Matt Adams: There was an article on STLToday about Adams practicing bunting and he confirmed that he'll look to do it more this year if the opponent gives him the opportunity to get a free hit. He is not, however, doing extra bunting work, but it is an area he would like to improve. Adams is regularly shifted against and he recognizes that it has became part of the game. He is in favor of it as a strategy. He's working to stick with his approach and ignore how the other team is playing him. If he hits the ball where the pitch is thrown, he does not have much control over what happens when it leaves his bat. The 2015 team is hungry to get past last year's early exit. Adams wants to build on his first full season as a starter by improving against left-handed pitching. He was able to do it in the minor leagues but needs to make adjustments to the major league quality arms. This offseason he did a number of drills to help him track the ball out of left-handed pitchers' hands, but the best way to improve is by facing live pitching. Adams credited Jose Oquendo with his improvement as a defensive first baseman and touched on the team's use of shifting to put him in a position to make plays.
Matt played along and answered yesterday's questions of the day saying that Kolten Wong is the Cardinal most likely to get a pedicure. Adams enjoys tanlines, saying that all players are prone to them because they don't have time to go to the beach. Most importantly, he settled the nickname debate by saying 'Big City' is his favorite because it was coined by Lance Berkman and David Freese. Finally, the guys asked who would win a fight between him and Matt Holliday. Big City noted that Holliday has grown man strength and Adams is not a fighter, so Holliday would probably win.
Taping a lunch interview with Matt Adams for @FSMidwest . We discuss condiments. #STLCards pic.twitter.com/KIQ4sNMP8k
— Jim Hayes (@TheCatOnFox) February 21, 2015
Michael Wacha: Wacha immediately addressed the questions surrounding his health and said his arm feels great. He's been recovering well after each day's activities and particularly after bullpens. When he was diagnosed with the stress reaction last year, he recognized that there was not a lot of information available to him and the team about a rehab procedure or timeline. Last year's injury was the first time Wacha could recall being hurt for a significant amount of time. He thinks his coaches did a good job of preventing overuse and keeping his arm healthy growing up and poinsted out that he did not specialize in pitching. Additionally, he didn't throw a curveball until late in his high school career, and he half jokingly said that's why it develop slowly in college. This year he's staying more active in the weight room in an effort to keep his arm healthier.
Eventually the conversation shifted to last year's playoffs. Wacha said he tried to stay sharp during the playoff run by throwing bullpens and off flat ground. By the time he was called into Game Five of the NLCS, he felt that he was passed the injury and his arm felt great. Obviously the appearance didn't go the way he wanted to, but he has put the appearance behind him just like he put the success of the 2013 Postseason behind him when he came into 2014. He'd prefer to set team goals, but he wants to throw 200 innings and make all of his starts because it would help the team.
Question of the Day: Today the Plowboy was asking the players which celebrity they'd take a steam with and if they use a loofa or a washcloth when they bath. The best answer today came from John Lackey! Here are the results:
Player
|
Celebrity Steam
|
Loofa or Washcloth
|
Greg Garcia
|
Pass
|
N/A
|
Randal Grichuk
|
Pass, but
changed to Jim Hayes
|
Washcloth
|
Stephen Piscotty
|
Never steamed
before
|
Neither
|
Matt Adams
|
One of the
models
|
Audio cut out
|
Unidentified
|
Can’t answer
|
Washcloth
|
Matt Carpenter
|
Ignored
|
|
Tony Cruz
|
Not sure. Tough
question, no comment.
|
Washcloth
|
John Lackey
|
Not sure. A
steam is a solo mission.
|
Washcloth
|
Xavier Scruggs
|
Does not steam
|
Does not shower
|
Jordan Walden
|
Burt Reynolds
|
N/A
|
Jon Jay
|
Allen Craig
|
Washcloth
|
Matt Holliday
|
Does not steam or
know what it means, but he’ll go with Jim Hayes
|
Washcloth
|
Lance Lynn
|
Ignored, talked
to Seth Maness
|
|
Mark Reynolds
|
Matt Holliday
|
Loofa, have to
exfoliate
|
Derek Lilliquist
|
Cameron Diaz
|
Washcloth
|
Randy Choate
|
Babe Ruth
|
Loofa
|
Michael Wacha
|
N/A
|
Loofa
|
John Mabry
|
Does not like Jim Hayes, but uses a washcloth
|
|
Adam Wainwright
|
Ignored
|
|
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