St. Louis Post-Dispatch
March 28, 2002

Morris Finishes Spring Tuneups on a Good Note

By Joe Strauss

The next time Matt Morris appears in competition, it will be Monday afternoon at Busch Stadium with Colorado Rockies center fielder Juan Pierre in the box. Spring training all but ended for the Cardinals' 22-game winner Wednesday against the New York Mets with a successful six-inning outing that left few questions about where he stands.

"My first start this year was better than my last start last year," said Morris, who allowed the Mets five of their eight hits against him during Wednesday's two-run second inning. "I feel much better about my pitches and my confidence in situations. I'm much more advanced."

A year ago, Morris was attempting to return from elbow ligament replacement surgery. Winning 22 games was a fantasy. Now his reality is a new season as an ace.

Morris saw the Mets on Wednesday at full strength. All-Stars Roberto Alomar, Mike Piazza, Mo Vaughn and Edgardo Alfonzo saw him three times apiece, with Alfonzo punishing him with a two-run homer. Piazza and Vaughn were rendered harmless. Uncomfortable on the mound his first several starts this spring, Morris left his last effort with a confidence transferable to next Monday.

"I had been having trouble getting my curveball on the ground. Today, with two strikes, I was able to bury some. I've been progressing slowly and doing it at the right pace. As long as I'm 100 percent healthy and thinking right, I'll be ready opening day."

No current team member has more continuous service with the Cardinals than Morris. He has witnessed the opening day celebration at Busch Stadium and can't wait to swim in that sea of red.

"Nervous, excited, it's all the same thing. I think we're all excited to kick things off," he said, adding, "I expect to go out hard. I hope to make pitches and harness my energy. I feel like I'm ready."

For the Cardinals' pitching to live up to expectations, Morris must resemble the pitcher who bulldozed his way through much of last season. His last three starts have resulted in 16 strikeouts in 16 innings. Wednesday's hit outlay exceeded what he had surrendered in his two previous starts combined.

Two questions remain about the makeup of the Cardinals' season-opening rotation. They won't be answered until Saturday's exhibition in Memphis when Darryl Kile and Andy Benes may pitch against each other. Should Kile go five effective innings, he is likely to open the season as the Cardinals' fifth starter. If Benes offers a persuasive outing, manager Tony La Russa will have to decide whether Benes or lefthander Bud Smith is best suited for the rotation. The loser goes to the bullpen in long relief.

Pitching coach Dave Duncan's biggest concerns heading north are relievers Dave Veres and Mike Matthews. Veres has labored recently and continues to be bothered by a pulled muscle in his side. Matthews, one of only two lefthanders in the bullpen, has had control problems.

Benes has made six appearances, all but one of them convincing. His velocity has gradually increased and his command has been appreciably better than during last year's lost season.

Less than a year after Tommy John surgery, Garrett Stephenson has made five starts, including a B game outing, and allowed only four earned runs in 21 2/3 innings.

Woody Williams has offered consistency. Kile has worked only eight innings and will be given a 75-pitch limit Saturday in Memphis. What he does with it will dictate two spots in the rotation. Morris will be watching from now until Monday, unaffected by anything except his own anticipation.