Commish’s Offerings 3-6-2023
Rick Hummel is presented by:
Fast Eddie’s Bon Air
in Alton, Illinois
All Eyes on Walker
JUPITER, Fla.--You've seen it happen nearly every spring. A minor league player, whether touted or not, explodes onto the scene in the first week of big-league camp and fans start talking as if he's going to make the big league ball club. Even the player starts to think so, playing “junior general manager” in his mind.
Jordan Walker is that type of player this spring for the Cardinals. He never has played above Class AA but he is the Cardinals' highest-rated prospect and one of the most ballyhooed in the majors. He was nine for 21 in the Cardinals' first eight games and many fans have him projected as the Cardinals' starting left fielder or right fielder.
Walker might have a right to think that way, too, but he doesn't seem to look too far ahead.
"“It's very important not to,” said manager Oliver Marmol. “One of the most important things he can do is just continue to do his job—to control the things he can control. Being a junior general manager is an unproductive exercise.”
But Marmol admits, “I have seen that although I haven't experienced any guys doing that right now.”
The other day, Walker mentioned how he looked for pitches in certain areas and would lay off others. “I did the same but I wasn't able to lay off those,” cracked Marmol. “That's the difference with this guy.
"“He has an approach and he's stubborn about sticking to it. That's what given him success and it's only going to improve. We're only going to see him get better.”
Some veteran baseball men said the biggest tipoff on a young player comes from his first exposure to failure and his subsequent reaction.
“He's yet to encounter real failure,” Marmol said. “But I think you can tell from somebody's personality as to how he would handle it. There's nothing that concerns me with him being able to see his way through failure. It's just his demeanor and the overall way that he processes pressure and the way he articulates things.
"“Is it always good to see a player go through (failure)? Absolutely,” said Marmol. “Am I wishing that upon him? No. But I do think his personality lends itself well to the ups and downs of this game.”
Most of Walker's damage has been done against a weak Washington Nationals staff and 37-year-old Johnny Cueto of Miami.
But Marmol said, “We haven't slotted him against pitchers that would be in his favor. That's a drastic measure.”
Walker still hasn't faced the likes of New York's Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. “Why not?” said Marmol.
“I don't mind that at all.
“The reality of it is that he's going to get a lot of time moving forward,” said Marmol, referencing the upcoming World Baseball Classic that will take away Tyler O'Neill from the Cardinals' outfield and Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado from the middle of the order.
"Jordan is talented,” Marmol said. “Like everyone else, it's fun to watch what he's capable of doing. No question.”
Of his first nine hits, two of Walker's have come from legging out infield hits to the left side. While Marmol said he could appreciate that, he said, “I like the homers.”
But Marmol allowed that Walker's speed and refusal to yield a routine groundout “are good traits to have, don't get me wrong. It's how he approaches the game and that he's not going to give up just because you didn't have the outcome you wanted.
"“Driving the baseball the way he has is also a good trait. There's different ways he can beat you.
"“He has shown us he's willing to use all of them. And he's mature beyond his age (20), for sure. He carries himself extremely well. That's a credit to his parents".
And, in case you were wondering. Albert Pujols, who, in effect, rose from Class A to the majors in the spring of 2001 to crack the Cardinals' varsity, batted .306 with three homers in spring training. But he also played five positions defensively.
Goldschmidt goes home again
The major exodus of players to the WBC is taking place Monday. Among the many Cardinals to depart is first baseman Goldschmidt, the reigning National League Most Valuable Player who is headed for Phoenix to play for the United States team in WBC pool play.
In a sense, Goldschmidt is going home because the games will be in Chase Field in Arizona where he has played most of his illustrious career and was one of the franchise's most popular players ever.
"“Last year, when I knew where they were going to play it, I was begging to get on the team,” he said. “And that's probably not that big an exaggeration so, luckily, I played well last year and was able to convince them to take me.
"I'm very, very excited.”
Goldschmidt, who has hit .417 in 12 at-bats for the Cardinals, said one of his concerns had been “not to rush to get ready for the WBC.
"But, getting ready for that sets you up for the regular season so it's not that tough, We'd love to be at mid-season form for the WBC but you've just got to understand that you can't get there.”
Goldschmidt played on the champion United States team in 2017 but those games were played in Miami, San Diego and Los Angeles.
"I like being here but I'm definitely looking forward to being there,” said Goldschmidt of going back to Arizona.
"“It's a special thing, a great opportunity. I thought it was something I'd never get the opportunity to do.”
