Notes: Edmonds makes spring debut
03/11/2006
JUPITER -- Jim Edmonds had two hits, an RBI, and caught the only ball hit his way in his 2006 debut for the St. Louis Cardinals, who defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 5-0, on Saturday at Roger Dean Stadium.
Not too shabby for the four-time All-Star, who has been nursing a bruised right foot and sore left calf since the start of Spring Training.
"Not at all," answered Edmonds when asked if he felt comfortable at the plate. "I was trying not to do too much. My first at-bat, I was just trying to see the ball, and the second at-bat, that made it easy just because I was trying to hit a fly ball because Scott [Rolen] was on third ... to score a run."
Edmonds was tested in the first inning, when Melvin Mora hit a drive into left-center field with one out and Corey Patterson on second base. Edmonds called off left fielder Larry Bigbie and caught the ball one-handed, but bobbled the ball in the transfer, and the umpire signaled an out. Edmonds said he was a bit discombobulated because he was using his game glove for the first time this season.
"I dropped it because I've been using a really small glove in batting practice every day," Edmonds said.
For the rest of his four innings at center field, Edmonds shuffled his feet and stretched his legs in center field between batters.
"Things are stiff and it's still my first day," Edmonds said. "I'm just worried about getting tight, so I move around a lot."
In his first at-bat, Edmonds fouled a pitch off the same sore spot on his right foot. He said the ball hit the plastic part of the cleat, luckily, and didn't hurt.
"I couldn't believe it hit that spot," Edmonds said.
It didn't affect his offensive performance. Edmonds followed with a sharp single to left, and, in the fourth, smoked an RBI double to left-center that scored Rolen, who also hit a double and stole third on the previous pitch. So Taguchi pinch-ran for Edmonds, who left the field to much applause.
Edmonds hopes a new approach helped him collect those two hits. He said he is trying to be less of a pull hitter this year; a mindset which he felt hindered him last season, in which he hit .263, an average he said is "not good enough for me."
"It messed up my whole season and ruined my mental approach [last year]," Edmonds said.
Edmonds, who felt fine after the game, will not play in Sunday's game against the Braves, but said he will most likely play on Monday and see how he feels after that.
Rolen collects first hits of spring: Rolen hit a double in the fourth inning for his first hit of the spring, and followed with an RBI single in the fifth. Rolen, who stole just five bases in the last two years, also stole third base after hitting the double before scoring on Edmonds' double.
"When [Rolen and Edmonds] play well, we're a better looking team," manager Tony La Russa said.
Duncan's up-and-down day: Chris Duncan started in right field and misplayed a fly ball in the first inning, allowing Corey Patterson to reach second base with a double. However, Duncan later drew two walks, hit a single and scored a run. He also switched to first base later in the game.
McGee back: Former Cardinals great Willie McGee arrived in Jupiter on Wednesday, and will be helping with the team through March 21.
"It's something I've done all my life," said McGee, 47.
McGee coaches his daughter's 12-and-under softball team in San Pablo, Calif., and also helps out with the baseball team at Contra Costa Community College.
Baseball balancing act: Cardinals Hall of Famer Bob Gibson and starting pitcher Jason Marquis joked before the game in the locker room about the rigors of balancing baseball with family life. "If [my wife] can find a way to make $5 million, then I'll be happy to stay home," Marquis said.
Dog lover La Russa: Before the game, La Russa was paid a visit by the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League in West Palm Beach to do a photo shoot. La Russa, wearing his Animal Rescue Foundation ("ARF") necklace, rolled around with Jake, an 8-year-old boxer up for adoption.
Source: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/
JUPITER -- Jim Edmonds had two hits, an RBI, and caught the only ball hit his way in his 2006 debut for the St. Louis Cardinals, who defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 5-0, on Saturday at Roger Dean Stadium.
Not too shabby for the four-time All-Star, who has been nursing a bruised right foot and sore left calf since the start of Spring Training.
"Not at all," answered Edmonds when asked if he felt comfortable at the plate. "I was trying not to do too much. My first at-bat, I was just trying to see the ball, and the second at-bat, that made it easy just because I was trying to hit a fly ball because Scott [Rolen] was on third ... to score a run."
Edmonds was tested in the first inning, when Melvin Mora hit a drive into left-center field with one out and Corey Patterson on second base. Edmonds called off left fielder Larry Bigbie and caught the ball one-handed, but bobbled the ball in the transfer, and the umpire signaled an out. Edmonds said he was a bit discombobulated because he was using his game glove for the first time this season.
"I dropped it because I've been using a really small glove in batting practice every day," Edmonds said.
For the rest of his four innings at center field, Edmonds shuffled his feet and stretched his legs in center field between batters.
"Things are stiff and it's still my first day," Edmonds said. "I'm just worried about getting tight, so I move around a lot."
In his first at-bat, Edmonds fouled a pitch off the same sore spot on his right foot. He said the ball hit the plastic part of the cleat, luckily, and didn't hurt.
"I couldn't believe it hit that spot," Edmonds said.
It didn't affect his offensive performance. Edmonds followed with a sharp single to left, and, in the fourth, smoked an RBI double to left-center that scored Rolen, who also hit a double and stole third on the previous pitch. So Taguchi pinch-ran for Edmonds, who left the field to much applause.
Edmonds hopes a new approach helped him collect those two hits. He said he is trying to be less of a pull hitter this year; a mindset which he felt hindered him last season, in which he hit .263, an average he said is "not good enough for me."
"It messed up my whole season and ruined my mental approach [last year]," Edmonds said.
Edmonds, who felt fine after the game, will not play in Sunday's game against the Braves, but said he will most likely play on Monday and see how he feels after that.
Rolen collects first hits of spring: Rolen hit a double in the fourth inning for his first hit of the spring, and followed with an RBI single in the fifth. Rolen, who stole just five bases in the last two years, also stole third base after hitting the double before scoring on Edmonds' double.
"When [Rolen and Edmonds] play well, we're a better looking team," manager Tony La Russa said.
Duncan's up-and-down day: Chris Duncan started in right field and misplayed a fly ball in the first inning, allowing Corey Patterson to reach second base with a double. However, Duncan later drew two walks, hit a single and scored a run. He also switched to first base later in the game.
McGee back: Former Cardinals great Willie McGee arrived in Jupiter on Wednesday, and will be helping with the team through March 21.
"It's something I've done all my life," said McGee, 47.
McGee coaches his daughter's 12-and-under softball team in San Pablo, Calif., and also helps out with the baseball team at Contra Costa Community College.
Baseball balancing act: Cardinals Hall of Famer Bob Gibson and starting pitcher Jason Marquis joked before the game in the locker room about the rigors of balancing baseball with family life. "If [my wife] can find a way to make $5 million, then I'll be happy to stay home," Marquis said.
Dog lover La Russa: Before the game, La Russa was paid a visit by the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League in West Palm Beach to do a photo shoot. La Russa, wearing his Animal Rescue Foundation ("ARF") necklace, rolled around with Jake, an 8-year-old boxer up for adoption.
Source: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/
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