RMJ 26 March 12

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12 ● Port St. Lucie, vs Mets 

For various reasons, I took almost all of our key position players to Port St. Lucie. 

I took Sean Berry, because it was his coming-out party. He finally got the go-ahead to play third base and make the necessary throws.

I took Pat Listach, because I think he needs more innings in the field to get his shortstopping down after a long layoff at that position.

I brought Biggio and Bagwell because that gave us the chance to have our whole starting infield in the game for the first time.

I took Derek Bell, because he did not make the trip to Winter Haven.

I took Thomas Howard, because his sore arm put him a little behind the other guys in at-bats.

I took Brad Ausmus, because he needs at-bats and needs to learn our pitching staff.

And I took Luis González, who has been on virtually every trip, because I didn’t want him to be lonely in Kissimmee and because I wanted him to play a little first base.

Tommy Gregg is just about worn out from caddying for Bagwell. Tommy’s not complaining, because he’s trying to make the team. But his ankles are aching as if they didn’t have any feet attached.

When we arrived at the clubhouse this morning, it looked like Opening Day. The bus was ready to go, but the players were grumbling.

Gonzo broke the ice.

“What is this, the great grudge match with the Mets?” he yelled. “Cubby, did you sleep in your uniform? You’re the one who’s behind this, I know. You and Mac. Going back to your old stomping grounds, and you want to kick ass. I just figured it out.”

“I didn’t make out the list. He did,” Cubby said, pointing at me.

“I just did it the way you told me,” I said, hamming an innocent expression.

“Where’s Mac?” Gonzo asked. “He’s not getting out of this one.”

“He’s already down there,” I said. “He can’t wait to get at ’em.”

 “All I know is, this is horseshit,” Gonzo said. “Making everyone take a long trip just so you can show off for your friends.”

The guys were getting a pretty good laugh. Once again, I was grateful to have Luis, the live wire, on our team again. We lost more than a ballplayer when he went to the Cubs; we lost a whole clubhouse atmosphere.

Gonzo gets along with everyone. Because he speaks Spanish, he is great at getting the Latin guys involved. He fits right in with the Blacks and Whites as well.

How the Cubs could let him go, I don’t know. We got him for a million dollars, which in this market is a bargain. He drove in 79 runs for the Cubs last year, even though he was platooned much of the time. He has midrange power, and he walks more than he strikes out. If he hits the same way on our club, he’ll drive in 100 runs.

           

Derek Bell continued his hot hitting, driving home a pair with a single in the first inning. Everyone hit pretty well today, and the pitchers — Shane Reynolds, Billy Wagner, and Chris Holt — performed admirably. We won the game 6-3, and had some fun doing it.

When Bagwell came to bat in the fifth, I told him it would be his last inning. “If you get on,” I said. “I’m going to pinch-run with Gonzo.”

“Wait a minute,” Gonzo said. “I’m not loose yet.”

 “You better get loose, because I’m getting on,” Bagwell said, laughing as he went to the on-deck circle.

“You’re shittin’ me, right?” Gonzo said in a pleading tone.

 “No, I’m not,” I said.

 Bagwell made a bid, but Carl Everett caught his fly ball near the right-field line.

As it turned out, Berry didn’t get any plays at third, but Gonzo showed well at first.

Also in the fifth, I told Ausmus to “hit and get,” meaning he could shower and skedaddle.

“I’ll hit, but I can’t get,” he said. “I rode over with Gonzo.”

The whole bench got a kick out of that.

The way it works is that the proven players get certain privileges, like driving their own cars, that the rookies either don’t think they deserve or are afraid to ask for. In this case, Billy Spiers got caught in the double-switch as well. He rode over with Biggio, Bagwell, and Berry. Those three players came out after the fifth inning. I told them they could leave.

“Do you have a car at the complex?” I asked Billy.

“Yeah, but I came over with Bags, Bidge, and Sean.”

“I guess it’s your turn in the barrel,” I said. “I’ll give you a ride if you need it.” 

“That’s all right,” he said.

 As Billy ran out to third base, I saw Bagwell walking up the runway toward the clubhouse. “Do you want to wait until we come up to tell Billy, ‘hang with ‘em,’ or do you want me to tell him for you?”

“Tell him for me,” Bagwell said. “I’ll feel sorry for him if you don’t tell him to hang in there.”

It is difficult to get this kind of camaraderie going when you are losing. And I know there will be times when we will scuffle this year. But it is great to get a little banter going early, in the spring.

I noticed that Thomas “Tank” Howard was grinning aver the antics. He hasn’t really assimilated into the group yet. But a few more days like this (he went 3-for-4 with a couple of RBI and two runs scored) and he will fit right in.

They say it isn’t important to win games in the spring. And it isn’t, in any tangible way. But when you have as many new players as we do, and a whole new staff to boot, it doesn’t hurt to win.