Coach Walker: Retired outfielder finds work

~ The former Redbirds player eases into retirement by helping St. Louis during spring training.

JUPITER, Fla. -- Larry Walker made his first spring training appearance at the St. Louis Cardinals' Roger Dean Stadium complex, but this time he was carrying a fungo bat instead of a Louisville Slugger.

Walker, who spent 18 years in the Major Leagues with the Expos, Rockies and Cardinals, strolled into camp for the first time Tuesday as an instructor, a position he worked out with manager Tony La Russa in the offseason.

"I don't know if someone caught wind of it or not," Walker said. "But I mentioned it to a couple people. Tony called, we talked for a little while. The subject came up and he said, 'if you want to come out, come out."'

The Cardinals' former right fielder now makes his residence in Florida and plans to split time between the Cardinals' clubhouse and helping out at home this March.

"I told Tony it won't be an everyday thing," Walker said. "My wife's going to need some help with the kids before and after school."

In the offseason, Walker contemplated briefly about coming back to play another season, but tasks around the home told his body otherwise.

"I did a bunch of loading up of some wood at our house in Wisconsin," he said. "I was picking up wood and throwing it, kind of similar to a baseball swing.

"The next day I was in my neck brace again, so right then and there, I was like, OK I can probably get this thing fixed, but my time's up. It's up physically and it's up mentally."

On Tuesday, Walker spent time around the Cardinals batting practice session observing Jim Edmonds, Scott Rolen, Scott Spiezio, David Eckstein and Brian Daubach. The players welcomed him.

Walker will join Team Canada as an assistant coach for the World Baseball Classic March 2 through 20, which will somewhat limit his time with the Cardinals. He had mixed emotions about working with the Canadians.

"I'm really disappointed," he said. "I told them I've been playing for 20 years. How come you didn't come up with this sooner?

"I'm still grateful I get the honor to put my country's name on my chest as a coach. That's the way it has to be. I would have loved to play. Although if I had played, I would have really thought more about playing another year in the big leagues."