Cardinals Winter Warm-Up – In Their Words: Sunday, 1/15/23

photo: Adam Wainwright (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

Sunday’s Day 2 of the 2023 St. Louis Cardinals Winter Warm-Up charity event at Busch Stadium and Ballpark Village offered a breezy, cool and sunny welcome for the throngs of Cardinals fans attending.

Among the popular presentations on the main stage included franchise icon Adam Wainwright and second-year manager Oliver Marmol. New bench coach Joe McEwing also stopped by to close a very long day.

Autograph sessions with these current Cardinals were scheduled on Sunday: Wainwright, Ivan Herrera, Jake Woodford, Zack Thompson, Packy Naughton, Nolan Arenado, Michael McGreevy, Andre Pallante, Tink Hence, Brendan Donovan, Ryan Helsley, Connor Thomas, Masyn Winn, Paul Goldschmidt, Dylan Carlson and Lars Nootbaar.

Typically, either before or after they sign for fans, the players meet with team physicians and are brought to the media area for a question and answer session.

Following are my notes from selected interviews held during the St. Louis Cardinals Winter Warm-Up on Sunday, January 15, 2023. Following my summary is the audio for those who want to listen to the full content.

Nolan Arenado (17:23)

Nolan Arenado (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The third baseman said this always was the place he wanted to play. Fell in love. Easy decision (not to opt out).

Goldy is one of his best friends on the team, families close, also have arguments – brotherhood. Wainwright is most fun pitcher he has played behind – lots of ground balls.

His hitting warehouse in California is open to anyone. Builds chemistry.

Hardest loss in his career in 2022. Need to get 5-game bye.

2023 comes down to starters staying healthy. Traveled to StL with Jack Flaherty. He is ready. Miles is a horse.

Won’t pay attention to pitch clock. Not familiar with rule.

Cards defense best in game last two years. Biggest strength of team. Wins a lot of games.

He had terrible May and slid in September. Don’t get complacent. Wants to drive ball better.

Marmol is best manager he has ever worked with. Lets players go about business. Honest, real. Handled change well.

Nootbaar’s swing looks so much better. Has a chance to be really good in this game. Looks different.

Hopes Rolen and Scott Helton get in Hall of Fame.

Contreras knows division. Will pay dividends.

When he played in 2017 WBC, felt it got him ready for season better than spring training.

As getting older. Doesn’t take so many ground balls before games. Conserve energy. Stay fresher.

Tink Hence (12:02)

Tink Hence (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

Building up stamina. Advanced from 1-2-3 IP in extended spring. Felt it when going from 3 to 4 IP. Since drafted at 17 years old, learned so much.

Hopes to throw twice in one week in 2023. Be ready for anything. More of visual guy, uses video.

AFL was great. Big competitor. Built confidence. Org has confidence in him. Coaches who helped him – Gio Carrera, Tim Leveque, Rick Harig.

Goal in 2023 play from March to October. Play as hard as he can. Has thrown in cold weather early in Arkansas high school season.

Jordan Walker, Masyn Winn same age. Asks them about higher levels. Played with both in high school tournaments starting when 15 or 16 years old. Good teammates. Want to win. Want them behind him when pitching.

Michael McGreevy (10:05)

Michael McGreevy (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

Working on adding strength, muscle mass. Clean up mechanics. Changeup is developing. Much sharper. It was terrible in college but started dropping and tailing as a pro. Likes where it’s at.

Have talked with Tim Leveque about a cutter, but everyone throws it. Focus now on improving four pitches.

Gordon Graceffo is a blast to watch. Was steal of the (2021) draft. Iron sharpens iron. (Teammates make each other better.)

Wants to increase innings over 144 last season and improve secondaries. Wants to gain more movement and sink in fastball. Experimenting with four-season. Sure would like more velo.

In spring training, “I’ll eat crumbs if I have to.” (Take innings where he gets them.)

Walker is mountain of a man. Might be one of smartest players I’ve ever played with.

Let shoulder rather than elbow take force of throw. Avoid injury.

Andre Pallante was senior when he was sophomore in high school. Teammate and friend.

Connor Thomas (11:08)

Connor Thomas (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The AFL reset him after poor performance at Memphis. Pitched scared. Plan in AFL was to get ahead of hitters. Let cutter and slider do their thing. Cutter was Plan B. Hope it adds a couple of years to his MLB career.

Maddux put cutter idea in his head in spring. Tried it in summer but bad grip. Izzy showed him a better grip.

Got 40-man call from Gary LaRocque the morning of deadline. Celebrated with two daughters and wife. Spending time as a dad before ramping up for spring.

Hopes to get key spring innings due to WBC.

Pretty big fan of robo umps. Likes challenge system best. Didn’t like it first. Pitchers can make umps accountable.

Brendan Donovan (12:46)

Brendan Donovan (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

There was a little added pressure when Oliver Marmol arrived in the room and stood off to the side to watch.

Oliver Marmol (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

Moved to Florida so has been at Complex. So many adjustments.

Got to see so many firsts and lasts in 2022. Saw some of the best go out on their own terms. New chapter for team.

Truth be told, Tommy is a better defender. Kudos to Rawlings for creating utility award. Takes a lot of pride in defense. Might appear rigid at times, but gets job done.

Went to Mariucci early in offseason to learn how his body moves. Like fitting golf clubs. Changed bat knob. Body more efficient. Hit more line drives.

Added muscle over fat. Learning how to use body better. 162 games and travel long.

Likes to be in the lineup anywhere but will be a problem if he pitches or catches. Stubby Clapp does a great job of spacing out reps in season.

Focus is to get on base. Maybe can cause chaos. Prides on defense and plate selectivity.

Oliver Marmol (26:01)

Oliver Marmol (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

Had several conversations with Holliday. He made best decision. Joe McEwing was quick pivot. Beyond what was expected. Met with him earlier today.

Will be good to get eyes on younger guys in spring training. Looking forward to seeing Jordan Walker. Will compete for position.

Turner Ward created trust last year and flew to west coast  to work with hitters. Blake is great blend of old and new. Simplify and make actionable.

Clubhouse will be no different without Pujols and Wainwright because they ran it well. Albert was first arrival every day to set example. Arenado and Goldy taking bigger role. Waino still here.

Not sure of numbers of players gone for WBC, but it will be a lot.

No floating outfielders. League made it clear not to get cute or more rules will be created.

O’Neill and Carlson are working hard and smart. This is the first year the staff is comfortable with O’Neill’s lower half preparation. Hoping to see more power from Carlson. Wanted to play last year, grinded through it.

Nootbaar has high potential. Never satisfied. Looking for next level. Hit ball on ground less with more power. Likes goofiness. Athletic enough to figure out center field.

Was very complimentary of minor league signing Oscar Mercado. Great instincts. Senses what others don’t.

Stayed in St. Louis as much as possible this winter. Enjoying it.

DeJong is getting after it differently. Extremely open to mental and physical. Working with Daniel Nicolaisen in Jupiter. Flatter through zone and with more velocity. Will benefit him to play multiple positions on infield. Might still be the same, but not because he hasn’t been committed.

On Burleson. We have a hitter on our hands. Covers whole plate. He swings a lot. Need him to be more selective and hit it harder.

Gorman is working on getting on top of the ball. Needs to get to pitches at top of the zone.

Ryan Helsley (6:35)

Ryan Helsley (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

2022 was a great season and had baby girl. Trying to refine pitches, movement, velocity.

Blake helped him in offseason throwing program in 2021 and 2022. Constant line of communications.

Arbitration is fine. Between team and his agent. Haven’t talked to others about their arb experience.

Watched and thought about ninth inning against the Phillies. Had jammed finger sensation. Maybe too much self pride, maybe should have passed ball to another. Wants ball in that situation.

Not thinking about starting, but will works on all four pitches.

Ivan Herrera (6:36)

Ivan Herrera (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

Started winter ball in Dominican, back home for playoffs. Will miss first game, then return there. Will play for Panama in WBC.

Trying to get more consistent. Had worked more on weights before. Now more focused on agility and mobility. May try to steal a few bases.

Learned when promoted to MLB there are a lot of stats. So much info. Have to study other teams and his team’s pitchers.

Likes Robo umps as a hitter. Pitch clock is tough when he is batting first (getting off catching gear).

Jake Woodford (6:35)

Jake Woodford (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

Blake helped him a lot. Has a clear list to work on. Slider, curveball movement profile stuff. Tweak shape of pitches. Slider is relatively new. Getting more reps with it.

Would like to start, but will do whatever they need. WBC will open innings, but his focus is on himself day to day.

Is a perfectionist so will never stop trying to get better. Confident in what he has now.

Robo umps fine as long as they are consistent in every park.

Paul Goldschmidt (21:09)

Paul Goldschmidt (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

Plan last few winters was to not take much time off. Want to get 1% better around the edges.

Don’t know new rules. Will be learning curve.

Sad Jeff Albert was leaving. Worked with him all the time. But happy that Turner Ward is staying on.

MVP didn’t change him. Had other good years before. Always looking forward.

Care about teammates first as people. Happy that Arenado stayed, but don’t talk with guys about trades and free agency. Wouldn’t have won MVP without Arenado. Makes everyone better.

Pujols, Molina and Wainwright lead in different ways. Don’t have to do it one way. Common thread is doing whatever it takes to win every day.

WBC intensity like World Series with single elimination. Better locked in for regular season as a result. Begged to be on Team USA. Had first exposure six years ago.

Wainwright is as competitive as anyone he has ever been around. Pitching is key to winning for most every team.

Thought 2022 was his best year before MVP announcement. Sat down with Turner Ward after season, talked to trainers and strength coaches. Goal is to get a little better every day.

Stayed in StL for winter. Great place to be.

Lars Nootbaar (12:00)

Lars Nootbaar (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

Has been getting in drill work every day. Wants to contribute and take pressure off Arenado and Goldschmidt.

Huge honor to represent Japan in WBC. Really special for his Mom. All of her family and friends live there. Federation reached out to him during season. Got official word recently.

He doesn’t have anything special. Will try to play really good defense and take good at-bats. Play hard.

Best thing for him is to not be on Twitter. A lot of it is distraction but appreciates fan support.

Always have dreams. After 2021, wondered “Can I be good?”. After 2022, “I am going to go get it.”

After lifting have gone to USCA to work on hitting, defense and throwing. Access to fields and cages.

Goal is squaring ball up better. Being more efficient. Used Arenado as example of not hitting the ball hardest but squares up on it enough to hit 20-30 home runs.

Dylan Carlson (7:20)

Dylan Carlson (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

Feels great, 100%. Key focus to build muscle and be sure to withstand long season. Last year, challenged how far he could push it. Everyone was in loop. Kept lingering. Find balance between pushing and rest.

Getting more size, more mass to take everyday grind better. May also help numbers. Lot of unfinished business.

Goal is to play center field. If you can, then you can play others, too.

This is first real offseason of certainty. Dates set in stone.

Was in St. Louis from October until Thanksgiving.

Masyn Winn and Packy Naughton (11:11)

Masyn Winn and Packy Naughton (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

Winn took a week off after AFL. Trying to gain weight. Ideal would be 180-185. Wants more thump but don’t want to overdo.

Naughton says change to Dusty is awesome. Working on slider, nothing drastic.

Winn has known Hence longer than Walker. At 16, Winn was two inches taller and weighed 20 pounds more. Hence has since passed. Threw 96 already at 16.

Winn’s takeaway from 2022 was confidence. It was his first year as fulltime shortstop.

Naughton lives in Jupiter. Throws pens to Knizner. Also sees Mikolas and Hudson. Impressive that Cards have six pitchers with 60 or more MLB starts.

Winn credits Jose Oquendo with range and improvements in lateral movement. Like Yoda. Second highest fielding percentage of all time. When he talks, everyone listens. Spent two months with him last offseason working on basic plays. Is a sponge around him. Wants to ensure he is ready when called to MLB.

Adam Wainwright (35:42)

Adam Wainwright (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

This is it. 2023 is last season but wishes he could just go out and perform and we wouldn’t talk about it until later in the season. “Let me finish on a high note.”

Has set 210 wins, reaching Jesse “Pop” Haines, as his goal. Just five away from 200. Hope he gets a lot more.

Failed in September. Drives him crazy. Sending video to Dusty during offseason. Front arm and take back were wrong. Bad train effect. It was his fault. Went to social media to apologize and take ownership.

Yadi will always be his catcher but he looks forward to throwing to Contreras.

Likes Pitchcom but wants pitchers to be able make the selection. Likes it because he hates sign stealing. He savors batter vs. pitcher battle. Stealing signs takes away purity of game.

Goldy seems perfect Cardinal in every way. Seems like he has always been a Cardinals.

Arenado staying was big moment for Cardinals. Drew contrast to Jason Heyward leaving because Chicago had better chance to win. Now StL is where others want to come. Want to pitch in front of defense, fans.

Mo has crafted the teams in one of the best eras of team history. Hard job. Has to take heat for not signing every player. Org does not go for it one year and stink for next three years.

On ownership, how do you keep up with the Mets? Great for players, but every team cannot do that. DeWitt has job to uphold history.

No surprise we missed playoffs three years in a row based on what players were doing. Heyward saw it.

Wainwright planned to retire after 2022, but kept it quiet so Pujols and Molina, two first ballot Hall of Famers, could get the spotlight. Changed mind after Atlanta game when he got such widespread support for his comments. Realized more teaching moments are ahead.

“If I thought we didn’t have a chance to win (in 2023), I wouldn’t be here.”

Until mid-season, thought Dusty was numbers guy. Then he showed him two-seam delivery adjustments and he changed view. He is a star and will be a pitching coach for a long time. Came to So. Georgia for a day. Has a plan to help every pitcher to fined out who they are. Can save 2-3 years of experimenting.

Recruited Clayton Kershaw for Team USA. Always wanted to represent country. Was sent home in 2003. Wants to bring gold medal home. Mikolas is most patriotic guy he knows.

Talked soccer and music at the end.

Andre Pallante and Zack Thompson (8:29)

Andre Pallante and Zack Thompson (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

Pallante has permission to pitch for Team Italy in WBC under Jason Simontacchi pitching coach. Cardinals are first priority so he checked with them first. Because great-grandfather and great-grandmother on dad’s side were Italians, he can get a passport. So he qualifies. Hopes to start for Italy at maybe 45-50 pitches.

Thompson said Dusty told him to prepare for camp as a starter. Is more outspoken in new role. Big shift is maintaining velocity. Working on greater mobility in offseason prep.

Wainwright told Pallante as a reliever to not hold anything back. Hitters are too good. Attack with best stuff.

Joe McEwing (13:05)

Joe McEwing (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

Ecstatic, grateful, thankful. Been 30 years since he first signed here. Did not see opportunity coming. Fan response has been amazing. Second to none. Feels like little kid again.

Four days before Cards called, was cleaning out garage at home (Yardley, PA). Found Western Union telegraph in box from when he was first drafted. Everything happens for a reason.

First time without a contract in 30 years. Was preparing for other alternatives.

Talking about George Kissell makes him tear up. Huge impact. Not a day he doesn’t think of him – teacher, mentor and friend. Every word comes from him. His grandson reached out and said his grandpa is smiling down on him going home.

Had amazing phone call, Zoom then meeting today with Oliver Marmol. Don’t want to change anything – just be a part of this. Played with Stubby and Pop and took Willie McGee off the field in his final game in St. Louis. Also pinch hit for Brian Jordan in Miami 9/2/98 the next at-bat after Big Mac set the new NL home run record.

Did homework on players in majors and minors.

Job is communications and collaboration. Sounding board for everyone. Reason for sustainable success.


Earlier related article

Cardinals Winter Warm-Up – In Their Words: Saturday, 1/14/23


Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

2022/2023 Cardinals Winter League Pitching Report – January 13


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