The reigning National League manager of the year was perched in his favorite spot, on the far left edge of the Cardinals’ dugout bench.
His club, the defending NL Central champions, was starting its first official workout since the COVID-19 pandemic canceled spring training 131 days ago.
Bats cracked. Gloves popped. Busch Stadium’s speakers were playing some country song, its twang drifting out over perfectly cut grass and freshly raked dirt.
“How nice it was, not to have to think about some of those other things, and just appreciate some of the subtleties,” Shildt said.
We arrived at 700 Clark Ave.