Matt Holliday feels St. Louis Cardinals are going through changes – MLB News
The St. Louis Cardinals’ Matt Holliday stated on Sunday, February 5, that the team is going through a lot of changes and this year will be different for the club. He was speaking to the media after having attended the Super Bowl, won by New York Giants as
they beat the New England Patriots.
Holliday acknowledged that Dave Duncan’s absence is quite impactful, bringing the team into a phase of transition. However, the outfielder’s emphasis was on the fact that the St. Louis Cardinals will remain a competitive team.
“It's obvious we're going through a lot of changes, a sort of different year in Cardinals baseball, which is kind of weird coming off a World Series. Usually you stay the same, and keep guys together. But Tony retired, [pitching coach Dave Duncan] stepped
to the side to be with his wife, then Albert signed with the Angels. It's a transition time for us, but we feel we are still set to have a competitive team.”
There are reasons to believe that. From the presence of Chris Carpenter on the pitching mound to Jaime Garcia and from the best of hitters being on the plate like himself, the Cardinals have a lot to count upon.
The departure of the former St. Louis Cardinals’ slugger Albert Pujols might have seriously affected the team’s offence, however Holliday looks at others who he thinks can prove to be an able substitute for the player.
"In getting Adam Wainwright back, it's like you are adding a potential 20-game winner. [Carlos] Beltran gives us an All-Star bat in the middle.”
With Carlos Beltran entering into the team and having had the support of the likes of David Freese, Matt Holliday and others in the club, the St. Louis Cardinals are effectively prepared for taking up the challenges in the days to come.
Being the World Series Champions, the Cardinals will indeed be hoping that their players perform well to retain the title. Therefore, much will depend on the experienced players’ performances on the given day. There remains no doubt that Spring Training,
in this regard, will be very important.
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