photo: Matt Wieters via Zoom (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
Catcher Matt Wieters and manager Mike Shildt spoke to media following the St. Louis Cardinals workout at Busch Stadium on Thursday, August 6. Rotation changes were announced.
Following is my summary of their comments.
Matt Wieters
Did push-ups and sit-ups in room in Milwaukee.
On virus: “We thought we were doing pretty good with protocol and it still spread.”
On injury potential: Must be honest with ourselves. Less adrenaline with no fans perhaps.
On pressure on Flaherty pitching Friday night: It is a shared responsibility. Can’t depend on one guy.
Joked that he had seven days off before (only 1 at-bat this season), so he should be ready.
Feels good now, but will have to see how he feels as they play. Until Yadi is back, will try to string together as many (starts) as I can. Also matchups.
Goal last year was to make playoffs and they did it. Why he wanted to come back.
On the compressed schedule: Look at it as, we’ve got a game tomorrow and see what happens after that.
Mike Shildt
Wieters is a pros pro. Ready to shepherd pitching staff. Similar to Yadi, has been in the league a long time. Game slows down. Ready to compete daily. Always prepared. Game planning is in his DNA.
Wieters at plate has professional approach. Switch hitter combats matchups. He sees field both offensively and defensively. Will not be surprised how he is pitched. That leads to production.
Kim threw in sim game today to get legs and arm working again. Got better as he went. Got three quick outs in first inning, then came back out to face one more batter. Harrison got a good swing on him.
Adjustment to rotation. Ponce will start tomorrow. Closest to have had (game) action. Want Jack to get in at least two sides first (before pitching in a game). He had the longest wait. Reason is player health. Being prudent, proactive.
Waino pitches Saturday. Jack or Dak on Sunday, with the other on Monday. KK on Tuesday.
Jack’s side was good yesterday. Err on side of caution with all players, especially pitchers. 9 day layoff. Protect players.
Will see reduction in pitch counts. Err on side of caution (again). Continual dialogue. Will see difference in how game is managed. Will pass ball around, as Mad Dog says.
Position players had benefit (working out) the last two days. Got work in. Will give breaks. Will be more intentional in pre-game work. New ways in safe setting. Safety is no. 1 priority. Don’t want to put too much load on in pre-game.
On Cubs starter Jon Lester. Some guys have put good numbers on him. Is 10 at-bats a good enough sample? Probably 60 not enough.
Play our own games. Different from playoff downtime because they had 7 ½ months of buildup. One exhibition game and five games is a hair different.
Wieters will be in the lineup, but not an absolute that he will bat in the middle.
Expects all relief pitchers to be available Friday. Kim not available in relief. Threw today and pushed back to Tuesday to give him another day (to get ready to start).
No concern about Flaherty moving a mattress in his room. “Jack is a beast.” Probably not exerting at all for him.
Three Springfield pitchers have all been getting work, but it was just sim games. Threw Tuesday with Wed/Thu off so available on Friday. Reyes and Cabrera are not linked. Clearly different in games (vs. sim). Will use eye test. Not comfortable exerting them too far in first couple of outings.
Every reliever got to work in Minnesota. Will be smart getting them back in.
Slight blessing that COVID clock for the seven began in two days without games. All seven are plateauing and improved. Some asymptomatic and some had minor discomfort. Spoke to all. Better today.
Some of the (six positive) staff have had a tougher go. Also improvement. No one required hospitalization.
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