Last night before the ESPN showdown between the Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals, we got a chance to see what it’s like for pitchers as they prepare for their starts.
Adam Wainwright put on a masterclass while mic’d up as he prepared for his start, and we got a good look at his pregame routine, while also learning a few things about pitching.
Even while he was warming up in the bullpen, he still was able to talk to the ESPN announcers and not lose focus, while also being willing to teach us a few things about pitching in the big leagues.
One MLB analyst praised Wainwright for being educational during his interview rather than trying to be a character.
I’m not a fan of MLB players being mic’d up but Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright just used the opportunity (while warming up to face the Braves) to be thoughtful and educational rather than trying to be a character. Outstanding.
— Steve Buckley (@BuckinBoston) August 29, 2022
Waino Gives Pitching Masterclass
If Wainwright hadn’t been starting and was being interviewed while in the dugout, he would have been his usual goofy self, which is always fun to see.
But in this moment, we got to see a more serious side of the Cardinals ace as he took us inside his pregame routine and everything he does in order to prepare for a start.
It’s good that we got to see this and learn a bit about his routine and his mindset.
Wainwright is one of the true masters of pitching and has always been very crafty, being able to spot his curveball and paint the corners.
Given that his velocity isn’t quite what it once was, Wainwright has had to adapt, and he has done exactly that in his advanced age.
This was probably one of the few times we’ll ever see a pitcher mic’d up before his start, but it’s nice that Wainwright took the time to talk, while also teaching some important lessons about pitching.