PostCards: Mike Matheny things Matt Carpenter’s slump is ending

Mike Matheny sat down before the press yesterday in advance of today’s NLCS Game 1 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Oct 10, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny (22) talks with the media after practice for game one of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium. Image Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Matheny believes that Matt Carpenter‘s slump is ending soon. On Wednesday night, Carpenter had several good at-bats but the ball just managed to find a glove.

“Yeah, great swings,” when asked about Carpenter’s approach at the plate on Wednesday. “Marte made a terrific play that was about an inch from being a triple and hit the ball well to centerfield as well. But he looks like he’s taking the Matt Carpenter bats that we’ve been spoiled with seeing all season. This guy takes as professional an at‑bat as anybody I’ve seen in a long time. Once you put your finger on, we’ve talked about him trying to do too much or putting too much pressure on himself. But there are also times that this is just a hard game. It’s tough trying to figure out this hitting thing, and you fall into those ruts every once in a while. The good ones don’t stay in there very long, and you can see Matt Carpenter is on his way out.”

There’s also the question about Shelby Miller‘s role in the postseason.

“I think all of our players realize at this point it’s whatever they can do to help the club,” Matheny said. “And whoever it is, and whatever role they’re going to be in, it’s about team. Sometimes things aren’t comfortable, and that’s the nature of this business. They learn to adjust and adapt. They learn to compete regardless. If they do have that idea that it’s about we and not me, it’s something that they convince themselves that they can function and execute.”