JUPITER, Fla. — Around the Cardinals’ clubhouse during this spring training, Matt Carpenter can be spotted in a Matt Carpenter T-shirt.
The logo features a drawing of his smiling face and trademark beard. And in the spirit of Paul Newman’s “Newman’s Own” brand of foods, it reads: “Carpenter’s Own – Secret Salsa.” It’s just a comfy red shirt from 2018. Ballplayers often wear different T-shirts in team colors from charities and such. But with Carpenter, it’s kind of odd optics. It’s like: Man, we’re way past the fun salsa days … 2019 happened.
Last season, Cards fans suffered through Carpenter’s worst season ever.