ST. LOUIS — A conversation about recovery is happening here, in Mike Matheny's office during the first test of his short career.
The first-year St. Louis Cardinals manager is answering questions about a challenging 13-day stretch before the season presses on. It's about two hours prior to the Cardinals' eventual 6-3 victory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night, a triumph that clinched a much-needed sweep. A spring that began with St. Louis as one of baseball's best now includes struggle, and Matheny faces the small group of notepads and recorders knowing momentum swings are part of a 162-game grind.
"It's just part of the gig," he says. "I think I knew that going in."
That part of the job has given him a chance to grow in a way that wasn't possible with the Cardinals' 14-8 finish in April. May has become a study in pain: St. Louis went 5-8 in games against the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers and Padres; first baseman Lance Berkman sustained a right knee injury last Saturday at Dodger Stadium and will be examined for a possible torn anterior cruciate ligament Thursday in Houston; the Cardinals began Wednesday's game with seven players on the disabled list, including surprising utility man Matt Carpenter, who sustained a strained right side muscle Tuesday.
Those developments have changed the tone of the Cardinals' second month under the former catcher chosen to replace Tony La Russa. Ebbs and flows are expected, of course, and they shape a team's identity. For instance, last year's squad became known for resilience after a late-season rally erased memories of underachievement for parts of the summer.
But Matheny will extend himself with this latest twist. At May's start, the defending World Series champions were among baseball's most consistent teams: Through 24 games, they led the major leagues in RBI (131), batting average (.290) and on-base percentage (.821). Meanwhile, they were second in runs (135), hits (243) and team ERA (2.81).
Earlier, three days into a month that has challenged him, Matheny sat in the same small office and fielded questions about a surprising start. He said the Cardinals have season goals, not daily ones. He said everyone in his clubhouse must keep their focus, because results can change in an instant.
They have. The Cardinals were 2-8 in their last 10 games before sweeping the Padres. As a result, their response in the coming weeks will reveal more about Matheny and his ability to adapt to his role.
"We could have very easily have gotten two of those games in L.A., and we lost three," says Cardinals outfielder Skip Schumaker, who went 1 for 3 on Wednesday. "That's the game of baseball. It happens. We ran into a very good team when we were not playing very good baseball. That's not a very good combination. We have a very resilient team — we're still in first place after all the crap we just went through and all the injuries. That says something. Hopefully, we can grind through these next couple weeks."
If they do, the Cardinals (25-19) could keep the rest of the blundering National League Central behind them. The division's shallow depth has been a benefit during their slump; they were the clear class of the group going into May. After Wednesday, they lead the Cincinnati Reds by a half game, and no other team has a better mark than the Houston Astros' 21-23.
The situation sets up well for Matheny as he acclimates himself to the full experience of the job. He can learn to manage adversity within a division that gives him large room for error. It's more favorable than the position Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen faces in the strong NL East. Or the position Padres manager Bud Black faces trying to keep pace with the surging Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.
Yes, Matheny can withstand more injuries to stars, shaky outings from starting pitchers and hitting slumps by key contributors like infielder David Freese. (The reigning World Series MVP went hitless in nine of his last 10 games before cracking two hits and a home run Wednesday.)
Matheny can withstand all those things, because if the Cardinals' mastery of NL Central competition in April was a clue, the division will labor to produce a consistent threat outside the Reds. The Astros are improving, but they're not ready to be a late-season player. The Pittsburgh Pirates, while respectable, don't have the stamina. The Milwaukee Brewers are lost without Prince Fielder. And the Chicago Cubs are … well, the Cubs.
"Every win is important," says Cardinals infielder Tyler Greene, who went 1 for 2 Wednesday. "This is a huge home stand with San Diego and Philly coming in. The stuff we're going through right now, every win is huge. We can get out of this little rut that we're in with these injuries. It will be huge to come away with a bunch of wins."
The Cardinals made progress Wednesday, although more will be learned about Matheny as he develops with his team.
After the game, he stands behind a podium deep in Busch Stadium and addresses the importance of earning the Cardinals' second sweep this season. The past two weeks had tested him. They also gave him a glimpse at his job's complete reality.
April was about a surprising start. May has become about coping with adversity.
All part of the gig. All part of the journey.
