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Larry Walker knows what lies ahead. For this year anyway.
A full season playing before what most major-leaguers describe as baseball's best fans at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. And then?
"I know retirement lies around the corner," Walker said at the Cardinals' spring complex in Jupiter, Fla. The Cards have an option on Walker for 2006 worth $15 million US.
"I'm going to play this year and see what happens," said Walker, who turns 38 Aug. 16.
Some players arrive in the spring setting goals of 20 homers or 20 quality starts. It's easy to wonder whether the oft-injured Walker has sets a goal of games played.
Walker has averaged only 118 games in his previous five years because of an assortment of injuries.
"My goal is to stay healthy, I'm not sitting around saying: 'Woe is me,' " Walker said. "I've seen guys not do a thing in the off-season and get injured. I've seen guys do a regular workout routine and get hurt."
One never knows. Walker knows of the second part, working out every day heading into the spring of 2004 with Colorado Rockies strength coach Brad Andress.
"And the fourth day of spring I go after a fly ball and partially tear my groin," Walker said, as he adjusted an ice pack on his back.
Not good enough to tend net for the Western Hockey League's Regina Pats, Walker grew up to be Canada's greatest position player in baseball. The Maple Ridge, B.C., native goes into this season with a career average of .314, 368 homers, 1,259 runs batted in, three NL batting titles (1998, 1999, 2001) a most valuable player award (1997) and zero World Series rings.
Walker's Cardinals were swept by the Boston Red Sox in the World Series last fall.
"We made some changes (to the roster during the off-season), but I don't think there is that big of a difference," he said.
Mark Mulder replaces Woody Williams in the pitching rotation, which is an upgrade; David Eckstein takes over at short for Edgar Renteria, which is not; Mark Grudzielanek takes over at second and he's not the offensive figure departed Tony Womack was.
Walker spent an anxious winter after his first World Series, not being able to follow the NHL's Colorado Avalanche. He watched hockey for the first time this past weekend when he and his family were out at a restaurant.
"They had all-star skills competition from the minor leagues on TV, I'm not even sure what league it was," Walker said. "I spoke to Adam Foote but it was a month ago."
Walker said his friend with the Avs had a "sense of optimism at the time."
"But that's like it was for us in 1994," Walker said.
Walker and the Montreal Expos were leading the Atlanta Braves in the National League East by six games on Aug. 12 when the players' association went on strike.
"As far as I knew we were going to play again, things were moving and then the season was banged," Walker said, looking forward to a full season at Busch.
"I've said it before but I'd have to be like the Pinball Wizard -- deaf, dumb and blind -- not to realize what a great situation I'm in, playing in St. Louis. You look out every night at home and see a sea of red. One night in Pittsburgh they had the hotel lobby roped off. I asked who was staying at the hotel.
"It was because of us, there were Cardinals fans all over the place."
Walker's wife, Angela, said at the time of the deal: "We were traded to baseball heaven."
How good are St. Louis fans? Walker pinch-hit in his first appearance in a Cards uniform and struck out against Kris Benson of the New York Mets.
"I got a standing ovation going to the plate and one walking back," Walker said.
"I thought: 'Is this what they want me to do?' "
Walker had four hits in his first Series game after 11 homers in his 44 games with the Cards. He knew what to do.