Spring Training games have begun but…

facebooktwitterreddit

With Spring Training games now in action, St. Louis Cardinals fans have something to look forward to watching on television when their favorite college basketball teams are not playing.
Feb 24, 2014; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals infielder Patrick Wisdom (87) poses during photo day at Roger Dean Stadium. Image Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Patrick Wisdom, who hit a 2-run home run in the 9th inning in Friday’s game against the Miami Marlins, has found it to his benefit in working with Allen Craig. They only live ten minutes away from each other during the off-season why why not work out together? Wisdom will likely start the season in Springfield. His ETA to the majors is a few seasons away.

With Jaime Garcia sidelined once more by injuries, look to somebody like Tyler Lyons breaking into the rotation this spring. Pitching coach Derek Lilliquist believes that “it would be nice to have somebody with a different look, instead of all the hard-throwing righties.”

Pat Neshek, recently signed by the St. Louis Cardinals before the start of Spring Training, may turn out to be one of the best additions to the clubhouse. After Matt Holliday brought in a ping pong table to Jupiter, Neshek has come up with Fan Mail Fridays. As soon as I learned that Neshek signed with the Cardinals, I was very happy but more so because of what he does behind the scenes than what he does on the field.

"Credit Neshek with importing the idea to the Cardinals’ clubhouse. Neshek is a devoted baseball card collector, and he advertises his willingness to sign cards for fans who send them in. He has a complete set of 1985 Topps baseball cards, all of them autographed — his holy grail, of sorts."

Like Neshek, I am also a collector but that’s beside the point. While many active players will sign fan mail during Spring Training or after the season, Neshek signs year-round. Amongst active players, he is the best at responding to fan mail just as Bobby Doerr with with regards to Hall of Famers responding to fan mail (without a signing fee).