Matt Holliday (Getty Images file)
Spotlight on… Matt Holliday, left field, Cardinals
What’s up: Holliday, a former Rockies star who played a leading role in Rocktober nearly eight years ago, discovered baseball paradise on the banks of the Mississippi River. Since 2009, he has been to the playoffs five times with the Cardinals. He will return to Coors Field on Monday when the Cardinals make their only trip of the season to Denver for a three-game series.
Background: Holliday made three All-Star Games with the Rockies (2006-08) and three with the Cardinals (2010-12). He could be back in the Midsummer Classic this year. He went into Saturday hitting .312 with a .426 on-base percentage for a St. Louis team that’s once again leading the National League Central. He was ejected for arguing a called third strike in the seventh inning of a game last Tuesday, ending his National League-record 45-game streak of reaching base safely to start a season.
Saunders’ take: It’s hard to believe Holliday is 35 years old, but he remains a productive player. His power has diminished — only three home runs this year after hitting 20 last year — but he’s still a savvy hitter from the No. 3 hole. Holliday entered Saturday with a .308 average, 1,081 RBIs, 1,890 hits and 274 home runs in his 12-year career. Low key and private, but with an intense competitive spirit, Holliday was born and raised in Stillwater, Okla. He is a perfect fit for St. Louis. In 2016 he will enter the final year of his seven-year, $120 million contract. He doesn’t quite measure up to other Cardinals legends, but he’s been class act and instrumental to St. Louis’ consistent success.
Tags: Cardinals, Matt Holliday, MLB, Spotlight
