PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. • There is no disputing the raw truths of Tommy Pham’s game.
“His skill set is off the charts,” said Cardinals hitting coach John Mabry. “Running, power. The velo(city) of the ball off his bat is as good as anyone we have.”
Alas, the ball went past the bat about as often as off it last year for the 29-year-old spare outfielder. On the plus side, Pham hit nine home runs in 159 at-bats last season, and actually it was nine in 123 at-bats before a late-season slump. But he also struck out 71 times, including 21 times in a ghastly three-for-32 skid to finish the season.