SAN FRANCISCO • When Cardinals first baseman Allen Craig began getting fewer pitches to hit, started to sense increased scrutiny from the opposing teams, and had extended struggles as a result, hitting coach Mark McGwire pulled him aside to discuss the cleanup hitter's new world order. That was in June. Craig, a lightning bolt off the bench last October, emerged early this season as a regular source for runs for the Cardinals and eventually the cleanup hitter they would ask to propel them through the postseason. Although he missed a month, Craig still drove in 92 runs and finished among the league leaders in average (.307) and slugging (.522). The hint of attention McGwire saw him getting...
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