photo credit: The U.S. Army
…merely training. Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday are being held out a few more days with nagging injuries. The Cardinals, however, can probably live without the meat of their batting-order whilst the team plays completely meaningless Spring Training games.
The Cardinals need these guys for the long haul: Namely, about 150 games and the playoffs. They can take days off and everything’s fine, but here it isn’t really a big deal.
Zach Greinke–the reigning AL Cy Young winner–was pushed a little bit against the Rockies yesterday but I don’t think that’s a big deal either. The game meant nothing and he was facing all manner of people doing all manner of things that he wouldn’t see during the regular season.
Guys swinging for the fences hoping to improve their stock and dudes who are on their last legs and NEED one more hit in Spring Training. Actually, I would have pulled him even earlier than the 3 innings. Plus, his manager–Trey Hillman–said he got tired and that was ok. Huh? The dude knows how to pitch. What the heck else could you possibly teach him at this point. He’s only going to learn on his own–not by getting tired in a meaningless game.
I know the games are fun for the folks who get these teams coming to or near their towns during the spring but this getting out of hand. The Cards were right to sit Pujols and Holliday. In fact, if those guys never saw a batters box during Spring Training that would be just fine.
Zach Greinke plays on a crappy team and Trey Hillman is talking about pushing the ONE good player on his team. Trey–a little free advice–MANAGE THE REST OF THE TEAM. Heavens!
If I were a Royals I would have given up by now.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Oh, for heaven’s sake. Yes, Greinke knows how to pitch. But believe it or not, he has things he is working on in spring training too – namely his changeup. And he can’t get sufficient work on it unless he actually, you know…pitches. Radical idea, I know, but that’s how he’s going to “learn on his own,” as you put it. He didn’t get overworked yesterday; and it’s OK to get a little tired at this time of year because otherwise he wouldn’t be building any stamina for the regular season. Better he get a little tired in the third inning now than get tired in the third inning in June because you didn’t get pushed a bit during the spring.
{ 1 trackback }