Shildt returns to Busch Stadium for critical series

ST. LOUIS -- Mike Shildt is in a bind this week.

Now the Padres' manager, Shildt spent nearly two decades in various coaching and scouting roles in the Cardinals organization. It’s where he learned nearly everything he knows about managing, he said.

Those two decades of lessons tell Shildt one thing: to focus on the game at hand. Shildt’s Padres find themselves in the midst of a ferocious playoff race -- the type of summer-long battle that requires unwavering focus.

But on the other hand, there has to be some room for nostalgia. Shildt is managing in St. Louis for the first time since the organization let him go following the 2021 season. He'll be facing a team featuring several of his former players.

"It's good to come back," said Shildt, speaking from the visiting dugout prior to the opener of a four-game series between the Padres and Cardinals on Monday night. "A lot of people that you want to see and a lot of good relationships, a lot of really, really good memories and people. But mostly, it's about the Padres coming in and playing good baseball."

Shildt's mentors -- from George Kissell to Tony La Russa and so many others -- would be proud of that answer. Because for all the bells and whistles, the game itself is the priority.

Shildt's Padres have been red-hot in the second half, as they've built a cushion in the National League Wild Card race. The Cardinals, meanwhile, are running out of time to reel in the teams ahead of them in the playoff race. They trail Atlanta by five games for the final Wild Card spot (and San Diego by eight).

It’s a critical series for both clubs, whatever the backdrop. But for Shildt, it’s an emotional one. He said he’d done his best to avoid thinking about his return until he landed. But when he arrived at Busch Stadium Monday -- to a slew of friendly and familiar faces -- it was unavoidable. Shildt’s pregame media scrum was triple its usual size, full of questions about his Cardinals tenure.

“There’s a time and a place for those memories,” he said. “I’m trying to compartmentalize those. I have a smile on my face with those memories, because … of the time here and the people here.”

Shildt spent parts of four seasons as the Cardinals' manager and in each of his three full seasons at the helm, he reached the postseason. He won the NL Manager of the Year Award in 2019 after guiding the Cardinals to the NLCS. In ‘20 and ‘21, his Cardinals teams lost in the Wild Card round, including a dramatic three-game series against the Padres in ‘20.

Then, somewhat stunningly, the Cardinals and Shildt parted ways after the 2021 season. At the time, the decision blindsided Shildt. A year later, he joined the Padres as an adviser. Following Bob Melvin’s exit last offseason, Shildt took over as manager.

“We don't get a lot of mulligans in life,” Shildt said Monday when asked about his departure from the Cardinals. “I haven't lost any sleep with how I did things for 18 years here. I can rest comfortably knowing that I did my best to be a caretaker of the organization. As Tony would say, I tried to do my part, put my little piece in.

“As I got more opportunities, the pieces became a little bit bigger. But I always wanted to do the very best I could and had a pure heart for making sure this organization moved forward. I have a lot of peace with that.”