Several Players Impress Price In Camp - Skip Schumaker and Others

Mid-way through spring training with three weeks to go, manager Bryan Price was asked which players have impressed him.

"We've hit on a couple of them," Price said.  "Soto and Bernadina have been terrific. Watching Skip Schumaker play, I've enjoyed every minute of it; from his defense, his defensive positioning, his talk and movement in the outfield, his communication on the infield. The base hit he had against Paco Rodriguez, the other day (against the Dodgers Wednesday) was fun to watch; hanging in on a tough lefty.  He is just a tough kid."

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Pedro Beato has been a pleasant surprise to Price.

"He has come into the camp ready to go.  He's competing for a spot," Price said. "He's been sharp with his fastball, breaking ball and split."

As Price was saying Schumaker, who competed hard against the Reds as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals from 2005 through 2012, brings intangibles to the team.

"Skip brings into debate the statistical analysis and what a player brings to a team that may not show in the statistics.  What does his work ethic tell the guys around him?  He is talented.  This isn't like a guy who doesn't have any skills and wills his way to be good.  He is very productive for a guy that doesn't have gaudy numbers."

Moving outfielders around on defense, taking an inside pitch for a hit by pitcher, or finding a way

to hang in on a left-hander to lead off the inning with a base hit, are examples of plays the Schumaker has made that go unnoticed in the statistics.

"Schumaker either sets the table or hits down in the order," Price said. "He is not in the spot of the lineup that produces big numbers.  The best way to state it, he makes the people around him better."

Schumaker, who is 34,  had a .381 postseason batting average for the World Champion Cardinals in 2011.

In 2010 Schumaker hit a grand slam home run for the Cardinals off Mike Leake.  Last season as a member of the Dodgers, Schumaker hit a home run off Bronson Arroyo.  He pitched two scoreless innings in addition to playing 33 games at secondbase.

He has also played all three outfield positions.

Schumaker was vocal in the clubhouse during the brawl with the Reds in 2010 but Price insists there is no carry over.

"I don't remember Skip being in the middle of that. There was reason to be upset.  Neither team cared too much for each other to begin with. I don't think there's carry over. I just think we compete for the division every year and that lends itself to even more intensity."