ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Last week, Mike Shildt was laying the ground work for the St. Louis Cardinals 2019 spring training. He and is his coaches were there for three days of planning and strategizing when MLB pitchers and catchers officially report to camp on Feb. 12.
Although the only players required to already be at Roger Dean Chevy Stadium were about 50 non-roster invitees – Shildt says he saw a few likely opening day roster players such as Miles Mikolas, John Gant, Paul DeJong and Yadier Molina around the complex.
Shildt is in a new position as manager, leaving him in charge of all aspects at this year's camp – however there won't be many players new to Cardinals camp.
"The biggest thing we think about is trying to keep the routine seem as fresh as possible," Shildt says. "And what I mean by that is, spring training for me doesn't get long because I love it and most guys do, but it can get a little repetitious and the charge I have for myself and the staff to make it engaging for the players and to make the routine seem fresh.
"What we're going to do is introduce certain things we know we need to execute and then progress it to the next level. Master it, progress it. Master it, progress it until we get to the point where everybody owns it."
For free agent signee Andrew Miller, there may be a little more newness than just coming to a different complex. There will be questions throughout his spring training about the health of his knee, which put him on the DL for a major chunk of the 2018 season. Shildt wasn't able to offer specifics on how his staff will handle Miller next month, leaving it to be determined once the lefty arrives to Jupiter.
"That’ll be part of the process through the next couple of weeks," Shildt says. "We’ll work with him to make sure everybody is on the same page of getting him ready for that opener in Milwaukee."
Besides the daily schedule of manager, our Chris Hrabe and Mike Claiborne asked Shildt on Cardinals Countdown to Opening Day last night, what aspects of his job away from the ballpark he's been enjoying.
"I love interacting with our fanbase and the baseball people that you come in touch with and the passion, you know really this offseason just continues to energize me," Shildt says. "I don't know if it amazes me anymore, but I appreciate how special this organization is and no matter where you go you see people who are just excited and love Cardinals baseball ... It's just baseball people talking baseball."
Claiborne gave Shildt a warning, those conversations will only grow – espeically if he becomes a World Series-winning manager in St. Louis. Shildt says he welcomes it.
"If we're talking baseball and I'm in the Whole Foods or a supermarket or going to dinner, hey we'll sit and talk and exchange some ideas, that's no problem," Shildt says.