amag
04-01-2002, 05:22 PM
From MLB.com
http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/stl/news/stl_news.jsp?ymd=20020331&content_id=2973&vkey=news_stl&fext=.jsp
BENES WINS NO. 5 SPOT
While the decision to put Andy Benes in the starting rotation and send Bud Smith to Triple-A was surprising to some, it may not have been a very difficult move for the Cardinals to make. Although Benes' 1.95 ERA may seem a lot more impressive than Smith's 5.48, that probably wasn't much of a factor in the decision.
"The last thing you want to do is look at stats," said La Russa. "On picking those last two spots, the most important thing you do is you don't look at straight numbers. You're going to try and gauge how well a guy is throwing, how many weapons does he have to go through a lineup? If you just went by stats, you wouldn't even need to come to the games, you'd just have a piece of paper."
Smith allowed 12 earned runs in his last two Spring Training starts and the reason appeared to be the location of his pitches. In his last start, Smith threw 84 pitches in 3 2/3 innings despite walking only one batter. Smith doesn't overpower hitters, so it's crucial for him to have great location on his pitches.
Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said Smith just needs to work on a few things at Memphis. "Bud has been somewhat of a slow starter and I think it's just a matter of him getting starts and being more consistent," said Jocketty.
Benes isn't throwing as hard as he used to but is seeing some early results of an offseason program that allowed him to get his sore knee healthy. He says he threw off the mound a lot more this offseason.
Benes is expected to start the third game of the season against the Rockies on Thursday at 12:10 p.m. CT.
http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/stl/news/stl_news.jsp?ymd=20020331&content_id=2973&vkey=news_stl&fext=.jsp
BENES WINS NO. 5 SPOT
While the decision to put Andy Benes in the starting rotation and send Bud Smith to Triple-A was surprising to some, it may not have been a very difficult move for the Cardinals to make. Although Benes' 1.95 ERA may seem a lot more impressive than Smith's 5.48, that probably wasn't much of a factor in the decision.
"The last thing you want to do is look at stats," said La Russa. "On picking those last two spots, the most important thing you do is you don't look at straight numbers. You're going to try and gauge how well a guy is throwing, how many weapons does he have to go through a lineup? If you just went by stats, you wouldn't even need to come to the games, you'd just have a piece of paper."
Smith allowed 12 earned runs in his last two Spring Training starts and the reason appeared to be the location of his pitches. In his last start, Smith threw 84 pitches in 3 2/3 innings despite walking only one batter. Smith doesn't overpower hitters, so it's crucial for him to have great location on his pitches.
Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said Smith just needs to work on a few things at Memphis. "Bud has been somewhat of a slow starter and I think it's just a matter of him getting starts and being more consistent," said Jocketty.
Benes isn't throwing as hard as he used to but is seeing some early results of an offseason program that allowed him to get his sore knee healthy. He says he threw off the mound a lot more this offseason.
Benes is expected to start the third game of the season against the Rockies on Thursday at 12:10 p.m. CT.