At least one spring training game should be seen by every baseball fan at some point in their life. It’s Minor League intimacy with Major League players and Major League play. What more could you ask for?
I’ve been to Spring Training three times in my life, most recently this past week in Kissimmee, Florida. I, unfortunately, witnessed the Braves’ blowout of the Cards, the final score 12-3.
The score isn’t entirely indicative of what happened that day, though. The Cards played well but the Braves just played better (isn’t that always the case?) Just like in the infamous ‘infieldd fly’ game last year between the two teams, mistakes were made on both sides. But the Braves recovered and performed so well that those mistakes didn’t matter, the opposite of last season’s Playoff fiasco.
I’ve never felt confident with Westbrook on the mound. Every pitch makes me flinch in anticipation and this game was no different. I told someone the other day that I thought Westbrook was a good guy but not a good pitcher and, after seeing him Tuesday, I stand by that. All I’ve heard about Westbrook has made me think that he’s a worthy influence in the club, a good guy whose trying his best to do good for his team. But his best isn’t holding up, especially in the wake of the loss of Carp and in the shadow of Wainwright’s promise. Westbrook issued three walks and a hit batter in only four innings. I think about Wainwright’s collapse in Game 5 of the NLDS last year and think that maybe I’m judging Westbrook to harshly but Waino has proven himself in the majority of games while it seems Westbrook has only done so in the minority of his games played. Wainwright’s career ERA? 3.15 Westbrook’s career ERA? 4.30. Maybe the judgment is fair.
Of course, Westbrook can’t be blamed for the whole loss, Mujica giving up five runs in the 7th and Motte giving up three runs in the 8th. I’m usually a huge proponent of both of these guys but, clearly, I wound up disappointed. Thankfully, I know that the Cardinals are masters of easing you into complacency with their faults only to rip that dark cloud away at the very last moment. I’m content with that possibility.
The lineup on Tuesday was mostly guys on the cusp of the Major League trying to earn a spot o the Major League roster. Justin Christian came through driving in two runs with a triple in the 7th only to be caught on the way home. Christian, who has jumped from minor league franchise to franchise, had a brief stint in the Major Leagues in 2008 with the Yankees and for the Giants last year when Melky Cabrera got banned. He also holds some records with the local River City Rascals. He’s not an MLB player now but I think he could be. If nothing else, he’s worth a second glance heading into regular season play.
Craig and Descalso were the only two big names (besides pitching) to play Tuesday but clearly they didn’t make any great contributions, leaving that to the guys that have something to prove who only moderately succeeded.
The final numbers might scare some fans but Cardinals’ faithful should know better. There’s nothing to worry about at Busch this season.
