St. Louis Cardinals: The psychology of the 2019 Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals pitchers Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter, Miles Mikolas are three successful pitchers who each have their own individual mental demeanor that leads them to success.

They all can be observed by how emotion is controlled when handling psychological conflicts. All three have gained character points when it comes to developing the mental edge by embracing mistakes, but it’s the matter in which they respond to it that sets them apart.

Thus, the true character of a pitcher is revealed when you see them take action to further develop a unshakable demeanor, as these three have done. For these three, the process of progression they have undergone this emotional fortitude have been unique

Wainwright had early success in the bullpen, notably striking out Carlos Beltran in one of the most intense at-bats in MLB history. He carried that same toughness into his time as a starter, and still shows that same mental grit today

Carpenter had success early then injury and a mental edge off the field developed his skills for on the field battle. His duel with Roy Halladay in the 2011 NLDS was a show of guts and fortitude that will forever live in St. Louis Cardinals lore.

Mikolas had to go to a different country to develop better pitching skills then a leather mind was developed by trial and error, thus, becoming the pitcher he envisioned becoming. He hasn’t had time for postseason success yet, but his ability to challenge hitters as seen through his minuscule walk rate is a testament to his mental toughness

Carpenter had Roy Halladay, Wainwright had Carpenter, Mikolas went to a different country but has Wainwright now. All of these players have had very unique exposure to many well informed peers.

Ideas, routines, real time application, conversations, mistakes, honesty, all of this and more comes from information these players have gathered from those around them over the years.

The Cardinals have plenty of other young pitchers that can follow in this example. If guys like Jack Flaherty (and possibly Alex Reyes) can learn in the same way their mentors once did, and apply the right information to their games, the St. Louis Cardinals rotation can become king in 2019.

The St. Louis Cardinals are full of young talented players, and some even have the potential to be a special from a mental perspective. It’s just a matter of learning from those around them.

There are two players in particular on the St. Louis Cardinals that have a swag and almost an ego to them: Carlos Martinez and Kolten Wong. However, mounting emotion that rules decisions sometimes translates into mental lapses, and this makes them harder to trust in events that matter the most.

Wong getting picked off to end a World Series Game, Carlos losing focus after bad results within an inning then a mental downswing negative actions happen for both when in the beginning they were both positive.

Additionally, Dexter Fowler has to find the formula for success, by getting past the past. I honestly did not like the original signing in the first place, but adversity can humble a person, which can hopefully help Fowler.

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In Dexter Fowler’s case, he has the bank, he just needs to get through his mental block and perform. Hopefully, the faith the St. Louis Cardinals have shown in him through his struggles will motivate Dexter to grow past this mental speedbump that must seem like “Ground Hog Day” for him.

These three are exceptional talents; however, Kolten Wong will make gold glove plays, but will kick the groundball that Wong simply should not kick.

Carlos Martinez, has the talent to throw the ball past the best hitters, but, has not found the process to become a pitcher at a higher level without having to throw it by any batter.

These little mental edges that guys like Carpenter and Wainwright have over guys like Martinez and Fowler are embedded within the psychology of players that only they themselves know, and  each situation is unique.

Do we all as humans have that eternal drive to succeed or compete with the best in our field we are trying to prove ourselves by battling the best? It’s no different than the athlete developing their skill to the next level. This edge is there within them, but to search for it would prove to be futile. It’s not something that can be forced, but something that a player can do is discover mistakes and correct them, which is a priceless skill.

The St. Louis Cardinals are in a great position to succeed in 2019 because guys like Martinez, Wong, and Mikolas have great talent and show heart.

To be a cut above the rest, players have to at times reinvent the “self”. Honesty is part of the formula, but we also have to worry about to measure the emotion and the dynamics between emotion and passion.

This fan is excited because whether they can correct or develop and grow past each of their short comings this year or not, they all still have value within the team and organization.

We are all just human and it is not that difficult to express what is in our heart. We all innately share emotion, but it is the ability to control that emotion that allows us to remain consistent in whatever we do. I think Winning Edge puts it best.

“Performing at peak levels requires an athlete to be consistent during the game and between games. Consistency of performance is the fourth core skill, and a skill that many young athletes need to learn…Positive performance evaluation teaches you how to accurately evaluate your performance while maintaining confidence and motivation; even after a bad day.” – Winning Edge, 2012

Whether you are a St. Louis Cardinals player or just another guy from an obscure home, it is just fun to live with a five year old heart. It’s unfortunate, but players simply aren’t afforded that luxury with the various pressures that come with living up to expectations as a professional. Remaining honest with yourself, yet keeping a positive general outlook through rough stretches is just another skill that players have to learn to maximize their abilities.

While fans should be excited about the talent for the St. Louis Cardinals coming into this season, the mental aspect of a season with high expectations should not be overlooked. This team is lead by two of the toughest players the league has ever seen in Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina, and their examples will hopefully help others manage the mental grind in a long 2019.