Separated by 12 years in age, nearly 600 games of experience, a few vowels, and, of course, their handedness, relievers Marc Rzepczynski and Octavio Dotel will find themselves in familiar and similar roles after joining their new club Thursday.
Acquired in Wednesday's eight-player trade with the Toronto Blue Jays, the two relievers will slide into late-inning, specialist spots, with Rzepczysnki handling the left and Dotel targeting batters on the right. To make room on the active roster for the new additions, the Cardinals optioned lefty Raul Valdes to Class AAA Memphis. Rzepczynski is the only lefty in the bullpen now, and manager Tony La Russa said lefthanded hitters will be his "No. 1 priority."
"It's fun pitching late in a ball game. It's also fun starting," Rzepczynski said. "Now that I've done both I have no problem. What's the thing they say? I'd rather be here doing that than in the minors, which is Memphis here, right? So, I'd rather be here than Memphis."
Dotel, 37, has held righthanded hitters to a .159 average this season with a .205 on-base percentage. Long a friend of Albert Pujols', he said that being traded to the Cardinals was "very emotional" because he had wanted to play in St. Louis previously. The Cardinals will be his 12th team and he joked he could play for "maybe five more and I'll be OK."
His preference isn't who he'll face, but when.
"I always say I like to know what inning I'm going to pitch," Dotel explained. "It doesn't matter what inning. I don't care. But somehow it has been hard for a manager to tell me that. I don't blame them. I understand whatever they think. At this point, at this time, I've just got to get my mind ready and get whoever I face out."
Rzepczynksi, whose name is pronounced zep-CHIN-ski, said he understands his name is a mouthful. He goes by "Zep" in the clubhouse, or some in Toronto called him "Scrabble."
That nickname could stick.
His immediate role may not. The Cardinals were intrigued by the 25-year-old lefty in part because of his past a starter. Rzepczynski has held lefties to a .159 average and a .203 slugging percentage this season. He works with a sinker and sharp slider. He wants to improve his changeup, which would make him more effective against righthanded hitters.
The moves this week have left the Cardinals' bullpen without a long reliever. La Russa said agreed that there's no longer an arm to use for multiple innings without worrying about availability the next day. Rookie Lance Lynn or Mitchell Boggs could move into the role. Rzepczynski won't, cast instead as the shutdown lefty for hitters such as Prince Fielder and Joey Votto.
"I'm 25 years old, and I want to be as versatile as I can be," Rzepczynski said. "It's just going out there and if they want me to come in as a starter next year, I'll do the same thing I did with Toronto. I came in as a starter and halfway through I turned into a reliever. That's the history. And that's why I'm here."
CATCHING JACKSON
The first pitch catcher Yadier Molina receives from Edwin Jackson in warm-ups tonight will be the first pitch he's ever caught from the righty. But that doesn't mean he's working blind.
"I've got eight at-bats to learn from," Molina pointed out.
Acquired in Wednesday's deal, Jackson will make his Cardinals debut tonight against the Chicago Cubs. Molina, who is seven for eight in his career against Jackson, is scheduled to catch him for the first time at game time. The catcher said he can get enough from video, his previous at-bats vs. Jackson, and "10 minutes of warmup" to have a feel for the righty's stuff. Jackson is a power pitcher with a sharp slider and a different, "energetic" look, Molina described.
"The sooner Yadi and Jackson get together the better," La Russa said. "One conversation and four warmup (throws) and Yadi will be right on time."
PUNTO INJURED AGAIN
Infielder Nick Punto started at second base Thursday but lasted three innings before being replaced because of a strained left oblique. The club called his status "day to day" during the ball game. Punto has been slowed this season by myriad injuries, including a sore elbow that has not entirely healed. It's possible the team could buy him some forced rest to heal both injuries with a third turn on the disabled list this season.
EXTRA BASES
Outfielder Allen Craig went two for five with a double and two RBIs on Wednesday in his rehab assignment at Class AAA Memphis. La Russa continued to preach patience on the outfielder's return, saying it could be another week. ... Lance Berkman (shoulder) was not to be used Thursday and is questionable for tonight, La Russa said, in hopes that playing time does not "make it a reoccurring" injury.
