Just months from the time that Allen Craig caught the final out of the seventh-game seven-game dramatic World Series championship victory for the city of St. Louis and the Cardinals, it certainly has been one big roller coaster.
As if losing a manager like Tony La Russa, who, atleast to most, know was one of the all-time great managers, wasn't enough--they then lost probably the best player of the past decade in Albert Pujols--who for eleven seasons in a row--was an idol to Cardinal Nation and just baseball fans in general.
With all that said, this team hasn't had any let downs and have held their heads high the entire time--whether they are winning, losing, playing good, or playing bad--they all have done a great job to avoid the distractions and play some good St. Louis Cardinals baseball.
The absolute best part about the entire situations, the one guy that a lot of so called "experts" predicted and said would feel the heat the most--starting catcher Yadier Molina--is now putting the team on his own back and putting up career numbers while helping his team win.
As many already knew--or could tell at the very leart--Yadier was very close with Albert during their tenure as teammates right here in Saint Louis--but instead of being sad, mad, or upset about it--he's putting his emotions into his game with the bat in his hands--and the cannon of an arm that he has.
Through tonight's win against the Pirates, the thirty-year old from Puerto Rico currently owns the teams best batting average at .324--and along with that, with still over a month remaining to play, he has set career-highs from the plate in home runs with 17, stolen bases (11), and of course as was just mentioned, his batting average (.324).
Also, he is just five runs scored, fourteen hits, seven doubles, and four RBIs away from setting new career-highs in all of them categories as well--he certainly has been working a lot on his hitting with the bat in his hands.
Besides his presence at the plate though, his defense and his arm is by far the best attribute that he brings to the table. Out of all the stolen base attempts that he has had against him, he currently has the best numbers in all of baseball at throwing runners out as he has thrown out .462 percent.
Molina has always been a big fan favorite here in St. Louis since he made his debut in the 2004 season--but as he is getting older, the man is only getting better. In all honesty, he is a large part of why the team has stayed in contention for the division and currently in a wild card spot. Take him off our team, not only does our offense decrease--but so do the wins as well as our pitching rotation.
Yadier is doing it all this season and his numbers are showing it. Their is a reason why Molina is becoming the face of this St. Louis Cardinals franchise more and more each and every day.
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