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The Cardinals' Brendan Donovan slides in to score in the first inning of a game against the Rockies on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar is tagged out by Rockies infielder Ryan McMahon on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022, after a base-running mistake in the eighth inning of a game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com
The Cardinals’ staff had envisioned Lars Nootbaar as many things. Fourth outfielder, power potential with the right adjustments in his swing and an easy fit in the clubhouse because of his bubbling personality.
But, as manager Oliver Marmol said Thursday, “Our hope was that he could be a guy who gets on base. If you asked if he was going to be our leadoff guy in August ... I wouldn’t have penned him as that.”
Thursday was the left-handed-batting Nootbaar’s fourth time in the leadoff spot in the past week. In three of those games, including on Thursday when he hit a two-run homer, he has been on base at least three times. Nootbaar reached base four times on Thursday.
Although Nootbaar’s batting average is .232, his on-base percentage is .342, or higher than most-often-used leadoff men Tommy Edman (.318) and Dylan Carlson (.316).
On both Wednesday and Thursday, Marmol batted rookie Brendan Donovan behind Nootbaar. Donovan, who has a .403 on-base percentage, had five hits in the two games.
If the top two in the Cardinals’ order reach base 12 times in two games, as they have the past two days, chances are they’re going to score, with Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado to follow.
Nootbaar, who has 27 walks in 187 plate appearances, said he had led off some at Class A Palm Beach, in college at USC and in Babe Ruth youth ball in Southern California.
“We had some thumpers in our lineup in Babe Ruth,” he said.
“It’s not like it’s completely foreign to me. ...
“I felt my walk rate has always been fairly high,” he said. “At the start of the season, I wasn’t walking as much as I thought I would.”
In 656 minor league at-bats before this year, the 6-foot-3 Nootbaar walked a representative 84 times.
“And in college, for about three-quarters of the season, I was leading the nation in walks,” he said. “But we didn’t win very many games in college.”
Now, he says, “My job is just to get on base and let ‘Goldy’ or Nolan drive me in.”
Same with Donovan, who had a perfect day going before Albert Pujols memorably took the next at-bat as a pinch hitter.
“Make that (pitcher) throw some stressful pitches,” said Donovan, whose average is up to .292. “Create some havoc on the bases. Just put pressure on the other team.”
In the first inning, Donovan set an early tone by sliding home head-first as he scored from third on a ground ball to first base.
“Just trying to get dirty, man,” said Donovan.
The rookie scored his second run on Goldschmidt’s double in the second. And then his day was done.
“Fine with me,” said Donovan of being yanked. “Best move I’ve seen.”
After Pujols hit his grand slam, Donovan said Pujols told him, “I have faith in you.”
“I said, ‘I’d rather watch (you),’” said Donovan. “It’s still incredible to see. But we get to see it every day. I can’t imagine being on the outside looking in.”
Nootbaar, who batted .239 with five homers as a part-timer last year, made his 21st consecutive start in right field on Thursday. No other Cardinals player has started that many games in that time.
Until further notice, he is a regular. And he augmented his offensive day by making a diving catch in right field with the Cardinals ahead 12-0, which did not escape Marmol’s gaze.
Nootbaar pointed to defensive plays made by catcher Yadier Molina in the ninth inning and by third baseman Arenado on a daily basis.
“For me to show some effort is something that I have to do,” he said. “These guys set the tone.”
Donovan, out of the game for the final six innings, was wearing a Molina jersey in the dugout while Molina was wearing one on the field.
“I was trying to get some superpowers,” said Donovan, laughing. “Then I’m going to go to Albert’s and then go to Goldy’s. See if it rubs off.”
Molina, whose average has dipped to .210, said he needed to have Donovan’s jersey “because he’s swinging the bat so good. I said, ‘Donovan, be a good teammate. Put on my jersey and I’m going to hide around the corner. You go and hit right-handed and they’ll think it’s me.’”
Molina threw out his 319th career runner trying to steal when he caught Ryan McMahon to end the second inning. He has caught seven of 17 would-be base stealers this season.
“They tried me,” said Molina. “I was ready for it.”
When injured Cardinals left-hander Steven Matz saw Colorado pitcher Antonio Senzatela try to field Donovan’s second-inning tapper down the first-base line and then turn to cover first base before crumpling to the ground with a left knee injury, it reminded him of a similar play from last month in Cincinnati. Matz was trying to make a play on a roller down the first-base line on July 23 and wound up suffering a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee.
“Same play,” said Matz. “Unbelievable. See what happens when pitchers don’t hit anymore? We lose all our athletic ability.”
Matz, on the comeback trail, will remain in St. Louis while the Cardinals are on a weeklong trip. For good reason. His wife, Taylor, is expecting the couple’s first child on Friday.
Left-hander Jose Quintana, who has made three winning starts since arriving from Pittsburgh, said the joys of playing in St. Louis had been expressed to him by former Cardinals All-Star shortstop Edgar Renteria, a Colombian native like Quintana.
“Edgar is a mentor for me, so he’s helped me a lot,” said Quintana, 33. “For a long time, he played here, and I watched his games. I was a kid in Colombia; everybody grew up seeing him. He meant a lot to me. We are friends. He told me after (the trade), ‘I played there a long time — and you’re going to enjoy it.’”
In a theme choreographed by Jupiter, Florida, cowboy Miles Mikolas, the players sported cowboy hats on their flight to Phoenix Thursday evening. ... Goldschmidt had his major-league-leading 30th multi-RBI game of the season. He has 94 RBIs this year.
The Cardinals' Albert Pujols points to Tyler O'Neill in the dugout after hitting a grand slam in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies, scoring Lars Nootbaar, Dylan Carlson and O'Neill on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols hits a grand slam, his 690th home run, in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies, scoring Lars Nootbaar, Tyler O'Neill and Dylan Carlson on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 at Busch Stadium. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols hits a grand slam, his 690th home run, in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies, scoring Lars Nootbaar, Tyler O'Neill and Dylan Carlson on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 at Busch Stadium. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols touches home plate after hitting a grand slam, his 690th home run, in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies, scoring Lars Nootbaar, Tyler O'Neill and Dylan Carlson on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 at Busch Stadium. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals Lars Nootbaar has a hug for Albert Pujols, who hit a grand slam in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies, scoring Nootbaar, Tyler O'Neill and Dylan Carlson on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 at Busch Stadium. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols takes a curtain call after hitting a grand slam in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies, driving in Lars Nootbaar, Tyler O'Neill and Dylan Carlson on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright stretches before his start against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 at Busch Stadium. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright and catcher Yadier Molina take the field for their start against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 at Busch Stadium. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright and catcher Yadier Molina bump fists before their start against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 at Busch Stadium. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright works the first inning against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 at Busch Stadium. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright visits with catcher Yadier Molina in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 at Busch Stadium. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright visits with catcher Yadier Molina in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 at Busch Stadium. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Genesis Cabrera works the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 at Busch Stadium. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina grabs a soft grounder hit by Connor Joe of the Colorado Rockies for an out in the ninth inning on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 at Busch Stadium. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Chris Stratton works the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 at Busch Stadium. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals Tommy Edman grounds out on a forced out in the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 at Busch Stadium. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
The Cardinals' Brendan Donovan slides in to score in the first inning of a game against the Rockies on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 at Busch Stadium.
Cardinals infielder Nolan Gorman takes the throw from catcher Yadier Molina and tags out the Rockies' Ryan McMahon at second base on a steal attempt in the second inning on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals fans head for the exits after Albert Pujols' final at-bat, a single, in the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 at Busch Stadium. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright works the first inning against the Rockies on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022, at Busch Stadium.
Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright, from left, visits with Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina during the second inning against the Rockies on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022, at Busch Stadium.
Keep up with the latest Cardinals coverage from our award-winning team of reporters and columnists.
Rick Hummel is a Cardinals beat writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
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The Cardinals' Brendan Donovan slides in to score in the first inning of a game against the Rockies on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar is tagged out by Rockies infielder Ryan McMahon on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022, after a base-running mistake in the eighth inning of a game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com
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