DOWNTOWN — The rising closer prospect in the organization and a once-idling slugger getting closer to reclaiming his reputation as a prospect were part of the younger flavor at this year’s Winter Warm-Up.

(Them and Anthony Reyes’ red-dyed swathe of spiked hair.)

Chris Perez, a 2005 draft pick out the University of Miami, is earmarked to be Triple-A’s closer this summer, coming off a year that ended with an invite to join Team USA in the Olympic preview tournament. A bulky closer with a whirling slider, Perez had 77 strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings and nearly twice as many walks as hits allowed (41 vs. 23).

Joe Mather had a breakout year, hitting 31 home runs and leaping two levels – something he had not done in his four previous seasons of pro baseball. Mather was always considered one of the best athletes and strongest players in the system, but the frame and the ability didn’t connect with the production. Until 2007. He was added to the 40-man roster and is becoming more proficient in the outfield so he has a position to go with the bat.

Both Mather and Perez will be at major-league spring training this year, but first they answered questions from the assembled media at Winter Warm-Up:

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Q: What do you make of your first brush with this?

Mather: I had no what to expect. Last night we came into the lobby - me, Chris, Bryan Anderson, some of the young guys - no clue what the expect. It was awesome seeing all the fans camp out. It was awesome. Definitely rings true to what everyone says.

Q: You guys - Chris on Team USA, Joe starting in Springfield last year - are part of and have been with the group that the club is counting on to produce in the next few years. Can you tell us about that group of talent - yourselves, Colby Rasmus, you mentioned Anderson?

Perez: It’s pretty special. A lot of guys don’t have the opportunity to play with great players all the way through the system. It will be good when we get up there and we’re all used to playing with each other. We’ve built chemistry in the lower levels. Keep it going as we keep advancing levels. To have a core guys that are young and get along, it’s pretty special. You might not get that again in your career. I look at it as a great opportunity to help the Cardinals in the future. Comfortable with each other. Played a lot of games with each other. Played a lot of games with each other. If you’re comfortable off the field, it’s going to help you on the field. The clubhouse will be good.

We had a good time playing with each other in Springfield. We had a great team. A lot of young guys. It was a lot of our first times there. We gelled together. It’s our first time for all of us, so we’re learning together.

Q: Do you guys pay attention to what seems like a change in direction in this organization? Chris you haven’t been around the organization as long, but Joe I think you know that three years ago maybe these opportunities aren’t there. Do you guys notice that?

Mather: Absolutely. I think more so probably at our level than the guys in the big leagues. It has a direct effect on that. Mozeliak is a great guy and we kind of came up with him as well. Same with a couple managers. … Definitely we keep tabs on what’s going on.

Q: So, do you see an opportunity that wasn’t there three years ago?

Mather: Yes. Absolutely. Just look at our Springfield team. Take that for example - how young we were there. I think that’s kind of going all the way up. Memphis will be young. Obviously, St. Louis will be young. It’s proven. The Brewers won. The D’backs won. It can work. I think it’s good for all of us in that sense.

Q: Joe, what do you think clicked for you this year?

Mather: I was in A-ball for awhile. Again, that organizational thing you were talking about is changing. For me, I obviously didn’t feel like I should be there. But I was. I had to battle through that. Definitely something this year clicked over than the years before. Probably maturity. I’m learning the game a little bit more. Just having a sense of what’s going on. You feel like should be there. I was finally where I thought I should be. I think the whole confidence level was there, too.

Q: Chris, what do you look at that you need to refine to get that game-in, game-out …

Perez: It’s no secret. I need to throw more strikes. It’s little stuff. It’s nothing big. It’s just a bunch of little stuff. Every time out there, I get more muscle memory. This works. That doesn’t. It’s a process. I keep fighting it. I keep trying to do it. At the same time, I’m still pretty successful. It’s a double-edged sword. Do I really change a lot? Do I just stay with what got me here? It’s like a tightrope. I go either way. I’m working on some stuff. It will click eventually. I’m not that bad, you know. I’m doing OK.

It’s just little stuff. It could happen in spring training, it could happen next year. You just never know.

Q: How was the Team USA experience?

Perez: It was great. Second time I’ve played with them. Played with them in college. It’s a once in a lifetime, but I got lucky and did it twice. It’s fun, competing with your country. I was with Andy and Ras. We had a great time. It really didn’t hit me until we won the championship and we’re standing out there listening to your song being played.

Q: Joe, is it a little hard to believe that you’re finally getting a look after as long as it’s been?

Mather: A little bit. Going into spring last year, I didn’t really know. You always feel like they’re going to put in where you think you need to be. I’ve seen guys who were in my position who were released. That’s the nature of the game. Going into spring I didn’t really know. Felt good. But, I don’t know if I expected to have the season I did. I hoped to, but I don’t know if it was implanted in my head that I’m going to hit 30 home runs, I’m actually going to do it.

Q: How many places are you trying to prepare yourself defensively?

Mather: Yeah. Left. Right. Center. First. Third. Kind of all over. I started at short in Johnson City, and went short to third, third to first, first to third to left, left to right, played a little center last year. I don’t really care, either way. Definitely all over in Phoenix, practicing.

Q: They given you an idea where they want you to focus on?

Mather: I don’t think it’s first base.

I don’t think it’s first or third. So, probably in the outfield.

Q: Where did the home runs come from? Had you been a slugger before turning pro?

Mather: I had a rough year in Jersey. Maybe it two home runs. Hit them on back-to-back days. Outside of that, I always hit a few home runs. This year was the first year where I broke Florida. I felt Florida. That might have had something to do with it, too.

I think I’m projected to hit a few home runs.

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Will be at Winter Warm-Up all weekend, filing live updates into the blog from press conferences and panels. On Monday, I’ll be hosting a panel for fans at noon. It’s opposite Tony La Russa’s Q & A on the main stage and Albert Pujols signing autographs. So choose wisely … and get back to me if they say or do anything newsworthy.

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