CHICAGO • With the advancement of baseball metrics, radar tech at ballparks, and fine-toothed combing of data, fielding errors have become something of a vestigial statistic when it comes to evaluating defense, and still Cardinals manager Mike Shildt had a blunt view of his team’s total.
The Cardinals committed their 132nd error of the season Saturday when second baseman Yairo Munoz misplayed a popup. That led to the only run — an unearned run — allowed by starter Miles Mikolas. For the previous two seasons, improving their fielding has been a goal of the offseason and spring training, and going with a defense-first lineup was described as an “initiative” earlier this season.