BADER DAYS AHEAD
Young outfielder from NY is Big Apple of Cardinals' eye
JUPITER, Fla. — Harrison Bader owns splash and dash. The young Cardinals center fielder, who starred at Horace Mann and the high-level travel program New York Grays, is one reason a lot is expected from the Cardinals this coming season — after they finished last season 41-28 under manager Mike Shildt, who replaced Mike Matheny.
They have missed the playoffs three straight seasons, following five consecutive postseason appearances — including winning the World Series in 2011. Now, the Cardinals appear to be back on a playoff course with the huge additions of first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and lefty reliever Andrew Miller.
From 2000-15, the Cardinals were in the postseason 12 times. It seems weird when they are not playing October baseball.
“It does, and I don’t like it,’’ elder statesman Adam Wainwright told The Post on Wednesday at Roger Dean Stadium.
“This is a very complete team,’’ Wainwright said. “You look at the lineup, the bullpen, the rotation: There’s really not many holes on this team, and not many teams can say that. We should be able to compete at a very, very high level. I like our chances.’’
Bader, 24, offers the buttoned-down Cardinals muchneeded energy and aggressiveness. He is fearless and is coming off a season when he put up a slash line of .264/.334/.422 over 427 plate appearances with 12 home runs and 15 stolen bases. The right-hand-hitting Bader was rated the fifth fastest runner among MLB regulars, according to statcast.
He is part of that “next wave” of players who put personality out there on social media and TV. Bader was featured on MLB Network recently sporting a Gucci jacket with an old-school NY on the front. One of his favorite players is Roger Maris — he loved the movie “61*.”
“My playing style is based on that I love everything involved about the game — whether it is in the clubhouse or in between the white lines,’’ Bader said. “My personality is a lot of energy and that comes from being a New Yorker. I think it’s important that you go out and chase what you want. There are not a lot of baseball players from New York, so you need to take your excuses and make believe they don’t exist.’’
Bader turns negatives into positives.
“I use it as fuel,’’ he said. “It’s a lot of hard work, man. I was 155 pounds as a junior in high school. I was a late bloomer and that’s OK. College was my route, and I wouldn’t change those three years [at the University of Florida] for anything.’’
Bader was a third-round pick in the 2015 draft, the 100th player selected.
The 6-foot, 195-pounder has moved steadily up the ladder.
“This game is all about growing,’’ Bader said. “I had a college coach who once told me you can never become a dinosaur in this game. The game is always changing. There is a lot of information out there now, and I’ve always had an appetite for that.’’
Speed is once again a thing in baseball.
Bader has yet to play at Citi Field as a Cardinal and is looking forward to the series with the Mets in mid-June. So is his father, an attorney, and his mother, a marketing executive.
“They are both happily retired now,’’ Bader said. “They saw me growing up playing the game, and for it all to come to fruition, it’s awesome.’’
There is talent all around this Cardinals clubhouse.
“We had a great foundation last year, and adding a couple pieces like we did allows us to take that next step, so I’m looking forward to it,’’ Bader said. “Anything when it comes to the game, I just do on the aggressive side. I always like to apply pressure — whether it is an 0-2 rollover down the third-base line to beat it out, steal a bag and end up scoring. My game is getting on base and allowing the guys behind me to drive me in, somebody who sets a tone and brings energy on both sides of the baseball. That is the most important thing. Gotta be aggressive.’’
Just like getting on the subway, right?
“Exactly,’’ Bader said, “or else you never get in the car.’’