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01.14.2007 9:30 am
WWu Day 1: Eckstein Extension & Travel Plans
Derrick Goold
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

DOWNTOWN — The ice storm cancelled one several current and former Cardinals’ flights, made others’ flights uncertain  and forced Tony La Russa to get creative with his travel plans, but it didn’t slow the crowds on the first day of the 11th Annual Winter Warm-up.

Some news and notes as Day 2 is getting started:

David Eckstein and the Cardinals are going to talk about a contract extension during spring training.

Scott Rolen’s autograph session has been scheduled for 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. today. His time at the podium had been uncertain and not included in the original calendar of events.

Albert Pujols is jetting to the Dominican Republic today with  six doctors. The doctors will  be visiting and helping villages as part of an work done by the Pujols Family Foundation.

Scott Spiezio’s signing session for Sunday has been delayed until later in the day or possibly Monday because his flight was cancelled.

Kip Wells flight was cancelled, and his autograph session has not been rescheduled.

Jim Edmonds’ arrival is uncertain.

– In one of the more candid moments of the day,  prospect Brendan Ryan — who asserted his spot in the organization with a strong Arizona Fall League  season — said he wasn’t “doing jumping jacks” when he saw the Cardinals signed Adam Kennedy to a three-year contract.  Ryan made the switch to shortstop as a junior in college and has played there his entire pro career (save for one inning at third, he said). But his youth was spent at second base.

– As part of the online initiative to bring more Cardinals coverage to StlToday.com than ever before, there are two question and answer audio files on the  Web site today. One with recently re-signed Randy Flores and the other with Chris  Narveson, who  will either be the ace in Triple-A Memphis or pitch his way onto the big-league team.  They can be found here, with a complete coincidental ad wedged into the story.

Vince Coleman had to cancel his autograph session because of a cancelled flight. No word if it has been rescheduled.

– Former first-round pick Chris Lambert spoke with a few of us yesterday about growing up a hockey player — a defenseman — but throwing hard enough that he jumped sports late in his life. He figures to make the leap to Triple-A this summer, even as he’s becoming a different pitcher than the one the Cardinals drafted. He had a blazing fastball then and spoke Saturday of how he’s refined his game and found better success with a changeup that offsets the mph drop in his speed.

Making his Warm-up debut, Josh Kinney said the attention and the crowds was just a continuation of what’s been happening all winter for him. His hometown in Steeler-country Pennsylvania is decked out in Cardinals and Kinney stuff. “Banners across Main Street,” he said. “Stores had pictures up. We have Cardinals stuff up in north-central Pennsylvania. … Every little place has Cardinals stuff.” He does not have a land line at his hunting lodge and his cell phone doesn’t get service out there, so reporters from local papers have just stopped by to get their story on the World Series champion.

– Always  like scavenger hunting through the vender booths in the back room at the Warm-up. There’s always a gem to be found. And this year I bought a copy of Sport magazine  from May 1962. The cover has pictures of Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Ernie Banks, Rocky Colavito and Ed Mathews.  The issue is titled, “Special Issue: The Changing Character of Baseball.” The sub reads:

“The Home Run: How It’s Shaking Up the Game and the Sluggers”

The more things change …

-30-


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