St. Louis Cardinals’ Chris Carpenter ready for new season – MLB News
The St. Louis Cardinals’ starter Chris Carpenter has stated that he is training hard for the upcoming season. Brisk and spirited, the fatigue of last year has hardly tampered the indomitable spirit of this proficient pitcher.
Carpenter had thrown just over 273 innings last year, remaining one of the most unstoppable pitchers. With the new season around the corner, he says he has been training hard, like he always does.
"I feel good," said Carpenter. "I have worked my butt off, and I'm going to continue to work my butt off. That's why I train the way I do, so I can throw those innings and recover properly."
A lot of game observers will, however, look closely if the sprightly pitcher will effectively repeat what he achieved last year. What might be of some concern, if it really is, might be his age. With 14 years experience, the 36-year-old player is probably
witnessing an evolutionary zenith.
His pitching coach will understandably advise caution at this stage of training to avoid any mishap prior to the beginning of the new season as Spring Training is to commence next month. It has happened on many occasions that pitchers have become unfit due
to some injury and remained off for the entire season.
However, his offseason work has been rewarding so far as it seems. Carpenter remains an important component of the team on whom the Cardinals rely heavily. All the same, the pitcher spoke about the club’s ongoing progression as well.
What Carpenter might have found a bit unsettling for the Cardinals’ offence is the departure of Albert Pujols.
“Losing Albert is a big thing, but that is the game. It is what it is,” Carpenter said. "The things he brought to this organization and this community [are] enormous. He should be praised for that and not beat up for that. Hopefully they'll welcome him back
at some point in time."
While Carpenter continues to undertake rigorous training, it remains to be seen how he succeeds in tossing as strong and unplayable pitches as he did in the previous year.
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