Around this time last season, few of us figured the rookie utility man traded to St. Louis from Oakland would break camp with the big league Cardinals.
Days passed, and the players around Munoz disappeared. He remained. You knew he was there because you would hear the pounding. When you can play every position on the field, you have to keep a lot of gloves prepared. Munoz keeps a little mallet in his locker, so he can keep his gloves soft while he sits. Wack. Wack. Wack. The sound of Munoz working his leather became as common as a clock ticking on the wall.