JUPITER, Fla. — Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. smiled and said he had the best sleep he’s had for a long while Thursday night. Baseball’s nearly 100-Day War was over.
“Fortunately, we’re able to have 162 games, which wasn’t a sure thing a couple of days ago,” DeWitt said Friday as he, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak and new manager Oliver Marmol all spoke to the media here on the party deck of Roger Dean Stadium. This gathering took place one day after the owners and players had agreed on a new labor contract, ending a 99-day lockout by owners.