JUPITER, Fla. -- Chris Carpenter strolled into the outfield, stopping for a moment to give Cardinals right fielder Dexter Fowler an earful. Not the critical kind, mind you -- quite the opposite. Carpenter was doing what leaders do, doling out a motivating chat meant to bring out the best in the veteran Fowler as he learns a new role, sliding from center to right field.
Perhaps nobody was more motivated by the gesture than manager Mike Matheny.
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"Already it's obvious that he's got a gift for this," Matheny said of the three-time All-Star and 2005 Cy Young Award winner, who spent the final nine seasons of his 15-year Major League career with the Cardinals.