Cards make triumphant comeback
After weeks of uncertainty, John Mozeliak watched the Cardinals drop off their rental cars and prepare for work. His cell phone was filled with encouraging baseball messages instead of questions of concern.
For Mozeliak, the club’s president of baseball operations, it was a very good day.
“Today feels very much like opening day for the St. Louis Cardinals, and there’s a lot of excitement right now in that clubhouse,” Mozeliak said.
The Cardinals returned to the field Saturday for the first time in 17 days after its season was derailed by a coronavirus outbreak. The Cardinals headed into the weekend having played all of five games this season, winning two.
The reigning NL Central champions scored four times in the first inning of the opener of a doubleheader sweep of the White Sox, kicking off an extended stay in the Windy City and a busy finish to the shortened season.
“It’s easy to complain. It’s the easiest thing in the world to complain. But winners find solutions,” manager Mike Shildt said. “And that’s the mindset of this group, individually and collectively. Yeah, there’s been a ton of challenges for this group over the last, you know, couple, three weeks, but we accept them and we move forward.”
The team traveled to Chicago in 41 rental cars as an added precaution. Shildt was the last one to hit the road, making the trip in a GMC Yukon because it was the only vehicle left.
“Took me back to some grassroot days, you know, Legion Ball and, you know, driving three hours to playoff games and tournaments and all kind of fun stuff,“Shildt said. “So I thought it was great.”
Shildt also used the time to think about how he will navigate a dizzying finish to the season that includes 21 games over the last half of August and 32 more in September. After Sunday’s series finale against the White Sox, the Cardinals move to the north side of Chicago for five games against the division-leading Cubs, including doubleheaders on Monday and Wednesday.
“Do I think it’s doable? Yes. Do I think it’s daunting? Yes. Am I glad we get the opportunity to do it? Yes,” Mozeliak said.