The Cardinals’ staff had envisioned Lars Nootbaar as many things. Fourth outfielder, power potential with the right adjustments in his swing and an easy fit in the clubhouse because of his bubbling personality.
But, as manager Oliver Marmol said Thursday, “Our hope was that he could be a guy who gets on base. If you asked if he was going to be our leadoff guy in August ... I wouldn’t have penned him as that.”
Thursday was the left-handed-batting Nootbaar’s fourth time in the leadoff spot in the past week. In three of those games, including on Thursday when he featured a two-run homer, he has been on base at least three times.