Cardinals getting to work in Florida
Wacha, Siegrist throw off mound early in camp for NL Central champs
JUPITER, Fla. -- The Cardinals' spring complex was again buzzing with activity on Tuesday, two days before pitchers and catchers are required to report to the facility.
Inside the clubhouse, members of the equipment staff continued to unpack the boxes and bins that had been unloaded off two trucks that recently arrived from St. Louis. They also reassembled the clubhouse ping-pong table, which was among the items sent down from Busch Stadium. Morning table tennis matches became a staple of spring last year thanks to Matt Holliday's recreational purchase. They are expected to resume later this week.
As for the activity out on the fields, here were some highlights:
• Several pitchers threw off the mound, including two -- Michael Wacha and Kevin Siegrist -- still trying to prove themselves healthy after injury-interrupted 2014 seasons. Also throwing in front of pitching coach Derek Lilliquist were Nick Greenwood and John Gast.
• Due to a scheduling quirk during the organization's recent Winter Warm-Up, general manager John Mozeliak had still not had an opportunity to meet new acquisition Jason Heyward in person … until Tuesday. Mozeliak, who arrived from St. Louis a day earlier, began the morning by seeking out Heyward while the right fielder was working through conditioning drills. The two shook hands and exchanged a brief introduction before Heyward resumed his work.
Video: Heyward introduced to fans at Hot Stove LIVE!
• With these still being voluntary workouts, manager Mike Matheny has had the opportunity to observe the players' work but also spend time with his three high school-aged sons, who spent the holiday weekend in Florida with their father. Matheny had one of his sons slip on a catcher's mask and catch Greenwood on Tuesday.
• Hitting coach John Mabry, who arrived in town on Monday afternoon, spent his first day at the complex and worked with some of the position players who reported early. New assistant hitting coach, Bill Mueller, has also already begun to work and spent time meeting with Mabry on Tuesday.