Adam Wainright's stuff returns at just the right time: World Series notebook
BOSTON, Mass. - Adam Wainright didn't have a good season in 2012. It was his first year back from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and things just didn't feel good.
'I had terrible stuff last year,' said Wainwright. 'I was trying to find a way to make it work. There would be days when my stuff was all right and there were days when I didn't have any stuff at all.'
'The fastball wasn't fast. The change up wasn't changing. The slider wasn't sliding. The only thing I had was my curveball. That saved me last year.'
Wainright, who will start Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday night against Boston, went 14-13 with a 3.94 ERA in 32 starts last year. He threw 230 1/3 innings, not bad for a guy with 'terrible stuff.'
All that changed this season.
'From the very first day of long toss during the off-season, I felt strong,' he said. 'The very first time the ball came out of my hand, it was like seeing an old friend that you hadn't seen in a long time. It was like ... there it is.'
Wainright, who will face Boston's Jon Lester, went 19-9 with a 2.94 ERA during the regular season. The 6-7 right-hander threw 241 2/3 innings, struck out 219 and allowed 223 hits.
In the NLDS against Pittsburgh, Wainright went 2-0. In the NLCS against the Dodgers, he lost Game 3. After the game, in jest, he referred to Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez 's gyrations after getting a hit as 'Mickey Mouse.'
It caused quite a stir. In fact, when Gonzalez hit two homers in Game 5, he waved his hands like Mickey Mouse ears on the way back to the dugout at Dodger Stadium.
'Anybody who took anything negative out of my comments after that game did not watch the interview,' said Wainright.
He did learn a lesson.
'It spun out of control,' he said. 'But that's playoff baseball. If you don't want something like that to happen, don't say knucklehead things like that.'
Wainright said he has not talked to Gonzalez since the incident.
He's back: The Cardinals will add Allen Craig to their World Series roster. He's been out with a left foot injury since early September.
Craig drove in 97 runs during the regular season before being injured.
'He passed his last test,' said manager Mike Matheny. 'He went out and ran the bases and hit live.'
Craig is scheduled to DH on Wednesday night with Matt Adams playing first. Adams replaced Craig at first base when he was injured.
To make room for Craig, Adron Chambers was dropped from the World Series roster.
In the crosshairs: When the Red Sox beat the Rockies in 2007 to win the World Series, John Farrell was their pitching coach. The Red Sox are back in the series with Farrell as their manager.
It's a bit different.
'I think one thing that stands out, after having to live through it the first two series, is that there's a little more sense of urgency to the decisions you make -particularly with matchups on the mound,' said Farrell.
Close to the vest: Farrell and Matheny would only reveal their Game 2 starters when asked about the rest of their rotations.
Rookie Michael Wacha will start for St. Louis, while veteran John Lackey will start for Boston on Thursday.
Finally: John Hirschbeck will be the crew chief for the umpires working the World Series. ... Carlos Beltran is appearing in the first World Series of his career after playing in 45 postseason games.
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