The first conversation shared between Nolan Arenado and Mike Shildt happened at a predictable place.
Third base.
Where else?
Back in 2012, Shildt was a Class AA manger climbing his way toward becoming the Cardinals' skipper. Arenado was a Class AA third baseman with the Tulsa Drillers, drilling baseballs and diving for line drives.
In the minors, managers tend to coach third base.
"We played Tulsa like 33 times during the course of the season, and then we played them in the first round of the playoffs, and it went five games," Shildt said.