ST. LOUIS -- After Andre Pallante became the second Cardinal starter in as many days to carry a perfect game bid into the middle innings, he joked with reporters that he knew he had to give up a hit at some point, so as not to show up his rotation mate, Dustin May.
There was little risk in that, of course, as May had capped off the first complete game and shutout of his career the night before.
One could surmise that Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol was amused by the anecdote when a reporter shared it in his office Wednesday morning.
“Pallante’s an idiot,” Marmol said lovingly.
Pallante’s other wisecrack from Tuesday -- that Masyn Winn’s greatness defensively shows up even when the pitcher sabotages his efforts -- came after the Cardinals starter deflected a Samad Taylor comebacker to result in the Padres’ first hit.
Of all the dazzling plays Winn has made this week in the series against San Diego at Busch Stadium, it was arguably that one that raised the most eyebrows, even in spite of replay review confirming that Taylor had narrowly beaten the play.
Winn’s quick shift in direction to barehand the baseball and throw across his body to first base was just one of the moments that still had Marmol marveling the next day.
“Masyn’s plays at short were a joke yesterday,” Marmol said. “He just continues to show crazy range, arm, steadiness, you name it. It’s just highly, highly impressive.”
Marmol also described Winn’s glovework this week as an “absolute showcase in every way,” with the reigning Gold Glove shortstop finding variety in the ways he helps the pitchers in front of him.
"It’s something different every night and it’s fun to watch.”
Winn wasn’t the only element of the St. Louis defense about which the Cardinals manager was enthusiastic Wednesday morning.
Prior to his promotion last week, much attention had been paid in the public discourse related to the qualifications of the Cards' No. 25 prospect Blaze Jordan and the rigors of third-base duties.
In the small sample the Cardinals have seen out of the rookie at the hot corner so far, Marmol has seen him acclimate in a perfectly sufficient manner to this point.
But he’s even more eager about the growth yet to come.
“I am genuinely excited to see what we can do with Blaze at third,” Marmol said. “I like the program that’s in place there. I think he’s going to get better, but build some real confidence in the way he plays at third.”
Jordan’s inclusion in the big league proceedings at such an important position on the diamond is noteworthy considering the style of play the Cardinals require defensively.
“You've got to be able to play good defense if you pitch to contact to the degree that we do,” Marmol said. “If not, you're in trouble.”
That’s where the Cardinals are digging in, exposing Jordan, for the first time, to that which the rest of the club’s position players are already accustomed: The conscientious, daily process of crafting a successful Major League defense.
“There's a level of diligent work and accountability there that's unmatched,” Marmol said. “The feedback loop, this is what I love about it. As soon as that game's over, that feedback loop starts.”
That’s the part that people may miss. When good defense happens on the field, at every position, it doesn’t just happen through sheer athleticism or blind luck. A strong defense is built in the hours of meticulous, catered work behind the scenes -- with the hope that it ultimately feeds into the results.
“We walk in yesterday, and Blaze is already sitting with Stubby [Clapp] in front of the Hawkeye, going through every play,” Marmol explained. “His first step, his timing, inning by inning. When he was laxed, when he was on time.
“He's starting to realize … focusing every pitch is not something I've done. Great, that’s a good start, is realizing that.”
The same premise applies to the Cardinals’ outfield group, which has seen significant gains in efficiency over the past two seasons under Jon Jay’s guidance of the program.
“You look at Jay and the feedback loop that goes into the outfield,” Marmol continued. “It’s hard to beat the process that's in place right now. And then the work that takes place daily and how thoughtful it is of what each guy needs.
“There's a reason that they're playing with a certain level of confidence right now.”