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Learning From The Best
Fernando Vina Is Soaking In Lou Brock's Wisdom
By Jacob Luft
March 20, 2000
JUPITER, Fla. -- Fernando Vina came to the right place to learn how to become a better base stealer.
He was traded to the Cardinals in the offseason, and it just so happens the Redbirds have a guy named Lou Brock who likes to help out the team during Spring Training.
Brock holds the all-time NL record for stolen bases (938), and in 1974 he swiped a record 118 bases. He's a Hall of Famer as a player and apparently as a coach as well.
"He taught me more tips in 2 1/2 weeks than I knew in my whole life," Vina said. "He's a great guy and he's a great teacher. The guy is the best."
Vina has put the new knowledge to good use this spring. He stole six bases in his first 11 games while getting caught only once. That's in addition to hitting .343 and posting a .417 on-base percentage.
Brock has worked with Vina on his timing, his jump and how to read pitchers.
"He should go past the highest total he's ever had," Brock said. "If I had to throw out a number I think he'll look for 40 to 50 steals."
Vina's career high is 22, set in 1998 while with the Brewers. The only obstacle to his eclipsing that mark might be his team. With Mark McGwire, Fernando Tatis, J.D. Drew and Ray Lankford in the lineup, any manager would be hesitant to risk a rally-killing out on the basepaths.
Even a born-to-steal ballplayer like Brock says he would be cautious with baserunners, too, if McGwire is in the lineup. Why steal a base when you can trot home on one of his moonshot home runs?
"I think Mark McGwire is gonna knock you in from first base," Brock said. "I think you're in scoring position when you're on deck with Mark McGwire."
Vina realizes he won't have the green light as often in the regular season as he has had in spring. That's fine with Vina, who said the trade to St. Louis was "one of the happiest days of my life." Stolen bases from him would be gravy for the Cardinals, who acquired Vina for his outstanding glove work at second base and his ability to get on base.
A career .282 hitter, Vina has more career walks (156) than strikeouts (152). He hit .311 in 1998, his last full season before injuries sidelined him for most of 1999.
"I gotta get on base any which way I can," Vina said. "You have to run when you know you have a good percentage of making it. We'll do our thing and steal our bases but we have to do it at the right time."
The Official Site of Major League Baseball
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