JUPITER, Fla. — The news that George Kissell was making a visit to Roger Dean Stadium this past week, prompted a quick Google search just to see what, if anything, Kissell had been up to recently. It was while Googling that I came upon this quote from Kissell, which ran in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette:

“As far as consistency and durability goes, (Albert Pujols) has been like a righthanded Stan Musial,” longtime Cardinals coach and instructor George Kissell said recently.

It would be easy to dismiss the quote as another in a line of fine, well-meaning exaggerations. Rick Ankiel is the next Steve Carlton until, well, he isn’t anymore. Bo Hart is next Tommy Herr – for a few weeks. But then this quote has gravity, oomph, importance. It’s from Kissell. And Kissell would know.

Kissell, 87, has been with the Cardinals since 1940 and he has appeared at spring training in seven different decades. The former Cardinal farmhand — who was signed by Branch Rickey — has served as a coach, minor-league manager, major-league coach and special instructor. By slipping into a jersey this weekend, he has now attended 68 of the past 69 Cardinals spring training. His influence spans generations. He taught Joe Torre, Mike Shannon and John Mabry how to play third base.

There isn’t a Cardinal who been in the organization since before 2006 who hasn’t had a chance to learn how to bunt from Kissell.

The Cardinals minor leaguers heard Kissell on Sunday morning he spoke to the assembled players and coaches. They then went out and won three of the four complete games. A few years back, Kissell let me sit in the cages with him, listening to his stories about how he became a ball player and how he feels A Cardinals Should Play. (Now he should star in the Cardinals’ new ad campaign.) His instruction once to Yadier Molina during a bunting drill:

“The bat has no knowledge at all,” Kissell said. “It does what you tell it to.”

Here’s what some hitters told their bats to do on the backlots Sunday:

** Memphis 8, Albuquerque 1 **

– A Dewon Brazelton sighting. Finally up on a mound and throwing after botching his invitation to major-league camp, Brazelton pitched two innings, allowed two hits and one earned run.

– Adam Daniels received the win for his impressive four shutouts innings, which including one walk, two hits and four strikeouts. … Ron Flores pitched two scoreless innings, and Mark Worrell – who has the look of a reliever who will arrive in the majros as a righty specialist, should the need arise — worked a perfect ninth.

– Perhaps the briefest Toronto Blue Jay in that franchise’s history, Cody Haerther went 3-for-4 with three RBIs. … Mike McCoy went 3-for-3 with an RBI, and according to observers had three keen defensive plays at second base for the Redbirds. … Mike Ferris  was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

** Carolina 10, Springfield 9 **

– Stu Pomeranz, fresh from a turn in the Arizona Fall League and a brief sip of spring coffee at the major-league camp, pitched 1 2/3 things, allowing no runs and two hits. … Shaun Garceau, who keeps up coming up as a pitcher to watch this season, took the loss. He pitched 2 1/3 innings, allowed five hits and six runs (all earned).

– Is there any doubt that if he’s healthy he’s going to hit? Jon Jay continued swinging with a 2-for-5 afternoon and two RBIs.

– A. J. Van Slyke (seen his name in these reports a lot, eh?) doubled, walked and had two RBIs. … Casey Rowlett homered, walked twice and scored twice.

** Palm Beach 9, Jupiter 3 ** 

– The organization’s first player from South Korea, Jai Chul Chung, got the victory with three scoreless innings. He’s entering his late 20s, so it will be interesting to see how rapidly the Cardinals push the pitcher.

– Josh Dew pitched two perfect innings for the save. He struck out one.

–  Christian Reyes’ three-run homer capped a four-run first inning for High-A Palm Beach. … Isa Garcia had a couple doubles, and Tyler Henley mashed a three-run home run. It cleared the second fence on the Field 3, a clout usually reserved for windy days or big-league batting practice.

** Quad Cities #1 7, Greensboro 5 **

– Athletes unleashed. D’Marcus Ingram and Adron Chambers – two of the Cardinals’ rawest and most gifted athletes at the lower levels — combined to stoke the offense for Quad Cities. Ingram singled, doubles and triple. Chambers, who took the bus to a Cardinals tryout, singled, doubled and homered.

– Pete Kozma coupled two hits and a walk with two snazzy defensive plays at shortstop. 

– Justin Ficke got the victory with two scoreless innings, allowing one hit, walking none and striking out two. Matt Spade earned the save with one scoreless hitting and one strikeout. 

** Quad Cities #2 5, Marlins 5th 3 **

– The Cardinals batted six innings in this game, but offered only three innings of pitching the other way. (Running short on arms … ) More from some familiar names: Charlie Pelt went 2-for-3 with two runs, and Charlie Kingrey doubled and tripled. Matt Arburr singled and had two sacrifice flies.

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