Rants Daily: Relievers take the mound

Ok fans, I’m in spring training mode too. I’m still getting the kinks out. As we work to make Redbird Rants a place where you can come each day for various news, commentary and opinions, I’ve renamed the column you’ll see each morning from here on to Rants Daily from Redbird Rants Report. I felt it was too close to the name of our weekly content roundup, Redbird Rants Recap. Without further adieu, let’s check out the happenings from Day 2 of spring camp.

The relievers plus Kyle Lohse took the mound for their first official throws of the spring. Relievers are a different creature than starters. I state the obvious, but the work that goes into being a reliever and starter are entirely different. Starters work slow to build arm strength and stamina to hopefully last long into games. Relievers work to be able to ramp up faster each time they are out so that when the team needs an important out or must hold the game close, they need to be ready at the sound of the phone ringing (hopefully for the right player). Each team decides early on how they plan on arranging their pitchers at the start of spring so that they fall into the schedule accordingly. Manager Mike Matheny has begun this process and also determined the types of relievers he will build.

According to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, Matheny declared yesterday that he will not extend any of his MLB relievers so that they can become available for spot starts. This means that guys like Lance Lynn and Kyle McClellan, who many thought may see some starts as the season went on, will not be ready to do so once the season begins. Matheny said that he does not want to confuse the younger players on the team with what their roles are. Relievers are relievers and starters are starters.

There are players at the AAA level who would be able to make emergency starts should they arise. Early on in the season, the Cardinals will be able to shuffle their starters because of the multiple off days worked into the schedule to account for opening day at each park and early spring weather. This is a good move by Matheny. If it is clear to each player what is expected of them, then they can concentrate on getting in the appropriate work, versus worrying about how they are going to be used.

Allen Craig, who is coming off knee surgery, has yet to begin participating in baseball activities. His workouts have been solely conditioning and in the weight room. He has yet to begin running. The Cardinals are of the mindset that he will not be rushed and they have the luxery of allowing him to get fully healed. There is no timeline set and no determination as to whether he will begin the season on the disabled list.

From Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, we hear that Matheny sent a courtesy text to former manager Tony La Russa yesterday, thanking him for all his did for him and the Cardinals during his tenure. Matheny is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. He seems to be totally at ease for a rookie manager, he’s a classy guy as witnessed by the text, and he has a no nonsense attitude which is going to show his ability to control this team.

Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has provided us with Matheny’s quote of the day. Matheny gave us this gem yesterday on his workout sheet:

"If you are not willing to out work and out think everyone on the field,  you might want to find another job.— Dave Ricketts"

If Goold keeps printing them, I will continue to link them, because I am a sucker for a good quote too. Ricketts is a former Cardinals catcher and was on the 1967 World Series team. He was a minor league instructor for many years and mentor to Matheny and Yadier Molina, among others.

Today is day three of the official camp. The original 15 pitchers will likely all be back on the mound today. The batters will continue to stream into camp the next couple days until everyone is in Jupiter by the end of the day Thursday.

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