CARDINALS CARAVAN: PLAYERS RELAY HIGH HOPES FOR '99

PERRYVILLE -- There was no home run hero to greet the children sporting red Mark McGwire T-shirts, but the St. Louis Cardinals Caravan on Friday made its first stop in Perryville since 1986 to the delight of about 600 fans at the American Legion Hall.

Voices of Cardinals past (Al Hrabosky, Jose Oquendo) and voices of Cardinals future (Eli Marrero, Rick Ankiel, Chad Hutchison), along with Redbirds pitchers Kent Bottenfield and John Frascatore, offered insights on the coming season, engaged in playful banter and signed autographs for the kids.

Hrabosky, the "Mad Hungarian" of St. Louis' 1970s bullpen and now a Cardinals broadcaster, let the gathering in on some pronouncements made by Cardinals manager Tony La Russa earlier Friday at a luncheon in St. Louis.

Hrabosky said La Russa answered a question regarding McGwire by predicting that the slugger will break the single-season home run record of 70 he set last season by smashing 75 this year.

And when asked to tick off the Cardinals' 1999 lineup, La Russa said the club will try to acquire either the Mets' Carlos Baerga or the Twins' Pat Meares to play second base and bat ninth.

According to Hrabosky, La Russa said new acquistion Edgar Renteria will play shortstop and lead off, followed by outfielder J.D. Drew, first baseman McGwire, outfielder Ray Lankford, new outfielder Eric Davis, third baseman Fernando Tatis and Marrero, the catcher.

Marrero, who was sidelined early last season after having a cancerous thyroid removed during spring training, joined a group of youngsters in kicking around a hackey sack outside the Legion hall before taking his seat at the head table.

Marrero called his ordeal "a little bump in the road."

"But thank God everything worked out for me," he said. "I'm healthy again."

Asked about McGwire's unprecedented feats, Marrero searched for words to describe them.

"Like I've told everybody, that's tough to explain," Marrero said. "You've got to actually be there on the field to experience that energy and feel that power and the drama."

Oquendo, who played from 1985-1995 for the Cardinals and fielded all nine positions in 1988, was named the club's bench coach on Thursday. Oquendo had been hired as manager of the Cardinals' Class A affiliate in Peoria, Ill., in December, but will now serve as an extra pair of eyes for La Russa.

"I'll keep an eye on where the guys are playing on the infield and be able to move guys around depending on who's hitting," Oquendo said. "And we've got a lot of Latin players on our team this year and it's a good idea to have a Latin coach that they can communicate with."

Those in attendance got a glimpse of prospects Ankiel and Hutchison.

Ankiel, 19, led all minor leaguers last season with 222 strikeouts for Peoria and Prince William of the Carolina League.

Hutchison, 22, quarterbacked Stanford University to victory in the Sun Bowl in 1996 and was regarded as the hardest thrower in college baseball. The 6-foot-5 Hutchison was promoted to Prince William in August.