainwright impresses: Adam Wainwright pitched four fine innings Thursday in his first start of the spring after two relief appearances. Wainwright allowed two unearned runs on three hits.
He's held his own in the competition with Sidney Ponson and Anthony Reyes for the fifth spot in the starting rotation. Wainwright insists, though, that he's not viewing his games within the context of the other two pitchers.
"I'm really not going to be real subjective this year," he said. "I'm just going to go out there, pitch my game, do all I can to try to make this team, and hopefully I will."
Tougher cuts: The Cardinals formally announced their latest full round of cuts on Thursday, and for the first time the moves included players who might have had reasonable shots at making the big league club. In addition to optioning prospects Hanson and Brendan Ryan to the Minors, the Cards re-assigned four pitchers to Minor League camp: Blaine Neal, John Riedling, John Webb and Brad Voyles.
Voyles had been particularly impressive, pitching 6 1/3 shutout innings with four strikeouts and no walks thus far. All four had pitched at least fairly well. Riedling's quest for a roster spot was hindered when he came down with a sore shoulder. It's unclear how long he'll be sidelined.
"I think in Neal's case, he showed real good ability, it was just a matter of consistency," said La Russa. "I thought Voyles and Webb really did a good job in first impressions. It's easy with Hanson and Ryan -- (Minor League teams) have started playing games and they need to get in games regularly. Riedling got the ball down, he was excellent. And then he got hurt. So he's just got to get healthy."
One non-roster player who survived the cuts was Josh Hancock, who signed a Minor League deal after being cut by the Reds. Hancock has yet to allow a run in 5 1/3 innings over four appearances.
"He's done a good job," said La Russa. "He's gotten breaking balls in tough spots, got a nice changeup, he's throwing the ball down and up when he's supposed to."
Three other non-roster pitchers remain in camp: Alan Benes, Brian Falkenborg and Jeff Nelson. Including players at the World Baseball Classic, the Cards have 34 players in Major League camp.
Back to camp: Yadier Molina and third-base coach Jose Oquendo are expected to return to Jupiter on Thursday night and should be in camp on Friday. Molina was a backup catcher for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, and Oquendo was the team's manager. Puerto Rico suffered a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to Cuba on Wednesday night. For the tournament, Molina went 3-for-5 in four games.
Marquis mows down 51s: Jason Marquis pitched in a Triple-A game on Thursday afternoon so that Wainwright could get his first Major League start of the spring. Marquis started for Memphis against the Dodgers' Las Vegas affiliate. He pitched 4 1/3 shutout innings, allowing four hits, striking out five and walking one.
Bits and pieces: Legendary announcer Bob Sheppard, the voice of Yankee Stadium, will introduce the lineups for Friday's Cardinals-Yankees game at Roger Dean Stadium. ... NFL Hall of Famer Bob Griese dropped by camp on Thursday. ... Outfielder Daryl Jones, the Cards' third-round draft pick from last year, is battling a mild quadriceps strain and is expected to be out for a few days.
Quotable: "I talked to him yesterday and wished him well. I'd have second-guessed him if he'd have pinch-run Yadier for Pudge [Rodriguez]." -- La Russa on Oquendo
Weather report: Friday should be a little bit warmer and still magnificent. The forecast calls for a high of 81, occasional clouds, almost no chance of rain and light wind. Florida is a fine place to be in March.
Source: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/
JUPITER, Fla. -- The Cardinals sent shortstop David Eckstein home on Thursday after he arrived at camp complaining of stomach sickness. Head athletic trainer Barry Weinberg characterized the illness as the "stomach flu," and said Eckstein was sent home for rest.
It's the second internal illness for a Cardinals infielder this month. Travis Hanson battled a parasite that caused him to lose 12 pounds.
Eckstein was originally in the lineup for Thursday's game against Baltimore, but he was scratched. Hector Luna, initially expected to play right field, was moved to shortstop, while Skip Schumaker was inserted in right field and the leadoff spot.
"Barry just came in and said he's not feeling well," said manager Tony La Russa.
Ank's status: Weinberg provided a little clarification on the situation surrounding Rick Ankiel's troublesome left knee. Ankiel is trying to recover from a strained patellar tendon.
He is progressing gradually from the injury, which he sustained on Feb. 27. He has not played in a game this spring.
"It's a day-by-day thing, but it's not a 'Something's going to happen tomorrow that's going to make him feel good' thing," Weinberg said. "It's going to be a length-of-time thing. Right now, you say it's an undetermined length of time. You take little steps and see how he does. You've just got to be real careful."
Weinberg acknowledged that there is a good chance Ankiel will not get in any Grapefruit League games. The Cardinals break camp on April 1, two weeks from Saturday.
"There's a lot of things [that need to be done]," said Weinberg. "He's got to go through an entire running program, he's got to go through a bounding program, a plyometric program. You're not talking days.
"Right now, it's hard to say. But you've got to think the process will take longer than a couple weeks -- if successful."
Miles smiles: Aaron Miles made his first game appearance since March 3 on Thursday. Miles, who sustained a bone bruise on his left hand, grounded out as a pinch-hitter in the fourth inning. He is expected to start on Friday.
"He was happy," Weinberg said. "He said it was the best jam shot he's ever hit."
Wainwright impresses: Adam Wainwright pitched four fine innings Thursday in his first start of the spring after two relief appearances. Wainwright allowed two unearned runs on three hits.
He's held his own in the competition with Sidney Ponson and Anthony Reyes for the fifth spot in the starting rotation. Wainwright insists, though, that he's not viewing his games within the context of the other two pitchers.
"I'm really not going to be real subjective this year," he said. "I'm just going to go out there, pitch my game, do all I can to try to make this team, and hopefully I will."
Tougher cuts: The Cardinals formally announced their latest full round of cuts on Thursday, and for the first time the moves included players who might have had reasonable shots at making the big league club. In addition to optioning prospects Hanson and Brendan Ryan to the Minors, the Cards re-assigned four pitchers to Minor League camp: Blaine Neal, John Riedling, John Webb and Brad Voyles.
Voyles had been particularly impressive, pitching 6 1/3 shutout innings with four strikeouts and no walks thus far. All four had pitched at least fairly well. Riedling's quest for a roster spot was hindered when he came down with a sore shoulder. It's unclear how long he'll be sidelined.
"I think in Neal's case, he showed real good ability, it was just a matter of consistency," said La Russa. "I thought Voyles and Webb really did a good job in first impressions. It's easy with Hanson and Ryan -- (Minor League teams) have started playing games and they need to get in games regularly. Riedling got the ball down, he was excellent. And then he got hurt. So he's just got to get healthy."
One non-roster player who survived the cuts was Josh Hancock, who signed a Minor League deal after being cut by the Reds. Hancock has yet to allow a run in 5 1/3 innings over four appearances.
"He's done a good job," said La Russa. "He's gotten breaking balls in tough spots, got a nice changeup, he's throwing the ball down and up when he's supposed to."
Three other non-roster pitchers remain in camp: Alan Benes, Brian Falkenborg and Jeff Nelson. Including players at the World Baseball Classic, the Cards have 34 players in Major League camp.
Back to camp: Yadier Molina and third-base coach Jose Oquendo are expected to return to Jupiter on Thursday night and should be in camp on Friday. Molina was a backup catcher for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, and Oquendo was the team's manager. Puerto Rico suffered a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to Cuba on Wednesday night. For the tournament, Molina went 3-for-5 in four games.
Marquis mows down 51s: Jason Marquis pitched in a Triple-A game on Thursday afternoon so that Wainwright could get his first Major League start of the spring. Marquis started for Memphis against the Dodgers' Las Vegas affiliate. He pitched 4 1/3 shutout innings, allowing four hits, striking out five and walking one.
Bits and pieces: Legendary announcer Bob Sheppard, the voice of Yankee Stadium, will introduce the lineups for Friday's Cardinals-Yankees game at Roger Dean Stadium. ... NFL Hall of Famer Bob Griese dropped by camp on Thursday. ... Outfielder Daryl Jones, the Cards' third-round draft pick from last year, is battling a mild quadriceps strain and is expected to be out for a few days.
Quotable: "I talked to him yesterday and wished him well. I'd have second-guessed him if he'd have pinch-run Yadier for Pudge [Rodriguez]." -- La Russa on Oquendo
Weather report: Friday should be a little bit warmer and still magnificent. The forecast calls for a high of 81, occasional clouds, almost no chance of rain and light wind. Florida is a fine place to be in March.
Source: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/
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