photo: Winter Warm-Up fan lineup pre-opening (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
Saturday’s Day 1 of the 2023 St. Louis Cardinals Winter Warm-Up at its new venues, Busch Stadium and Ballpark Village was greeted by warmer temperatures that inched into the 40’s, a welcome occurrence anytime during a Midwest January.
The most popular presentation on day 1 had to be John Mozeliak’s always-informative main stage event, following a Q&A session with the media. The president of baseball operations then signed autographs.
Signing sessions, generally two hours each, with these current Cardinals players were scheduled on Saturday: Dakota Hudson, Steven Matz, Jordan Hicks, JoJo Romero, Alec Burleson, James Naile, Jake Walsh, Andrew Knizner, Chris Stratton, Matthew Liberatore, Nolan Gorman, Tyler O’Neill, Tommy Edman and a number of Cardinals alumni.
Typically after they sign for fans (or sometimes before, just to keep things interesting), the players meet with team physicians and are brought to the media area for a question and answer session.
This year, a number of players were randomly paired to take questions together. It was based on who was signing autographs at the same time so were ready to go. However, some odd combinations ensued, such as veteran pitcher Jordan Hicks with rookie outfielder Alec Burleson.
Following are selected interviews held during the St. Louis Cardinals Winter Warm-Up on Saturday, January 14, 2023. I summarize them and follow with the audio for those who want to listen to the full content.
John Mozeliak (32:47)
There is a lot to cover so I recommend you listen to this one.
Need O’Neill, Carlson and Flaherty to perform to expectations. Great core with Goldy and Nolan. Emerging stars coming – Walker, Graceffo, McGreevy.
Earlier looked for veteran LH bat. StL not compelling team for free agents to come to because of the roster. (They ask,) ‘How will I fit in?’ People had us connected to shortstop and starting pitcher markets, but we really weren’t.
Learned last Saturday that Holliday was resigning. Started going through internal and external candidates on Sunday. Not ideal timing. Joe McEwing exemplifies everything Cardinals stand for.
Really likes depth in pen = flexibility. Ideal guys have three things: ability to go more than an inning, have minor league options and can spot start. Lot of guys check all three boxes.
Payroll did go up. Have bandwidth to add. Market had adverse impact to spend. Have more reserves than 2021, 2020 or 2019. By end of season, it will be spent.
Trade market was slow. More teams trying to be competitive.
Pallante, Liberatore and others hoping for starting opportunity. VerHagen feels healthy and wants to compete. Same with Matz.
Focus last week was getting one-year deals done with nine arbitration eligibles. Not focused on extensions now but will revisit in spring training.
Confidence in Jack Flaherty is at all time high.
He has discussed his own contract with Bill DeWitt. Not focused on 2024. “We have time.” Majority of staff under contract.
Winn is modern shortstop. Elite arm. Working through nuances of shortstop. Higher speed. A lot to like, tools at his age.
McGreevy is strike thrower, good for defenses. Focus on breaking ball, finding a few more MPH.
Added two guys who can throw 99-100. Wilking Rodriguez still has to prove himself. Looking for swing and miss, velo.
Priority for Gorman is second base but wouldn’t rule anything out. Growing pains. Need patience. Still could be middle of order bat.
Contreras is not going to WBC.
Jake Walsh and James Naile (5:13)
Walsh says his arm feels great. He strained his UCL and had a stem cell shot late in the summer. He rested then rehabbed and is now building up for spring training. In Jupiter, he threw 96-97 mph but is long tossing now getting ready.
Walsh changed his curveball grip and has added a changeup, adding it to his slider, fastball combination.
Naile has been working with Steven Matz and Jason Motte in Nashville. Pitching coach Dusty Blake worked with him on changing his breaking ball.
Andrew Knizner (14:17)
The catcher did not single out a specific focus part of his preparation, saying he is trying to improve in every phase. Willson Contreras is a winning player, World Series winner. Knizner is living in Jupiter and will work out with Contreras when he is there.
Knizner has great relationship with new pitching coach Dusty Blake. Blake takes analytics into a game plan.
Paul DeJong and Brendan Donovan are also in Jupiter. The three of them are working in the cage. DeJong’s swing looks good and compact. He is working on swing plane efficiency. As a hitter, Knizner is getting back to who he is – hit the ball hard and use the entire field.
Predicts hitters will have bigger adjustment to the pitch clock than pitchers.
Have the right guys on the staff. 6-7 starters. Bullpen gaining experience – electric arms.
Matthew Liberatore (8:34)
Making adjustments and getting more consistent is his focus. Learning in 2022 and a lot of traveling. It wasn’t his stuff. Wants bulldog mentality.
Not worried about other pitchers. Competing with himself. Indifferent to automated balls and strikes. Pitch clock impact. Had to speed up at Triple-A and had to realize he could slow down here.
Confidence and comfort go hand in hand.
Chris Stratton (8:41)
Re-signed early because if the Cards wanted him back in any capacity, he wanted to return. Close to home for him and with kids in school, it was important. No denying StL has best defense in MLB.
Marmol was very transparent with him. Needs to do better against LH batters. Wasn’t a problem before.
Doesn’t want to be grumpy old man about the clock, but pitchers need think time. Likes Pitchcom. It is great. Not big fan of electronic strike zone.
Dakota Hudson (14:42)
Had busy offseason. Long toss with Dusty Blake. Worked with Trackman on spin rate. Needs to get consistent mechanically. Was skeptical about Blake early. Bright mind. Changed his view of the game itself. Cleared up a lot. In past knew where to go but didn’t have knowledge to apply it.
Went to Baton Rouge, worked four days with Wes Johnson who knew him at his best.
Gary LaRocque, John Mozeliak, Jason Isringhausen and Brad Thompson (24:33)
This was a main tent session held in Ballpark Village. I suggest only the most diehard of fans listen. The acoustics were terrible for recording.
It was represented as a Q&A session with Gary LaRocque. It was not, however. The farm director shared the stage with Izzy and Brad Thompson. Initially, Mike Claiborne was also there, but stepped off when Mo showed up.
There was some nice banter among the four but there was precious little special insight on the minors. It was over in 25 minutes and I didn’t take many notes. Hope they return to the old breakout session format in the future. Previously, the room was smaller, but the presentations were far more informative, and fans were able to ask questions.
Tyler O’Neill and Tommy Edman (16:07)
O’Neill said that signing before an arbitration hearing ensued lifted a weight off his back.
Edman feels his defensive preparation will be simpler since he has to play only on the left side. Said the new rules mean he potentially will be more aggressive running early in counts.
On the bigger bases, O’Neill answered with a question to Edman. “How many times have you been thrown out by a couple of inches?”
Edman said he proved he is one of the best shortstops in the league and he is pleased the team had confidence in him (and did not sign a free agent at the position).
O’Neill is working more on his shoulders and hips, not only legs. Never been this accelerated in his preparation.
Edman doesn’t think about launch angle. Short swing leads to being shorter to the ball. New hitting coach Turner Ward came out to Nolan Arenado’s warehouse to work with them.
O’Neill has been working on staying back and in balance. Has been hitting at Jim Edmonds’ place in St. Louis. He is overjoyed being a dad, as his wife Stephanie gave birth to a girl five days ago.
Edman is learning basic baseball words in Korean in prep for the WBC. His grandma, Mom, and sister are all going there to watch him play. His wife is going to Japan.
Jordan Hicks and Alec Burleson (13:58)
Hicks feels strong and had the most fun of his career pitching in the 2022 playoffs.
Burleson is optimistic about this season because he had a taste of Triple-A in 2021 before breaking out at the level the next year. Going to Florida early, expecting to play a lot due to others away for WBC, but with the mindset he has to earn the job.
Hicks said the pitch clock will be worst for hitters as they take forever. His reps last year helped. Almost had a full season. Similar to 2018-2019 which was his best transition.
Hicks plans to come to camp built up to either start or relieve. Whatever the Cardinals want him to do. He hopes to earn the right to start innings because he wants to get his own hitters out.
Steven Matz (7:18)
Had second MRI before he came back to pitch last year. Finished season healthy. Disappointed he couldn’t contribute last year. This will be his eighth spring as a starter so he knows what he needs to do to build up. “I know what I am capable of.”
JoJo Romero (6:28)
Pleased he bounced back from surgery fast. Looking forward to a full season. “Nice to feel like myself again.” Went to Dusty Blake last year for help with slider. Video and metrics to break it down.
Used pitch clock while rehabbing in Triple-A with Phillies. May affect guys with rituals, routines, superstitions. Used automated balls and strikes in 2019 AFL. Good for the game.
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2022/2023 Cardinals Winter League Pitching Report – January 13
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