ST. LOUIS -- It's four hours before first pitch on a recent weekday afternoon, but the competition inside Busch Stadium is already reaching its climax. These particular duels are between players, not teams, and they're set up around the Cardinals' clubhouse, St. Louis' newest chess hub.
In the center of the clubhouse, Mike Leake and Tyler Lyons sit opposite each other. Aledmys Diaz and Seth Maness are deep in thought on the other end of the clubhouse, while Kolten Wong and Jedd Gyorko are trying to outmaneuver one another at yet a third table.