Drew opens with a bang
By Joe Ostermeier
Belleville News-Democrat 9/98

CINCINNATI-- There won't be much J.D. Drew forgets from his first three days in the major leagues.

He made his major-league debut on the night Mark McGwire hit his 62nd home run. The next night, Drew homered for his first hit in the major leagues. The night after that, he had a two-run single, giving him two hits in five at-bats, with a homer and three RBI's in three days.

"It was a great way to break in," said Drew, 22, the St. Louis Cardinals' No. 1 pick (fifth overall) in the June draft. "I was telling McGwire, I appreciate the opportunity to even be there, and get to witness that. It's something I'll never forget."

Drew said his hands were shaking when he played left field as a fill-in Tuesday, when McGwire's home run made baseball history.

The rookie outfielder calmed down a bit afterward, and his own big moment came Wednesday, when he homered in the eighth inning of a 6-3 St. Louis loss at Cinergy Field.

"It was fun," Drew said, "Unfortunately we lost, but I got the ball back."

McGwire initially was critical of Drew after he refused to sign with Philadelphia as their No. 1 pick in the 1997 draft. He eventually signed a four-year, $8.5 million contract with the Cardinals after turning down a reported $11-million deal with the Phillies. McGwire said he thought Drew needed to pay his dues like other minor leaguers before making his millions, but backed off that stance slightly after Drew's homer Wednesday.

"I'm very impressed. He's very composed," McGwire said. "Hopefully some day I can sit down and talk to him and get his side. The only side I've been seeing is in the papers."

Drew was booed loudly by the Cincinnati fans in both at-bats Wednesday, perhaps in part because of the contract squabble and partly because he was hitting in McGwire's spot after Mac was lifted from the lineup in the third inning.

"I don't think I focus on it too much," Drew sad. "I focus on playing the game hard, and doing the little things-- trying to get jumps on fly balls, trying to judge the backgrounds. It's a little different than playing in minor league parks where the background is open."
Drew, who hits left handed but throws right handed, admitted to some rookie nerves.

"I've got jitters," Drew said. "The more you're in the game, the more you settle down. Coming in to pinch-hit, it's more nerve wracking than going in for defense and getting in a couple of innings before you get an at-bat."

In two games, Drew has played in all three defensive outfield spots.
"That's a first," he said. "I told the guys I hadn't played left field four games in all my time at Florida State. I've played center my whole career, in high school, college and so far in the pros.

"There are adjustments to be made: I definitely see the ball a lot better in center field, I know that. It's tough when you get down the lines; I'm running in the wrong direction sometimes."

He said he hopes he makes a good impression on manager Tony La Russa and the rest of the Cardinal brass the next two weeks.

"I just want to learn," he said. "I just want to get a feel for what it's like to be in the big leagues, and what adjustments I need to make. I want to work really hard in the off- season, in the Arizona Fall League and back at Tallahassee.

"I want to be really prepared for next spring training, come in here and make a good run at it."

copyright Belleville News-Democrat 9/98

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