And it was as if he were branded by the number, his age, for everyone to see the reason Waino no longer was Waino. The No. 36 was red, but it might as well have been scarlet.
Wainwright got through the Class AA game, earning him a spot back in the Cardinals’ rotation, and the No. 50 back on his back.
By now, you’ve heard what happened next. Re-aggravated his right elbow during Sunday’s warm-ups. Didn’t have his stuff. Walked six. Paltry velocity.
Maybe he’ll bounce back from this injury, too. But Sunday was the first day I wondered if he’ll ever be back to an every-fifth-day quality starter.