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OOTPRealTime · 02-28-2014, 09:41 AM

Finally! We have arrived at our first competition against other outfits and we couldn't be more excited to get it started. Pre-game camp was great. No major injuries and the players were showing up early and staying late to improve. That prompted Mike to give them a full day off yesterday. It wasn't a day off for us. We discussed a long-term plan for the Spring Training games ahead of us. He announced to the media on Tuesday that Michael Wacha would get the first spring start and that we would be using many pitchers early on. As time goes on, we'll start stretching them out a little more as we start making cuts. Mike and Lilli (pitching coach) have determined that we would work out six pitchers as starters - in case there is an injury, we'll be covered. It's much easier to move a pitcher into the bullpen than it is to get them ready for the rotation. Those players are: Wacha, Wainwright, Garcia, Lynn, Miller and Ogando. This made some headlines as there was some question as to whether that sixth player would in fact be Ogando or Joe Kelly. We just really like what Joe brings in the bullpen at this point and Ogando has been vocal about being a starter. He is a veteran and we're more comfortable right now going that way. This made news on Twitter:

@dgold #Cardinals set six-man rotation for Spring Training. Joe Kelly not included. He'll take a bullpen role.

@miklasz Not surprised on the #stlcards announcement about the rotation. Ogando will get first shot. Kelly can go max effort - when he is at his best.

@JoseSantos Not questioning the decision - but Kelly will need to show maturity with this and know that it isn't a death sentence. He'll embrace role and get better. #stlcards

With this news, we'll have an open competition for the five rotation spots. Only two of them (Wacha and Wainwright) are guaranteed their roles. The player that falls out of the mix will join the bullpen - maybe. With Jason Motte expected back in April, we'll have some decisions to make with some good depth of arms. The players that would move to the bullpen for sure would be those who have some experience there: Ogando, Lance Lynn and Shelby Miller. If Jaime Garcia is the odd man out - we may look to deal him. He just doesn't seem to have the mentality for the bullpen. We'll see how things shake up.

The other item that made news, despite Mike's claims that this is not the "opening day lineup," is that first lineup. It looks like this:

1. Leury Garcia, SS
2. Jon Jay, CF
3. Yadier Molina, C
4. Allen Craig, LF
5. Oscar Taveras, RF
6. David Freese, 3B
7. Kolten Wong, 2B
8. Matt Carpenter, 1B
9. Michael Wacha, P

The biggest surprise was that Matt Carpenter was at first base, especially with Daniel Hudson (not a LHP) on the mound. Much was made of this by the local media - saying that we may have a lack of confidence in Matt Adams. That's simply not true at this point. He just has a little back strain and we don't want him to aggravate it.

We'll be back with the results of our first Spring Training game later today.

02-28-2014, 09:41 AM	#145
OOTPRealTime Minors (Double A) Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 147	Finally, games! Finally! We have arrived at our first competition against other outfits and we couldn't be more excited to get it started. Pre-game camp was great. No major injuries and the players were showing up early and staying late to improve. That prompted Mike to give them a full day off yesterday. It wasn't a day off for us. We discussed a long-term plan for the Spring Training games ahead of us. He announced to the media on Tuesday that Michael Wacha would get the first spring start and that we would be using many pitchers early on. As time goes on, we'll start stretching them out a little more as we start making cuts. Mike and Lilli (pitching coach) have determined that we would work out six pitchers as starters - in case there is an injury, we'll be covered. It's much easier to move a pitcher into the bullpen than it is to get them ready for the rotation. Those players are: Wacha, Wainwright, Garcia, Lynn, Miller and Ogando. This made some headlines as there was some question as to whether that sixth player would in fact be Ogando or Joe Kelly. We just really like what Joe brings in the bullpen at this point and Ogando has been vocal about being a starter. He is a veteran and we're more comfortable right now going that way. This made news on Twitter: @dgold #Cardinals set six-man rotation for Spring Training. Joe Kelly not included. He'll take a bullpen role. @miklasz Not surprised on the #stlcards announcement about the rotation. Ogando will get first shot. Kelly can go max effort - when he is at his best. @JoseSantos Not questioning the decision - but Kelly will need to show maturity with this and know that it isn't a death sentence. He'll embrace role and get better. #stlcards With this news, we'll have an open competition for the five rotation spots. Only two of them (Wacha and Wainwright) are guaranteed their roles. The player that falls out of the mix will join the bullpen - maybe. With Jason Motte expected back in April, we'll have some decisions to make with some good depth of arms. The players that would move to the bullpen for sure would be those who have some experience there: Ogando, Lance Lynn and Shelby Miller. If Jaime Garcia is the odd man out - we may look to deal him. He just doesn't seem to have the mentality for the bullpen. We'll see how things shake up. The other item that made news, despite Mike's claims that this is not the "opening day lineup," is that first lineup. It looks like this: 1. Leury Garcia, SS 2. Jon Jay, CF 3. Yadier Molina, C 4. Allen Craig, LF 5. Oscar Taveras, RF 6. David Freese, 3B 7. Kolten Wong, 2B 8. Matt Carpenter, 1B 9. Michael Wacha, P The biggest surprise was that Matt Carpenter was at first base, especially with Daniel Hudson (not a LHP) on the mound. Much was made of this by the local media - saying that we may have a lack of confidence in Matt Adams. That's simply not true at this point. He just has a little back strain and we don't want him to aggravate it. We'll be back with the results of our first Spring Training game later today. __________________ OOTP in Real-Time - St. Louis Cardinals View Current Organizational Depth Chart (dynamic)