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| St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny served as "bullpen catcher" during the middle of the ninth inning on Sunday. - (Photo credit: Ranken Jordan) |
At 41 years of age, Matheny is still a pretty fit guy. The stress of managing does not look like it has taken over his eating habits and workout regiment. At least not yet.
On Sunday afternoon, Matheny showed just how fit he was.
With starting catcher Yadier Molina leaving the game in the top of the ninth inning as part of a double switch and with his replacement Tony Cruz making the last out of the inning, somebody needed to warm up new relief pitcher Fernando Salas.
So, rather than leave Salas waiting for Cruz to get his gear on, Matheny grabbed a catcher's mitt and warmed up Salas himself. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch posted a picture of Matheny warming up Salas over at StlToday.com.
Catching a "bullpen" is easy work for Matheny, who spent 13 seasons behind the dish at the Major League level. But how many managers do you see going out on the field, during a game, and squatting behind home plate to help warm-up his pitcher?
Matheny is not the only former catcher currently managing in baseball. Mike Scioscia of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Joe Girardi of the New York Yankees both were very good catchers during their playing days.
But you don't see either of these two warming up middle relievers during the middle of a game.
Matheny has taken his lumps during his first season as manager in St. Louis. He has made some mistakes and he has learned to make adjustments.
But there is one thing that is for certain. Matheny knows how to appeal to his players, which is likely the reason general manager John Mozeliak hired him despite Matheny not having a day of managing experience at any level. Players can appreciate what Matheny is willing to do to help them out.
While warming up a pitcher between innings seems like a little thing for Matheny to do, it should not be forgotten that often times it is the little things that are the difference between winning and losing.
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