“WHO’S NEW TO THE ROOST?” asked a bold, red, banner headline at the top of the front page on the Post on Tuesday. Pictured beside the banner were cropped, eyebrow-to-lower lip head shots of … just who, exactly?
Redbird fans could be excused for not being able to pick these three faces n pitcher Mark Mulder, second baseman Mark Grudzielanek and shorstop David Eckstein n out of a Major League Baseball line-up.
Not that you would want to kick any of these guys off your team. Mulder is a front-line lefty coming off a season with 17 wins pitching in the nasty West Division of the American League, Grudzielanek is a solid middle-infielder and Eckstein is one of the scrappiest competitors in the game.
But, let’s face it. These guys make for a tough front-page sales job. Especially when one considers the faces that will not be appearing under a Cardinals brim this season.
Sports Eye asks that Redbirds fans picture, instead, the faces of Edgar Renteria, Tommy Womack and Mike Matheny. There goes the middle of your infield, your lead-off hitter, two Gold Glovers and the catcher that had anchored your starting rotation and remains the envy of any pitching coach or staff.
And you even know who they are just by looking at their faces. No need to read the fine print.
Yes, pop the bubbly, or a cold brew. Baseball is back! Pitchers and catchers officially reported to Spring Training on Tuesday!
But let’s wait until we have some line-up moves to celebrate before the sales job on Cardinals 2005 begins.