Just over one month after surgery to repair his ruptured left Achilles tendon, sidelined Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright joined Fox Sports Midwest broadcasters Dan McLaughlin and Rick Horton during the middle innings of the redbirds’ 1-0 loss to the Brewers Monday at Busch Stadium to talk about his recovery and a wide range of other topics. Here’s some of the highlights of what Wainwright had to say (all quotes):
On his progress:
I’m progressing slowly, but I’m progressing just like I should and I’m on track to everything so…I can’t really complain about things.
On his rehab:
Rehabbing stinks. You want to be playing. You want to be out there on the field. The fans want to see you play, hopefully. And, rehabbing can really stink but… these guys are so trained to what they do to get us back onto the field and we trust them, we believe that what they do in that training room is going to get us back on there and make us better. That’s what we do, we show up every day just like we have a workout to do or a bullpen to throw. We show up as rehabbers to get the most out of that time.
On watching baseball:
It’s amazing how easy the game is from the couch. When you step away from it you forget how fast the game is played and how easy it is to make mistakes.
Baseball is so fast at this level and it’s so highly skilled that…it’s an incredible game. These guys are the best players in the world so I’m just having so much fun right now watching the great level of talent that’s around major league baseball.
On advice he’s gotten from former & current players on his rehab:
I spoke with a few different people about the rehab…Jimmy Edmonds. Everybody just kinda says just follow the program. Don’t try to get too quick with your recovery. There’s really no way to get too quick with your recovery because you can’t go more than the boot will allow you or the cast will allow you. I’m on a boot now and I’m putting 50% weight down onto my leg and…it’s happening fast. I feel like it’s happened just like it should and everything is going as planned.
On his positive attitude following his injuries:
I’m trying to decide if it’s a good luck charm. You know the last time I got hurt we won the World Series. And as much as I love the Cardinals this is my last time I intend to get hurt so we can win the World Series. I would love nothing more than for us to go out there and do that this year, and hopefully I’m pitching in October. That’s my goal – to be getting outs in October. But we’ll see how that goes.
On staying a key part of the club when sidelined:
I’ve got a great situation here. This team has embraced me. The Cardinal fans have embraced me. The organization has embraced me and made me feel welcome. They let me know from a very early position in this that I was welcome. That they wanted me here, a part of this team. Some of the guys said, “You’re staying here, you’re staying with us right? We want you here.” That means so much to me.
When you look back, it’s the relationships you build and your status in that clubhouse – when guys can look back and say “Man, he was a great teammate. We loved having him around.” – That’s like the highest honor you could ever get. And so I’m trying to instill that every day in the clubhouse. I want to be that guy that people can come to with questions. I want to be that guy that’s rooting for the team at the end of the year on the bench, whether I’m playing or not. I just want to be a positive influence. I want to help this great Cardinal club win the World Series.
On observing his teammates and providing input and tips to improve:
I’ve learned from some of the best teachers in baseball that there’s ever been… I feel like I have a vast pool of knowledge that I have – if someone needs something or if I need to draw on it myself personally. But there have been times since I’ve been hurt where I pull a guy aside and say, “Here’s what I see, take it for what it’s worth. But I believe that if you make this adjustment you will see positive results.”
On his expected rehab schedule:
Well there’s a strict protocol here. We have the weeks mapped out and when they predict me to do this and that. I believe sometime in August (I’ll be throwing again). I’m not sure about that. And I know the training staff is cringing down there – me telling the world what my timelines are. I know it’s some time during the season, I’ll just say that.
On being “100% ready to roll” for Spring Training next year:
Oh absolutely. Yeah. That seems like a lifetime away but this injury can be kind of tricky sometimes, so we’ll just see how it goes.
On his everyday enthusiasm towards the game:
Baseball has a funny way of making men kids no matter how old you are. Fans, players, it doesn’t matter – baseball is just – it’s a beautiful game, isn’t it? It’s a game that anybody can watch and play and feel like you’re eight years old again. We get paid to play that for a living – that might be part of our excitement. We get to play baseball, and it’s pretty cool as it is.
On what Yadier Molina means to him:
I love Yadier Molina like he’s my family – he is my family, and I’ll tell anyone who will listen. I believe he’s the best catcher in the history of the game, and I realize I’m probably a little biased. But I also know that he’s been a part of making me and my career what it has been. He’s been a part of our championships and making us go. I think he’s going to have a statue outside this stadium one day, I really believe that. His number is going to be on that wall. And I’ll always be able to tell my kids and anybody who will listen I pitched to Yadier Molina – the greatest catcher that ever lived.
Feature image used under Creative Commons from SD Dirk. No changes made.Image License.
