Confident Pham targets 30-30 season in '18

ST. LOUIS -- Ever since hearing that those who write down their goals are 30 percent more likely to achieve them, Tommy Pham has been deliberate about transferring his intentions onto paper. He has no interest in keeping them a secret, either.
Speaking on the second day of Cardinals' Winter Warm-Up, Pham outlined the goals he has already set for the coming season. He wants to play 150 games and elevate his game defensively by improving his speed. Pham also sees a 30-30 season -- something never before accomplished by a Cardinal -- in his future.
With 23 homers and 25 stolen bases in 128 games last year, Pham has already distinguished himself as one of six players in franchise history to reach the 20=20 benchmark.
"I want to contribute in all aspects of the game," Pham said. "The game is valuing the overall player who can contribute in all aspects of the game. People only look at hitting, [but] you still have to play defense and you have to run the bases. … I believe that I could be a really special player, and all I've got to do, I just need time to show it."

The candidness with which Pham spoke about his expectations should come as no surprise. He's not one to hide behind clichés or sugarcoat his thoughts. Nor has Pham felt the need to pad his Major League service time before making his voice heard in the clubhouse.
"Last year, Tommy stood up in the middle of the clubhouse one time and started yelling at folks, and guys were looking at me like, 'Are you going to do something to stop him?'" Adam Wainwright said. "And I was like, 'Man, absolutely not. I love that about this guy.' He brings an attitude to our team that we need."
Though Pham has been in the Cardinals' organization longer than any player except Wainwright and Yadier Molina, this will be the first time he'll enter Spring Training with a certain spot on the Major League roster. The only other time he made the club's Opening Day roster was in 2016, and Pham landed on the disabled list on the second day of the season.
Now, Pham is taking over as the team's starting center fielder and will likely hit second or third in a lineup that will be deeper with the addition of outfielder Marcell Ozuna. He's preparing for the opportunity by taking a deeper dive into sabermetrics and focusing on speed work this offseason.

"That guy means business," Luke Weaver said. "There's no [other] way to put it. The way he dresses, the way he talks, the way he walks. I mean, it's Tommy Pham. Yadi [Molina] is the godfather, but Pham is going to closely follow that down the road."