New St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny inherits a ballclub that enters the 2012 season as the defending World Series Champions. But he also inherits a ballclub that is very different than the ones from years past.
Former manager Tony La Russa, first baseman Albert Pujols, and pitching coach Dave Duncan are all gone for one reason or another. Matheny, in his rookie season of managing, will be leading a ballclub stacked with veterans from last year's team, but also an organization stocked with youthful and talented players that general manager John Mozeliak plans on leaning on for future success.
So, Matheny told reporters just before he "officially" opens his first spring training that he plans on running a very efficient camp, much like his predecessor.
But Matheny plans on implementing a lot of instruction as well, warranted by the younger cast of characters in camp than was customary under La Russa.
It is encouraging to hear that Matheny is not holding back and plans to mark his stamp immediately in the spring by setting expectations for the Cardinals young players invited to camp. Matheny is young enough to relate to these players, possibly better than La Russa was able to, and a hands-on approach should help engage the likes of Kolten Wong and Zach Cox, to name a few.
It is necessary for Matheny to command and mold the young Redbirds who will be showing up at Busch Stadium in the years to come. They will be the ones that will need to carry to torch for Matheny.
Because guys like Albert Pujols are long gone for good.
Sources:
Former manager Tony La Russa, first baseman Albert Pujols, and pitching coach Dave Duncan are all gone for one reason or another. Matheny, in his rookie season of managing, will be leading a ballclub stacked with veterans from last year's team, but also an organization stocked with youthful and talented players that general manager John Mozeliak plans on leaning on for future success.
So, Matheny told reporters just before he "officially" opens his first spring training that he plans on running a very efficient camp, much like his predecessor.
But Matheny plans on implementing a lot of instruction as well, warranted by the younger cast of characters in camp than was customary under La Russa.
"I do believe in a lot of instruction and you teach to the guy at the lowest level. You start at zero. We've got a teenager in here for goodness sakes. So I think we start at the beginning. We talk about the fundamentals. I think it's also healthy for guys who are coming over from different organizations to see what the Cardinals do. We do it a different way, and this is our level of expectation."
"So there will be more chalk talk inside. There's going to be some more instruction that goes on there and then comes out here and expects to be put into play. In general you don't really mess with something that has been effective."It is good to hear that Matheny does not plan to change the recipe too much for the players that have been around the block in a Cardinals uniform before. But a more hands on, enthusiastic, and engaged approach will likely shift the culture for the Cardinals in a way that better fits Matheny's personality, but likely not completely change the structure that has been ingrained in the organization for the previous 16 seasons.
It is encouraging to hear that Matheny is not holding back and plans to mark his stamp immediately in the spring by setting expectations for the Cardinals young players invited to camp. Matheny is young enough to relate to these players, possibly better than La Russa was able to, and a hands-on approach should help engage the likes of Kolten Wong and Zach Cox, to name a few.
It is necessary for Matheny to command and mold the young Redbirds who will be showing up at Busch Stadium in the years to come. They will be the ones that will need to carry to torch for Matheny.
Because guys like Albert Pujols are long gone for good.
Sources:
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