July 06--Cubs reliever Jason Motte says he has set aside memories as a member of the Cardinals, after spending six seasons in St. Louis.
"They are not my Cardinals; I'm a Cub," said Motte, who is 6-1 with four saves this season.
The Cubs and first-place Cardinals open a four-game series Monday night at Wrigley Field. The Cardinals have won seven of the first nine games between the two teams, including a recent three-game sweep in St. Louis.
Meanwhile, the Cubs have won five of their last six, including a 2-0 win over the Marlins Sunday, in which Motte earned the save.
"I'm just trying to go out there and get some guys out," Motte said. "Whenever they call down there (to the bullpen) and tell me to get going, I try to get the guy at the plate out."
Motte, 33, was 18-13 with 54 saves and a 3.03 earned run average during his time with the Cardinals. He signed as a free agent with the Cubs last December.
Whether he is deployed as a set-up man or a closer, Motte said he uses the same basic approach.
"Your job is to get the guy at the plate out. If you try to make things bigger than they are, that's when you get in trouble. If you go out there and (say), 'I need to do this' or 'I need to do that ...'
"Same thing at the plate. Guys say, 'I need to drive this guy in...' You don't need to do anything, to be honest. You just out there just like you have done before. Your bullpen (session), everything you've done before. Just go out there and relax and try to make your pitches."
The Cubs enter this series in third place, 8 1/2; games behind the Cardinals. The Pirates are second, 6 games back. The Cardinals have won two in a row and six of their last 10.
"They play good baseball and we have got a good ballclub, as well. So it will be a good four games," Motte said.
