JUPITER, Fla. -- It was my dinner with Andrade ... and Ernie and Tony. In cross-networking that only spring training can provide, three stars of the sports world were sharing their stories and strategies.
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| La Russa on this year's Cards: 'We're young and we're talented.' (Getty Images) |
The first discussion was about Bill Belichick. La Russa told Accorsi that he and Belichick had become close friends. Tony said he admired that Belichick is "a coach, a great coach, not an entertainer." Accorsi talked about his complicated relationship with the complicated man.
"I hired him in 1991 when I was with the Cleveland Browns," said Accorsi, who had nine playoff teams in 17 years as a GM with the Giants and Browns. "I learned that sometimes he's harsh, but he's never phony. He's very direct."
La Russa asked Accorsi what he saw in Belichick.
"I remember when I was in college and John F. Kennedy was running for president," Accorsi said. "I thought, 'This guy has been preparing his whole life.' That's exactly how I felt about Bill. He's a brilliant football man -- and not just defense, which many people don't know. I think he ranks with the greatest of all time, with George Halas, Paul Brown, Tom Landry, Chuck Noll, Vince Lombardi and Bill Walsh."
Both La Russa and Accorsi agreed that Belichick's communications skills could be, ah, improved.
Accorsi, like Andrade, played golf at Wake Forest (where Andrade was a national champion and Accorsi a walk-on), and asked Billy about the Honda Classic at PGA National.
"The Bear Trap gets everyone," said Andrade of the 15th, 16th and 17th holes. The 15th is a 179-yard par 3 with the green jutting out into the water. The 16th is a 434-yard par 4 that demands a great second shot across the water, and the 17th is a 190-yard par 3 with water in front, behind, beside and probably in the hole.
"Jack Nicklaus wasn't kidding around when he designed it," Andrade said.
Andrade, who grew up in Rhode Island as a Red Sox fan, is very close to both La Russa and the Cardinals' trainer, Barry Weinberg. He had a difficult time when the Red Sox played the Cardinals in the 2004 World Series. Scouting the 2008 season, he asked La Russa about his team.
"We're young and we're talented," La Russa said. "I'm going to enjoy the challenge."
The Cardinals had a tough offseason, losing Scott Rolen and David Eckstein to Toronto. Two of their starters, Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder have been injured. Mulder should be back in May and Carpenter by the All-Star break. And with the departure of Jim Edmonds, everyone is waiting for rookie Colby Rasmus to emerge.
The player La Russa wants everyone to see is Yadier Molina, the 25-year-old catcher.
"This kid's got it all," La Russa said. And now Molina has even more, having signed a $15 million, 4-year contract in late January. "You have to be careful giving that kind of money, because some guys will change. Not Yadier, he's mature beyond his years, and he's a great catcher. Our pitchers don't have to worry about the running game, all they have to do it pitch."
I asked La Russa what it is about Puerto Rico, or the Molina family, that has produced so many major league catchers. Of the 41 Puerto Ricans who played in the majors last year, 13 were catchers. Bengie Molina, of course, is with the San Francisco Giants and brother, Jose, a two-time Gold Glove winner, is with the Yankees.
"Every young kid in Puerto Rico sees the legacy," said La Russa of names like Sandy Alomar Jr., Benito Santiago and Pudge Rodriguez. "They all develop strong arms."
Yadier's father, Benjamin Sr., an infielder/outfielder for 15 years in Puerto Rico's Superior League, started all three brothers at first base.
"But kids have learned that the quickest way to the majors is to be a catcher," La Russa said.
The final discussion of the night turned to trivia. Accorsi asked La Russa to name the Cardinals' 1954 starting lineup, which Accorsi had witnessed as a teenager.
La Russa started poorly, missing catcher Bill Sarni and first baseman Joe Cunningham, but gathered steam in naming legendary Red Schoendienst and shortstop Alex Grammas. Then it got ridiculous, as Accorsi and La Russa argued about whether the fifth batter was Ray Jablonski or Rip Repulski.
"It was Jabo," yelled La Russa ... "It was Rip," yelled Accorsi, who added that Repulski's real name was Eldon.
It was time for dessert.