His
daily spring training routine at Al Lang Stadium?
|
|||
Mark Sweeney joined the Cardinals in July of 1995 after being obtained in a trade from the California Angels.
Sweeney is a pleasant young man who obtained a bachelors degree from the University of Maine while playing a little QB for the Black Bears.
Sweeney, 27, is entering his third season with the Cardinals, and appeared in 98 games in 1996.
A patient hitter, in 1996 Sweeney's 45 hits (in 170 at-bats) were accompanied by 33 walks...making him a valuable part of Tony La Russa's1996 Cardinal squad.
A versatile player, Sweeney contributed extra-base hits from the lead-off spot in La Russa' line-up, and bunt singles while batting clean-up.
But as far as making the 25 man roster is concerned, each year is a new year for players with Mark Sweeney's skills and attributes.
And at the start of 1997's spring training, OF-1B Sweeney didn't need his college degree to figure out that his position as a Cardinal was by no means a certainty.
Not with a Cardinals outfield that includes starters Ron Gant, Ray Lankford, Brian Jordan...backed up by Willie McGee.
Not with last year's regular first baseman, John Mabry, seemingly ticketed for substantial duty in right field.
Not with the organization's top hitting prospect, Dmitri Young, expected to be given every chance to win the 1B job while Lankford recovered from a shoulder injury.
Not with back-up catcher Danny Sheaffer's versatility...a versatility that enables him to play the same positions as Sweeney.
Then, with the notion that maybe the club needed some back-up help for Gary Gaetti at third base, Andy Van Slyke was invited to spring training as a non-roster player.
Never mind that Van Slyke's skills at third base were found wanting during his first go-round in St. Louis.
In any event, though, Van Slyke arrived in St. Petersburg in tip-top shape and in possession of a quick lefthanded bat. Not to mention superior outfield defensive skills.
So Sweeney, when asked in mid-March how he was doing, responded with a genuine smile that was accompanied by a nervous sigh.
"Hey, I'm just trying to make the ballclub."
His
daily spring training routine at Al Lang Stadium?
"Just everything. I've been doing a lot of outfield stuff...because first base is one of those crowded positions. I know that outfield is too, but, we don't have as many outfielders in camp. I haven't played a game at first base...the only thing I can do right now is take ground balls and get my work in there so that I can feel comfortable enough to do the job if Tony [La Russa] asks me to."
"I've been playing every day, getting as many at-bats as anyone...I feel good at the plate. I'm trying to be a little more aggressive at the plate, not take as many pitches. I'll see how that goes. Basically I'm looking to hit the fastball when they first throw it. These last few games I've been a little too aggressive. It's one of those things you learn...you learn as you go."
"I want to show that I've made an adjustment to be a better hitter. That's one of those things that you've got to do when you're looking to make the team...to make a different impact on the team than you did last year."
On his '96 season, Sweeney was quite informative about his role as a Cardinal reserve...and on what he was focusing on this spring.
"Last year was my first full year that I was on the team. Last year I was under the microscope...and they say, well, 'your bench did the job but sometimes they didn't really drive too many runs in'...or 'they didn't hit the ball over the fence'...but I'm still learning the role from watching Willie [McGee] and the bench guys on the other team. I came in here, thinking to myself, you've got to prepare yourself to be an every day player. Not that that's going to happen, but that's what I have to ask myself to go out and try to push myself, to do that because eventually I would like to be an everyday player. But I understand that it's going to take an injury or something else for me to be that here. If I don't take that mentality I'm not getting the most out of myself...and also pushing other people that are in front of me. It's one of those things that you learn to do...and what you really want to get out of yourself."
On how he stays ready in his role as a reserve--
"Sometimes when I look at the lineup card and I'm not in there...then my game is right before the game. Because I want to be ready for any situation that night. So I'll put myself in a lot of situations...ground balls or during batting practice...it makes it difficult at times but those are the things that you learn."
Sweeney then returned to the necessity of practicing at first base during spring training...and on his need to be able to play more than one outfield position.
"I've put more time in the outfield, so, when we're at home, after the game, if I haven't taken ground balls in batting practice, I'll do it after the games (at Al Lang). I'm always for doing extra things, and I don't want to get in the way of others who want to take ground balls during batting practice.
"I always have to be ready...and the hard thing is that
when you play first base after spending time in the outfield,
everything accelerates at first...so you can take 200 ground balls,
but that first grounder that you get [in a game] is a little quicker
than you expect."
"But I have to be ready for anything. I remember a game last year, a game against the Braves. McGriff hit it. I was put in right field. Tony Fossas was throwing. I'd been playing mostly left...the first ball was a knuckleball hit to me off McGriff...it was knuckling at me...I made a diving catch..and as the saying goes...the ball will definitely find you...
"So when I'm doing all these things, I always want to be prepared for whatever happens. There are so many situations..and I think I'm doing as much as I can so I can put myself in a position to be ready, especially with Tony as manager."
With the regular season less than a week old, Mark Sweeney once again finds himself on the Cardinals 25 man roster.
And with injuries to McGee and Van Slyke and starting catcher Tom Pagnozzi (which necessitates more playing time for his lefthanded-hitting backup, Tom Lampkin), Mark Sweeney's lefthanded bat off the bench may be more important than ever, especially in light of Lankford's absence from the lineup.
All in all, as Mark Sweeney looks to make a contribution to the 1997 edition of the St. Louis Cardinals, it looks like his eye is focused squarely on the ball.
|
||||||||||
