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St. Louis Cardinals: Five things we’ve learned so far this spring

By Landon Clapp

Feb 18, 2016; Jupiter, FL, USA; A general view of an MLB glove on the practice field at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2016; Jupiter, FL, USA; A general view of an MLB glove on the practice field at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 28, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny (26) checks his line-up card in the dugout before playing the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny (26) checks his line-up card in the dugout before playing the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Mike Matheny is Getting After It

Mark Saxon over at ESPN.com wrote a short piece yesterday on Matheny and how he’s handling the Yadier Molina situation, which I absolutely love.

The piece addresses the fact that Matheny is unwilling to disclose to the media when Yadi will start swinging in game action. Saxon emphasizes that these are spring training games we’re talking about, mostly to illustrate how “over the top” that push for a competitive advantage might seem.

To the casual baseball fan, I’m sure that that is most definitely the case. “Why don’t you guys just chill out? It’s spring training! Who cares what all the back ups do?”

“We can’t give all the ideas that we have with him because they’re going to be reading over there, too. I’m not being coy. I’m giving him the chance to go out and get his work done, but we’re also competing.” – Matheny to Saxon yesterday afternoon

I’ve had multiple people say things like that. All I can do is laugh those comments off, mostly for how short-sighted they are.

Sure, these spring games don’t count in the win-loss department, but I still see them as being very important. They can set the tone for match ups later in the season, and they are a big measuring tool for what your farm system looks like.

Matheny has established, loud and clear, that these games are important to him.

“We can’t give all the ideas that we have with him because they’re going to be reading over there, too. I’m not being coy. I’m giving him the chance to go out and get his work done, but we’re also competing.” – Matheny to Saxon yesterday afternoon

This kind of attitude (at least in my experience) is what can make outsiders dislike the St. Louis Cardinals. I guess it’s understandable. To them, baseball’s a game, it’s entertainment. To Cardinal Nation, baseball means so much more.

Yes, Matheny has made some questionable strategic decisions in his tenure with the Redbirds. But there is absolutely no question as to how much he wants to win in St. Louis.

I love it.

Next: Holliday at first base is getting serious

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