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In each of the past five years, the Cardinals organization has chosen a pitcher in the first round of baseball's annual amateur draft.
In 1992, the Cardinals used their first-round pick (fifteenth overall) to select Sean Lowe, a hard-throwing righthander.
Lowe, who played college baseball at Arizona State University, has steadily climbed the ladder within the Cards organization. In 1996, he pitched for Louisville (AAA) and Arkansas (AA) in 1996, after wearing Arkansas and St. Petersburg (A) uniforms in 1995.
Evidently, in 1997 Lowe is still considered to have some skills, because he was chosen as the Opening Night starter for Louisville. He responded with seven shutout innings vs. Indianapolis...and limited the Reds AAA affiliate to just one hit.
Perhaps Lowe, who is now 26 years old, will soon be ready for a big league audition. If not in St. Louis, then somewhere...especially with another round of major league expansion on tap next year.
The line in St. Louis, though, is rather crowded as far as pitching prospects are concerned...and Lowe's arrival at Busch Stadium, while still possible, is no certainty, either.
That's because, in the four years since Sean Lowe was selected, the Cardinals have picked four additional pitchers in the first round of all four drafts--Alan Benes ('93), Bret Wagner ('94), Matt Morris ('95), and Braden Looper ('96).
And there appears to be a jewel or two in that group.
To wit, after Alan Benes made his big league debut in September of 1995, he posted quality numbers in '96 in St. Louis. During the '96 season, Cards pitching coach Dave Duncan often used the word "special" when describing Alan Benes.
So it's no real surprise that Benes was selected to be the Cardinals' starting pitcher in their 1997 home opener.
Bret Wagner is no longer with the organization; he was included in part of the package that Oakland accepted in exchange for Todd Stottlemyre, a veteran righthander now in the prime of his career.
Braden Looper? After starring for the '96 US Olympic team, the 22 year old fireballer is just now embarking on his professional career...and as this is written Looper is currently still in Florida, in what is referred to as extended spring training.
Which leaves Matt Morris.
Morris, who was the twelfth pick of the '95 draft, came to the Cardinals with rather impressive credentials.
In 1994, he was a member of Team USA...and was also named as the top college pitching prospect by Baseball America.
Morris backed up those credentials in the spring of 1996 when, as a result of injuries to more established Cardinals hurlers, as well as a couple of strong Grapefruit League outings, he made a strong bid to make the Cardinals 25-man roster in his first season of professional baseball.
Then, as well as now, Cards pitching coach Dave Duncan also labelled Morris as one of those "special" pitchers who, if things went according to plan, had a chance to be one of the best in his profession.
Morris was hit pretty hard, though, in late March Grapefruit League games in 1996...assuring a trip to the bus leagues.
So he started the 1996 season at the Cardinals' Arkansas Double A affiliate, where his numbers were so-so (12-12, 3.88 ERA, 120 Ks, 48 BBs, 167 IP, and 178 hits allowed). He also lost his only start as a member of the Louisville (AAA) affiliate, despite allowing only three runs in eight innings (while striking out nine).
"Last year, I felt like I should have made this team," Morris said recently. "But I didn't pitch well enough at the end."
"Then, when I got sent down, I thought I would dominate [in the Texas League]. What happened was, though, is that I learned more last year than in ten years of pitching...learning how to face adversity...Marty Mason (Arkansas' pitching coach) was a big help...and after a while I starting learning how to pitch."
Just prior to Morris' big-league debut vs. the Astros on 4.4.97, pitching coach Dave Duncan was asked about the 1997 version of Matt Morris, and on his development as a pitcher in 1996.
"Yes, that's right. Matt Morris progressed a lot in the minors last year. It wouldn't have been fair to him, last year, to ask him to do what we think he can do this year. This year, it's like night and day. "
Duncan continued: "Matt Morris has a good fastball, a good breaking ball, a good change-up, AND he can locate the ball. He has the potential to be something special."
And when Dave Duncan talks about pitchers, and in particular young blue-chip pitchers with potential, it pays to listen.
A catcher for ten years in the big leagues, Duncan caught the likes of Vida Blue, Wayne Garland, Mike Flanagan, and Dennis Martinez early in their careers.
And while serving as a pitching coach for both Rene Lachemann and Tony La Russa, Duncan tutored youngsters such as Floyd Bannister, Richard Dotson, and LaMarr Hoyt...before all three broke through with banner seasons.
So Dave Duncan knows young pitchers, and, just a couple of hours before Morris' recent debut vs. the Astros, seemed to be looking forward to the night's baseball in general, and Morris' performance in particular.
"There are two sides to that," said Duncan when asked it would be fun watching yet another of his proteges take the mound for the first time.
"It's exciting to watch young guys.
"But there's a certain nervousness to see how [a young guy] does, too. The key is, your expectations can't be too great. But it's a big game [for Morris].
"It's all about experience...it's a big game for him...there are a number of firsts [for Morris]," Duncan continued. "As long as nothing happens early..."
Duncan continued: "There are a lot of ups and downs for first year pitchers. You have to learn to deal with adversity. You have to be able to get through the tough times. Most guys get too this level as power guys. When in trouble they revert to power. You have to teach them there's another way to get batters out."
So how did Matt Morris' initial start with the Cardinals turn out?
In 5+ innings pitched (50 strikes and 30 balls), Morris allowed seven hits (three of which came in the sixth inning), and recorded one strikeout and one walk. Thanks to stellar sixth-inning relief help from Lance Painter and Rich Batchelor, Morris allowed only one run and left the game with the Cardinals ahead 2-1.
Later, though, the Astros tied the game in the seventh inning and won the game on a Jeff Bagwell RBI single in the eleventh.
Morris' outing, though, seemed strong. And Dave Duncan's words about things happening early and adversity seemed unusually prescient. Here's what happened.
The Astros All-Star 2B, Craig Biggio, led off the game with a single to CF.
One major league batter faced by Matt Morris...and one base hit.
But Morris didn't appear to be flustered by Biggio's presence at first...heck, he didn't seem to pay ANY attention to the baserunner.
Biggio responded by stealing second...and television replays indicated that he had taken at least a half-dozen strides toward second before Morris had released the ball. On his best day, Johnny Bench wouldn't have thrown out Biggio.
Then, Jeff Bagwell singled home Biggio, and the 'stros were up 1-0.
Hmmm...how would Morris respond, in this, the first inning of his first big league start?
The Astros tried to keep the pressure on, as Bagwell, emulating Biggio's example, took off for second.
This time, though, Morris was on top of things..and so was C Tom Lampkin, whose throw to second was on the money and in time to retire Bagwell.
The next day, Morris talked about that first inning, and Biggio's single and subsequent steal of second base.
"I know I've got to concentrate on the batters. But after Biggio's hit, the next thing I know, he's sliding into second base.
"I just told myself...'relax...you know how to hold runners'. It all depends on what you focus on."
After Bagwell was retired, Morris focus evidently improved, as he retired 13 of the next 15 batters that he faced, before giving up three successive singles to start the sixth inning.
Pitching coach Duncan was satisfied with Morris' outing--"I thought he did a very good job of giving us a chance to win the game. That's what a starting pitcher is supposed to do."
Duncan, too, had noticed that rocky first inning. "That could have been a distraction...but he recovered from it," he said while grinning.
Asked why Morris was removed in the sixth inning (photo), Duncan smiled again. "He was in trouble. He had another 15 or 20 pitches left, but we felt like the bullpen could do the job. He was taken out because of game circumstances, not because of his youth."
Matt Morris' view on his first big league start: "The day that I've been waiting for, for a long time, finally came. I was thinking about it the whole day...the team flew me in a day early...so that I could get some sleep.
"Well, I woke up at 7:30, and walked the mall [ED. NOTE: adjoining the Cards' hotel in Houston]...while it was still closed! The whole day was long.
"Then, after the first inning was over, it was just like a regular game.
"I'm looking to get that next start."
Tony La Russa's view of Matt Morris' Cardinal debut?
"Outstanding. He did a good job under tough circumstances. He'll do a better job each time out."
The next time out for Matt Morris is scheduled for Thursday, April 10.
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