McTaggart has a profile on interim manager Dave Clark, and we learn about his style.
Clark:
"My message was that we're going to continue to play hard and play the game the right way. You're dealing with a veteran ballclub, so you have guys that do that. You want a different type of attitude to be established around here, and that's what happens when you know there's someone new at the helm. I think I bring more of an unbeat, aggressive-type attitude. The players know that and expect that."
When it comes to handling his pitching staff, Clark wants to give the starting pitcher a chance to pitch deep into games.
"Deep," apparently meaning 3.2IP and 56 pitches (I know, I know. Bazardo was getting shelled.)
And on not playing the young'uns? It's because Clark is afraid the Cardinals will take their per diem.
"Not to say these kids aren't going to be good players, because I really and truly believe they are, but it's going to take some time and maturity and take running them out there to see what they're capable of doing. I'm not going to do that against a team like the Cardinals. They will be given that opportunity [to prove they can play]," he said. "Do they have the ability? Yes they do."
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
