When the Cardinals let Matt Holliday know he would be the latest of the core players to leave, neither the team nor the player could have scripted his final weekend better. From the pinch-hit home run one night to the standing ovation as he stood in left field the next, the entire farewell had what officials referred to as a “storybook” feel.
It was a good dress rehearsal for decisions ahead.
This season and next the Cardinals will confront what could be the final contracts or final years of the two signature players from this era, catcher Yadier Molina and ace Adam Wainwright.