While warming up in the bullpen during the Cardinals’ first series of the season, Rosenthal felt a twinge, a discomfort, a sharp needle strike in his forearm. He figured he could pitch through the soreness, but as the season continued he found he had to grip the ball tighter to get through the pain, to muscle his fastball to the plate. Command faded and success with it. Rosenthal saw his ERA bloat to 4.82 ERA — up from 2.10 a year ago — and in late June he lost the ninth to Oh. A tear was discovered in his right forearm, and Rosenthal went through a battery of tests to make sure the integrity of his elbow was solid. Rosenthal received treatment and rest, and then began building his way back onto the active roster. Then he had to build his way into the bullpen.

For weeks he’s been trying to build his way into a role.

“Trevor has an opportunity to increase his role,” Matheny told a few of us in his small office at Wrigley Field. “I like the guys we have back there. Just continue to watch him and give him opportunities. You’re talking about a guy who has had multiple 40-save years. He’s got the potential to do anything to be one of the best back end of the ‘pen guys in the game. It’s just a matter whether he gets right or not.”