May 04--Perhaps no one knows the current landscapes of the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals better than Carlos Villanueva.
Villanueva, who spent the past two seasons in the midst of the Cubs' rebuilding program, is thriving in his new duties with the Cardinals in his 10th major-league season.
"When the Cardinals called me, I thought I could be more valuable on a team like this that has everyone's role defined, and I think my role is for winning teams, teams that need their bullpen rested and have their starters rested," Villanueva said last month during the Cardinals' visit to Wrigley Field. "The fact I have a flexible arm helps a lot."
Villanueva's decision has worked out better than planned. As a swing reliever, Villanueva has a 3-1 record and 0.87 ERA in six appearances.
But the Cardinals left a favorable impression on Villanueva, 31, immediately in spring training.
"Just the way they go about their business is something that caught my eye on the first day," Villanueva said. "The first day of spring training meetings, the way they don't have to say anything. I drank the Kool-Aid without offering it. You see there's not a lot of talk involved. It's the way they run their team from the owner to the general manager to the manager.
"Everyone is professional and on the same page. It's refreshing. Not to say it wasn't like that with other teams, but with a more established team, it's no coincidence that they're at the top or near the top every year."
At the same time, Villanueva is happy to see the Cubs' plan for sustained success start to crystallize. Villanueva was a popular mentor for many of the Cubs' relievers over the past two seasons.
"I'm impressed," Villanueva said. "You knew it was coming, but you didn't know when. I'm glad. The boys deserve it, the city deserves it. Everyone knows what the team has been through. So I'm excited for them.
"I'm on the other side, so I want to see it go the other way, but I'm happy they did it and the plan is on its way."
