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Hochman: How long can Cardinals afford to keep Bader in lineup?

But it’s baseball, and the same guys who play on defense also have to play on offense.

This upcoming July stretch could determine his future as the Cardinals’ starting center fielder.

The Cardinals are quintessentially average, 44-44, but just two games out of first place in the National League Central Division. A lot went wrong in the first half for the Cards, but a lot also did for the preconceived impervious Cubs (47-43) and Brewers (47-44). The Cards are in this thing. But they have to start hitting more.

Sounds easy enough. But in the field, Bader is a run-prevention fiend.