Back to Home > Friday, Mar 17, 2006 Sports email this print this reprint or license this '); ')... Cardinal Hall of Famers lend

Stan Musial got a standing ovation from the crowd before the Cardinals' 4-2 loss to Baltimore. Also on hand: Fellow Redbird Hall of Famers Bob Gibson, Lou Brock and Red Schoendienst, popular retired outfielder Willie McGee, and assorted notables meeting with Cardinals manager Tony La Russa.

"I've been here since March 2," Brock said in the Cardinals clubhouse. "My wife wants us to stay until the end of the month, but I've told her we've got to go home a week earlier than that."

Brock and the rest of the Cardinals Hall of Famers will have a hand in the opening of new Busch Stadium April 10, and now they're in camp serving as special instructors. That's the temporary role for McGee, working with the young outfielders and hitters in camp.

A new face surfaced Thursday: Miami Dolphins great Bob Griese met with La Russa and some of his players in the manager's office. That visit came a day after longtime La Russa buddy (and Dallas Cowboys coach) Bill Parcells visited Wednesday.

Expected soon: Texas Tech basketball coach Bobby Knight, who comes to camp each year after the season ends for his team. No NCAA or NIT berth for the Red Raiders, so Knight's arrival in camp is expected momentarily.

Cardinals shortstop David Eckstein wasn't one of the faces around camp Thursday; he was a morning scratch from the lineup and went home early with a case of the stomach flu.

Eckstein, hitting .154 (4-for-26) this spring, will be reevaluated today. But he has the most at-bats of any regular in camp, and is almost certain to be rested in the Cards' game today against the New York Yankees at Roger Dean.

Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina and third base coach Jose Oquendo will be back in camp this morning, fresh off Puerto Rico's elimination in the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday night.

Their return leaves three Cardinals -- Albert Pujols and Juan Encarnacion, playing for the Dominican Republic, and Ricardo Rincon, pitching for Mexico -- involved in the tournament.

"It's strange, but it's strange for everybody," La Russa said. "So you deal with it. I talked to (Oquendo) yesterday before the game and wished him well."

Molina's return will give the catcher a couple weeks to work with the St. Louis pitching staff, particularly newcomers Sidney Ponson, Braden Looper, and Rincon -- once the reliever is back in camp.

The Cardinals continue their cautious approach on the return to duty by outfielder Rick Ankiel, who is certain to start the season on the disabled list because of a strained tendon in his left knee.

"He's anxious, he's straining to get out there, and we think if he gets out there he's going to go backwards and hurt himself," La Russa said. "We're just trying to give him a little more work and see how he responds."

"He's got a partial tear of his patellar tendon so right now you treat it conservatively," Cardinals athletic trainer Barry Weinberg said. "You take baby steps and see how he comes out. So far, he's satisfied each little baby step."

Yankee Stadium's fabled public address announcer -- Bob Sheppard has had the job 56 years -- will introduce the Cardinals and Yankees before their game at 12:05 p.m. CST today at Roger Dean.

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