Derrick Goold Derrick Goold is the lead Cardinals beat writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and past president of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Follow Derrick Goold Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Once again stuck taking a seat and watching his teammates play — this time because of a fractured foot and not a manager’s pen — Dexter Fowler enjoyed the Cardinals’ August revival from afar, often on TV, his left leg locked in a boot and a scooter parked nearby.

The veteran outfielder tapped out text messages of congratulations or, sometimes, sarcasm. He cheered through the wins and winced a few times when a Cardinal didn’t pick up the slider he knew was coming. Then, he quickly reminded himself of a good couch credo: It’s “easier said than done.” As the Cardinals, led by new manager Mike Shildt, usurped series and made their surging, surprising ambush on the postseason standings, Fowler couldn’t help seeing something beyond the wins his teammates hoarded.

He saw the future.

He saw himself in it.

“Shoot, I’m watching what’s happened and I’m excited for 2019,” Fowler said this past week in the Cardinals’ clubhouse as he slid a protective plate into his left shoe. “To see the strides these guys are taking. To see the young players. To see how they’re playing for Shildty and see how that’s happening. I think that’s going to be awesome. I look forward to being a part of that.”