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Cardinals Hoping Vina Is Real Steal
Rod Beaton
March 8, 2000
JUPITER, Fla. -- The St. Louis Cardinals added three established starting pitchers since last season, but a little second baseman could be their biggest single addition.
Fernando Vina came from Milwaukee for right-hander Juan Acevedo. After healthy pitching, Vina is just what the Cardinals needed.
Vina, 30, is a 5-9 speedster who fields his position well and hits better. He could be the Cardinals' best leadoff hitter since Vince Coleman.
He has to stay healthy, which he wasn't while missing more than half the seasons in 1997 and '99. His best season was '98 when he hit .311, stole 22 bases and was an All-Star.
Last year's knee trouble was his ticket out of Milwaukee.
"It was time for a change," Vina said Tuesday. "I feel like a good fit here."
The Cardinals sought a player who could lead off, get on and steal bases.
If Vina reaches base, be assured he will steal any bases well before Mark McGwire bats. No one wants him distracting the big guy.
Hall of Famer and Cardinals instructor Lou Brock was one of the great leadoff men. He says Vina "is a battler who will fight to get on base and do something once he does."
Vina earns $ 2 million this season and is a free agent afterward. He looks to stick around with St. Louis.
"I hope I'll be here working with (Edgar) Renteria -- he's a great shortstop -- for a long time," Vina says.
His start was auspicious. He singled and scored in his first two spring at-bats.
He looked across the diamond at Mark Grudzielanek, the Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop-turned-second baseman and had second (base) thoughts.
He wondered why so many teams have made changes at that position.
"Second base is so important, offensively and defensively," Vina says. "It is kind of strange to see so many changes."
Gannett Company, Inc.
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