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St. Louis Cardinal Colby Rasmus is revved up for debut [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]
(St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Apr. 7--Busch Stadium fans saw something Monday that they had witnessed much of last season -- a blown save (two) and a loss by the bullpen. But what they didn't get to see -- but will tonight -- is the major league debut for prized Cardinals outfielding prospect Colby Rasmus.
Rasmus, the club's top draft pick in 2005, was one of two bench players who didn't get in Monday's 6-4 loss to Pittsburgh, but he was unfazed about it. "They didn't need me," he said. "No problem."
Robin Rasmus, a kindergarten teacher from Phenix City, Ala., and also Rasmus' mother, wasn't quite as appeased. "I'm disappointed, but I'll get over it," she said.
Both Rasmus' mother and father, Tony, his coach for most of his baseball life, had driven from Alabama, to witness their son's major-league baptism but they rearranged their plans to stay tonight for the second game, after manager Tony La Russa told Rasmus he would start against Pittsburgh righthander Ian Snell.
La Russa reaffirmed after Monday's game that Rasmus, indeed, would start, but didn't want to say where. Both center fielder Rick Ankiel and right fielder Ryan Ludwick are one for 11 in their careers against Snell.
While Rasmus shared his teammates' disappointment about Monday's game, he thoroughly has enjoyed his first few days as a big leaguer, after he was told in Jupiter, Fla., last Thursday that he was coming north from the team.
He doesn't even mind some mild rookie hazing in that he has to carry Most Valuable Player Albert Pujols' checkerboard and checkers for the first couple of trips.
On the plus side was the food on the charter flight here from Memphis on Saturday. "Milk and warm cookies," he said. "That was pretty cool.
"You hear about all the things (about being in the big leagues). Growing up and watching the players on TV, and now being here, part of this, is unbelievable."
Rasmus, who hit only .251 in an injury-plagued season at Class AAA Memphis in 2008, played for his father when the Phenix City team won the U.S. title in the Little League World Series some 11 years ago.
"He's been my coach since I could have a bat in my hands," he said. "He's coached me every year from the time I was 4 years old until I was a senior in high school."
As a coach, Tony Rasmus' expectations are high for Colby, as well as Cory Rasmus, a highly drafted pitcher in the Atlanta system, and younger brothers Cyle and Case. When he didn't think Colby Rasmus was being treated fairly by folks on the Internet last year, Tony Rasmus wasn't reluctant to leap to his son's defense.
"I wouldn't say nothing's ever good enough for him," said Colby Rasmus, smiling. "He sets the bar pretty high.
"But I know he's pumped. Him and my mom are both going nuts."
Mom Rasmus, however, is the superstitious sort. She does not wear a Cardinals shirt but did have on a red shirt under several other layers on a frigid Monday.
The last time Robin Rasmus, whose eldest son was born on Aug 11, 1986, the date of her 20th birthday, wore a Cardinals shirt, it was at Class AA Springfield two years when Colby was playing a doubleheader. In the first game, he fanned twice. Off went the shirt, replaced by a different one. In the nightcap, Colby Rasmus hit two homers. Robin Rasmus never has worn a team shirt since.
Colby Rasmus is aware he might not play as much as he's used to playing, what with the depth of the Cardinals' outfield.
"Would you rather play every day in Memphis or sit on the bench up here? Tony Rasmus said he asked his son.
"I'd rather be here and just pick up all the bats, if that's what they want me to do," Colby Rasmus said.
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