There are two more spacious lockers than the others in the Chase Field visitors’ locker room. They are usually reserved for established stars, who have deserved a little more space to untie their legs.
The St. Louis Cardinals are one of those teams that are spoiled for choice to award when they visit the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The two lockers were finally awarded to Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina. Who could find fault? They are two stars in their forties on the twilight of a career that will lead them straight to the Hall of Fame.
But the players crammed into the smaller lockers amid rookies and support players are almost as impressive.
There is Adam Wainwright. The 40-year-old right-hander has 193 wins and three appearances in the All-Star Game. There’s first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who at 34 is one of the best in his profession with seven All-Star appearances and who in the middle of a season that could win him the national excellence.
To his right is Nolan Arenado, 31-year-old third baseman who has nine Golden Gloves and seven All-Star games.
“A winning tradition”
This expertise does not go unnoticed by first-season manager Oliver Marmol, who at 36 is younger than many of these veterans.
“One of the things this organization does really well is let new generations know what it’s like to have a winning tradition,” Marmol said. Show how you have to work to win. This group, there is no stronger at the moment.
What’s even better is that this quintet of veterans aren’t just here to show off; they’re producing at such a high level that the Cards sit first in the Central, with a five-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers going into Monday’s games.
Pujols has found the fountain of youth. The 42-year-old batted .442 with seven home runs and 17 RBIs in the past month. A three-time MVP winner, he currently has 692 homers with 40 games to play in what he says will be his last season.
Wherever he goes, he receives a royal welcome. Diamondbacks fans gave him a standing ovation ahead of his first at bat in each of the last series’ three games.
“What he’s doing is superhuman,” Goldschmidt said. This guy is amazing.”
“Great Baseball”
The slugger doesn’t get distracted by all that attention. Pujols had two homers and four hits in as many appearances on Saturday, but didn’t mind when Marmol replaced him with 22-year-old ER Nolan Gorman later in the game.
No one looked happier than Pujols when Gorman singled.
“It’s not just one player, but 26,” Pujols said. When you have such a good band, it’s easy to appreciate what you do. […] We play great baseball.”
Wainwright turns 41 later this month. He’s been rock solid through the middle of the Cards’ rotation, going 9-8 with a 3.11 ERA. Molina, 40, isn’t producing like he used to, but he’s had some good times, like his three-hit performance against the Diamondbacks on Friday.
Then there are Goldschmidt and Arenado, who are at the height of their careers. Goldschmidt leads the majors with a .340 average. He has so far hit 34 doubles, 31 home runs and 100 RBIs.
Arenado was nearly as dominant, batting .299, 25 home runs and 81 RBIs. Their consistency allowed the Cards to rise to the top of the Central with a 15-3 record in August.
“[Goldschmidt et Arenado] are amazing; that’s why they’re two Gants d’Or winners, noted Pujols. All these games you witness, I see [Arenado] do them in practice. Who trains to make these kinds of games? He does it, because it can happen in a game. […] What they both do is remarkable.”