The longest winning streak in franchise history put the St. Louis Cardinals in the playoffs.
A mere swing of the bat ended his season.
Now, after the Dodgers’ Chris Taylor knocked them out with a home run in the ninth inning of the NL wild-card game, Los Angeles made a date for the divisional round of the playoffs and the Cardinals face the winter break.
“I had a feeling we were a team that was going to win the World Series, really,” said Adam Wainwright, his 40-year-old pitcher who allowed one run by covering until the sixth inning of the 3-1 loss.
That the Cardinals were able to play Wednesday was an achievement in a sense. They were 10-17 in June, decimated by injuries in just about every position. The continuity of manager Mike Shildt was questioned. And with players as veteran as Wainwright and Yadier Molina, it was considered time to rebuild.
Until they chained 17 victories in September and everything changed. The Cardeanles put the faded Padres in the dust and took the second wild card easily, but fell short against the Dodgers.
“This team did not come to this to only make an appearance. This team was there to win, advance and take our 12th world championship, “said Shildt. “That was the intention of our group from day one of spring training, that’s why it hurts.”
Now, instead of rebuilding, the Cardinals plan to keep the group intact for next year. Wainwright already had a contract agreed for next season, as did his drumming partner Molina. The Puerto Rican receiver plans to retire after 2022.
THE SHORT CAMP
The position with the most options in the free agent market and the Cardinals need after relying on Panamanian Edmundo Sosa this season. It remains to be seen whether they are in a position to invest for Corey Seager, Trevor Story or Javier Báez. The answer might lie in their own ranks, if Nolan Gorman proves in the spring that the job should be his.
BYE
It is taken for granted that the team will choose to part with veteran infielder Matt Carpenter, giving up an option of 18.5 million dollars and give him a severance pay of 2 million. The same is expected with the Dominican pitcher Carlos Martínez, paying him half a million to not give him 17 million. Reliever Andrew Miller and starter JA Happ also enter free agency.
SHILDT STAYS
Any questioning of Shildt was forgotten after the September streak. He hit the mark as he dealt with injuries and pitching changes to get the Cardinals into their third straight postseason.
ROTATION
Wainwright will be joined by Miles Mikolas, Jack Flaherty and Dakota Hudson in the rotation next season, but they will have to figure out how to close it. Alex Reyes prefers to open than close games and Jordan Hicks is another alternative. Matthew Liberatore could take the leap and not leave it at Triple A.
A KNOWN
What if the Cardinals go for another starter in free agency? He could do it for Max Scherzer, who will be released at the end of the Dodgers postseason. He grew up in Chesterfield, a suburb of St. Louis, and played college baseball in Missouri.
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