Matt Carpenter took extra batting practice — with batting gloves — before Tuesday night’s Cardinals game at home against Arizona. Then he took several rounds of grounders at third base. After that he repaired to the outfield to run a whole pot load of wind sprints, then he capped an hour’s workout with base running maneuvers.
All this on the odd chance that he might get into the game, which doesn’t happen much anymore unless the .175-hitting Carpenter is sent up to pinch-hit.
“This is what I do a couple times a week,” Carpenter said.