And
La Russa has been around long enough to be well aware of the importance
of leadership, and in particular, veteran leadership, as far as
winning championships is concerned.
|
|||
Brian Jordan is one of the primary men that Tony La Russa and the Cardinals will look to in 1997 as far as leadership is concerned.
And
La Russa has been around long enough to be well aware of the importance
of leadership, and in particular, veteran leadership, as far as
winning championships is concerned.
In fact, you can hardly talk baseball with La Russa for more than a few minutes without hearing about the importance of leadership.
Of course, it helps if your veteran players can play a bit, too. For Jordan, 1996's .310 batting mark, with 17 HRs and 104 RBIs, established that fact quite nicely.
In the spring of '97, Brian Jordan has picked up where he left off last October.
As of 3.19, Jordan is hitting .450 in 40 spring at-bats.
The only real concern for Jordan and the Cardinals would seem to be a lingering wrist injury, which may account for his low power production (his 21 hits include 18 singles and three doubles).
What follows are excerpts from a post-game interview conducted with a very relaxed Brian Jordan on 3.9.97.
And Jordan's status as a team leader, for this reporter, was eerily reinforced, because some of Jordan's words sounded more than a bit like those of his manager.
StLSO
readers can decide for themselves.
"I feel pretty good," he said, when asked about his health. "Things are going well for us this spring...not too bad...so far so good."
Much has been made of the fact that 1997, year #2 of the La Russa era in St. Louis, might be quite different from 1996.
Jordan was of two mindsets on that subject.
Mindset #1: "The only difference now, spring training 1997 vs. spring training 1996, is that we now have playoff experience. The team, and me, have come back this year working harder than ever. I know that I am going at it hard.
"And I'm trying to set an example. I don't want anybody to get complacent. I want to show the new guys...I want to help them blend in...guys like Delino."
And at first, Jordan talked about how playing for La Russa, in 1997, was the same as it was in 1996.
"Tony's
the same. He's as hard as ever...just push push push push. That's
Tony."
But after being questioned about what La Russa's main off-season message was for Brian Jordan, mindset #2 kicked in.
"No, Tony and I didn't say much over the off season. He knows what I can do. It's a good thing now. Tony knows his players...what they can do...and what to expect from them in certain situations.
"Because of that, it's a more relaxed atmosphere this spring. Still hard working, but more relaxed. For one thing, I know how good a manager he is..."
When asked about how Ozzie Smith's departure makes things different this spring, Jordan's answer was revealing.
"With
Ozzie gone, [I] lose a good friend...and the team loses a lot
of experience. I've worked hard taking all that in...what [Ozzie's]
taught me...I've taken in...and other veterans have taken in,
too.
"Don't forget the other veterans...McGee, Gaetti, and those guys. I still have a lot to learn...and I'm working hard and having fun doing it. I know I'm always pushing myself to get better."
And when asked about his apparent liking for the clean-up spot in the batting order, Jordan smiled.
"It doesn't matter to me...as long as it's third, fouth, fifth...one of those spots. I look upon batting fourth as a challenge...as a chance to drive in a lot of runs."
With Delino DeShields, Royce Clayton, and a healthy Ray Lankford on base at the top of the lineup, a healthy Brian Jordan may get all the challenge he wants in the summer of 1997.
|
||||||||||
