The St. Louis Cardinals: A Legacy of Incredible Players
The St. Louis Cardinals have a rich history of producing some of the most talented players in baseball. From the legendary Albert Pujols to the iconic Yadier Molina, the Cardinals have seen their fair share of superstars. But one name that often gets overlooked is that of longtime starter Adam Wainwright, who has carved out a legendary career with the team.
However, it’s not just the big names that make the Cardinals organization stand out. In fact, a few years ago, a subtle comment made by Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas, who was playing alongside Wainwright at the time, caused quite a stir on the popular show Foul Territory. Host Erik Kratz called Mikolas out for his comment, sparking a heated discussion among fans and analysts alike.
The St. Louis Cardinals: A Legacy of Incredible Players
The St. Louis Cardinals have a rich history of producing some of the most talented players in baseball. From Hall of Famers like Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina to longtime starter Adam Wainwright, the Cardinals have seen their fair share of legendary careers.
But it was Wainwright’s recent accomplishment that caught the attention of his teammate Miles Mikolas. After years of dedication and hard work, Wainwright finally reached the milestone of 200 career wins. A feat that is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve in today’s game.
Mikolas, who was on the team with Wainwright at the time, made a comment on Foul Territory that caught the attention of host Erik Kratz. But after being called out, Mikolas quickly backtracked and praised Wainwright for his incredible accomplishment, calling him one of the best teammates he’s ever had.
“I want to play as long as I can, healthy,” Mikolas said. “I’ve seen what it looks like to be old and really struggle through the last couple of months or that last year. I’m not chasing any records. I’m not chasing the Hall of Fame. I don’t even know if I’m chasing the Hall of Pretty Good.”
Mikolas’s response to a question about his future in baseball could be interpreted as a subtle jab at Wainwright. But Kratz was quick to call him out, saying, “I’m going to tell (Adam) Wainwright that he was broken down…” However, Mikolas clarified that he was not referring to Wainwright, but rather another pitcher who was struggling at the end of their career.
But Kratz continued to push the idea that Mikolas was talking about Wainwright, saying, “It was definitely Wainwright. I’m going to make sure he knows that so that we had it here first.”
While Mikolas’s initial comments may have seemed like a slight towards Wainwright, he quickly changed his tune and praised the veteran pitcher for his incredible accomplishment and the hard work it took to reach it.
“Again, I’ve seen what that looks like, and that’s a lot of work. It’s a lot of work. And he was chasing numbers, he was chasing 200 wins.” Mikolas said. “You’re talking about a guy who used every single bullet to get 200 wins; it was an incredible thing to watch. … Best teammate ever.”
In his final season, Wainwright was 41 years old and needed five wins to reach 200 in his career. Despite having the worst year of his career, he managed to reach the milestone in late September with a seven-inning shutout against the Milwaukee Brewers.
While Mikolas’s initial comments may have been interpreted as a jab at Wainwright, he quickly backtracked and praised the veteran pitcher for his incredible feat. It just goes to show the respect and admiration that Wainwright’s teammates have for him, even in the midst of a competitive season.
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The comment that Mikolas made, regardless of whether it was intentional or not, could be construed as a jab at Wainwright for playing in the 2023 season to reach 200 career wins. Mikolas went on to praise Wainwright for his incredible feat and the work needed to reach such a milestone.
Wainwright’s dedication and determination to reach 200 career wins is a testament to his character and his love for the game. And while his final season may not have been his best, he will always be remembered as one of the greatest players to ever wear a Cardinals uniform.
