Life Without Oscar Taveras (How the Cardinals are Winning for Oscar Taveras)

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Matheny didn't say much to the public immediately, but when he did, it was powerful, helpful, and even poetic:

"I was asked last night to give some words regarding the tragic death of Oscar Taveras, but I just simply couldn't.

First of all, it felt like a bad dream that could not be real, and when reality kicked in, my words didn't even seem to make sense. To say this is a horrible loss of a life ended too soon would be an understatement. To talk about the potential of his abilities seemed to be untimely. All I wanted to do was get the guys together and be with our baseball family. I know the hurt that comes along with buying into the brotherhood of a baseball team. That hurt is just as powerful as the joys that come with this life. Not to say it is even close to the depth of pain his true family is going through, but the pain itself is just as real. The ache is deep because the relationships were deep, and forged through time and trials.

To the many fans who have already reached out with condolences, and to the many more who are in mourning, thank you for taking these players in, like they are one of your own. This level of care is what sets our fans apart.

In my opinion, the word "love" is the most misused, and misunderstood word in the English language. It is not popular for men to use this word, and even less popular for athletes. But, there is not a more accurate word for how a group of men share a deep and genuine concern for each other. We loved Oscar, and he loved us. That is what a team does, that is what a family does. You will be missed, Oscar."

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The Cardinals recently moved their Dominican academy to a new facility, Mozeliak said. Going forward, what the students there will learn will be less about baseball and more about life.

"We need to become much more aggressive," Mozeliak said. "What we've done in the past is very positive, in the sense of, 'You shouldn't be doing this.' But clearly, it wasn't heard. Mistakes can and will happen. We try to mitigate the risk of it happening again.

"We're not saying we're going to be able to change how everybody thinks, but if we can make people more aware of the risks of what they're dealing with here, maybe that [future] event doesn't happen in the first place."

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"I think about him in certain moments," Martinez said. "He comes into my mind."

A moment of truth in that regard came May 31, when the Cardinals brought Taveras's family to Busch Stadium for the one-year anniversary of his major league debut. His mother came, his father came. The Cardinals played a video tribute to Taveras on the scoreboard. There weren't many dry eyes in the stands, or on the field. And, in an amazing bit of cosmic happenstance, Martinez was scheduled to pitch that day.

Scripture says God doesn't give anyone more than they can handle, but ...

"I never expected to pitch the day Oscar's family came for the tribute," Martinez said. "There was a moment when I was warming up in the bullpen when I said, 'I can't pitch today. I can't do it.' But they took me aside and said, 'Hey, we need to win this game. We need your help.' I calmed down and relaxed."

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