BLOOMINGTON - After the Detroit Tigers couldn't hit him, the realization of what he had just done didn't hit Anthony Reyes until he got back to his hotel on Oct. 21.

"I didn't really think about it too much," Reyes said. "I got back to the hotel room, sat back and thought 'I just pitched in the World Series.' "

Reyes didn't just pitch in the World Series, he was the winning pitcher in Game 1. The 7-2 victory sent St. Louis on its way to a four games to one defeat of Detroit.

"They told me the day before at our workout," Reyes said of being chosen to open the World Series. "It was one of those things were I had to prepare and take it as another start and not worry about what type of game it was.

"It was nice having those older guys there (Chris Carpenter, Jeff Suppan, Jason Marquis) to encourage me as the game went on. They didn't let me lose focus at all."

Reyes allowed four hits and two earned runs in eight innings while setting the tone for what would become the Cardinals' first World Series championship since 1982.

"It kind of hit home when I got back to California," the 25-year-old Reyes said Saturday on the Cardinal Caravan's visit to U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington. "It's one of those things many people don't even get the opportunity to go there. To come out with a win is a special feeling."

After 17 regular-season starts produced a 5-8 record and a 5.06 ERA, Reyes is penciled into the St. Louis rotation for the coming season.

"It's a little bit easier. But it's still anyone's game in spring training," said the 6-foot-2 right-hander. "I've got to remember to keep working hard and keep getting better."

Reyes' talent has never been questioned. He boasts a mid 90s fastball and solid options in a curve ball and change up.

"It's open for him. You have to pencil him in (to the rotation)," said broadcaster and former Cardinals pitcher Al Hrabosky. "Anthony is a very talented guy."

Reyes was 6-1 with a 2.57 ERA at Triple A Memphis last season depending partly on a lively fastball frequently delivered up in the strike zone. That appeared to clash with St. Louis pitching coach Dave Duncan's desire to keep his pitches down.

"I always want to work down. But going through the ranks my game has always been up in the strike zone," Reyes said. "It's one of those things where I'm trying to work down but I'm effective up. If I pitch down in the zone that will get me more ground balls and more outs. That's something I want to strive for."

Hrabosky would like to see the Cardinals allow Reyes more freedom to pitch to his style and to work deeper into games.

"I know Dave Duncan feels like he's trying to do certain things to make him successful. But it seems like to me they have never allowed him to fail," said Hrabosky, known as the "Mad Hungarian" in his days as a relief ace. "Sometimes you let a player pitch the way he wants to do it and if he fails, then you change him.

"I think his ball actually has more life and movement up in the strike zone, and that's where he's been successful. It appears he throws in the mid 90s when he does it his way. After awhile trying to do it with sinkers and doing what Dave Duncan wants him to do, all of a sudden it's 87."

Reyes, who was not selected until the 15th round of the 2003 draft because of injury concerns from his days at USC, believes he will become a more durable performer and avoid the minor injuries that have slowed his professional progress.

"It's a matter of preparation. I hadn't been in the minors that long. I had to learn what I could and couldn't do during the season," he said. "I learned my limits on preparation. I think I can continue to train without getting an injury."

Reyes, who pitched a memorable one-hitter against the Chicago White Sox on June 22 only to lose 1-0 on a Jim Thome home run, seldom pitched past the sixth inning and was allowed to surpass 100 pitches just once last season.

"It's all about if he (manager Tony LaRussa) thinks I'm ready to come out or not," said Reyes. "You never argue with the manager. But definitely I would like to get deeper in games. I can do that with (lower) pitch counts and keeping the ball down."

Reyes has become known for his unique attire on the mound that features a stiff-brimmed hat and pants worn high to expose long, red socks.

"I like it that way. It's a little easier for me to see," Reyes said of his hat. "I first did it in the minors. I liked it so I continued to do it. I wear the uniform the way I want to wear it, but I make sure I follow the team rules."

Reyes believes a revamped starting rotation featuring Carpenter, himself, Kip Wells and Adam Wainwright will be successful in the coming season.

"I think it's going to be pretty good," he said. "We have a lot of guys who can pitch. It's a matter of going out there and doing it."

Hrabosky believes the quality of the Cardinals' pitching is "yet to be determined. But the bottom line is we've still got the core offense that is going to score runs and you've got your (strong) defense.

"Dave Duncan has been able to find the magic for other pitchers. If they throw ground balls and get the defense to suck it up, I think they'll be fine. I think we'll be competitive in the Central Division. We found out last year if you get to the postseason, you take your chances."

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