Recap disclaimer – this may be more a random observations list than a specific blow-by-blow of the game. Spring training results are unimportant, right? It’s the process, after all.

Pre-Game Notes

From my wanderings around the back fields. And introductory tour of the media service room, et. al., as I picked up my press pass.

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Pitching plan – Liberatore starts today, to be followed by Shuster, Romero, Raquet, Romero

I note that Dobbins is out of the rehab group and in with a pitching group now. Suspecting he has gotten full clearance then?

Herrera at DH, Sags in LF today

Bit of a local connection to this game … a kid from my neighborhood, Kellen Strahm, is starting RFer for the Astros. Total trivia … he was the QB for Sheldon High School (we put 5 kids through there) just before … Justin Herbert (you may have heard of him), another neighborhood kid. Kellen made a couple nice catches out there.

Pre-game w/ Oli

On camera

Sags – will get some time in left and center.

Walker – sees/hears more productive and mature communications, positive on his direction

Spring culture … overall this is a more connected group, many in the same boat and will play together for a while

Off camera – way more informal

Talked super utility role – Zobrist/Figgins/et.al., personality, staying and being ready for multiple positions, more intentional about fitting this role now than before. Once a guy realizes he is not going to be that everyday guy at a single spot, then the drive to stay drives a guy to adapt

Update on Herrera throwing … throwing to all bases. Good carry on his throws. Getting better. Hope to DH today, catch on Sunday.

Discussed six-man rotation logistics through spring. Will need backfield games to do this.

Urias should be on the field tomorrow for his first spring exposure.

Game Observations

Libby looked pretty well. 51 pitches in 3 innings. Command was not totally sharp (typical for February). Ball seemed to being coming out of his hand really well. Used a good variety of pitches.

Walker got plenty of business in right. Continues to look more fluid out there. Displayed a strong arm.

Winn with a couple nifty defensive plays. We’ve come to expect that as routine from him. He seems to be moving well after off-season knee surgery.

Romero dispatched the Astros quickly in the 4th.

Pozo golfs a wind-aided homerun. There is a new 2-deck club area built around the LF foul pole that appears to introduce some new wind dynamics down there. LFers beware!

Burleson crushes a 3-run HR.

Late inning power, with a lot of pop from Jon Jon Gazdar boosted the Cardinal offense.

Post-Game Notes

Final score 9-4 Cardinals. 4 home runs (Pozo, Burleson, Crooks and Gazdar).

Raquet, Blewitt and Shuster each game up runs in relief. Moreno had pretty nice 9th inning.

The catcher Yerzy seemed pretty strong defensively, especially his arm. I haven’t seen him before, but will watch for more now.

Game temp in the high 70’s. A few clouds, but a great day all around.