Cards get creative adapting to mound visit rules

Changes to mound visits FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Before the first game, six didn't seem like a lot.

Four days after Major League Baseball announced that the pace of play initiatives for 2018 would include limits on mound visits, the Cardinals opened up their Grapefruit League schedule against the Marlins. An adjustment period was expected for everybody -- players, coaches and umpires alike. But St. Louis didn't anticipate the new rules would affect much just yet, not in exhibition games where most pitchers are typically removed after an inning or so regardless of performance.

Then shortstop Yairo Munoz jogged toward the mound to hand the ball off after a leadoff double. Later, third baseman…