he dedicated the game to his friend Jose Fernandez, the Mia

DENVER -- On the roster, 36-year-old Mike Miller is listed as a shooting guard/small forward. His most essential position is mentor.Its an assignment Miller takes seriously on a young squad still learning how to consistently win.The Denver Nuggets boast a rookie sharpshooter (Jamal Murray), an array of up-and-comers (Emmanuel Mudiay, Nikola Jokic and Jusuf Nurkic) and a few veteran leaders hoping to blend it all together.Being a dinosaur in this league, and seeing everything that I have, Ive been a part of really talented teams that have won 23 games. Ive been a part of talented teams that have won championships, said Miller, who agreed to a two-year deal in July. Whats the difference? To me, its the culture and having that understanding in the locker room where you can hold guys accountable. Those are things you have to start developing.These days, the Nuggets are all about development. That begins with Mudiay, a 20-year-old point guard who steadily improved during the second half of last season. Theres also Jokic, a versatile big man who is loaded with confidence after a summer in which he helped Serbia to a silver medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. And its hard to overlook Nurkic, a bruising 7-footer who pairs nicely in the middle with Jokic.The reason so many of our young players grew last year is we allowed them to play through mistakes. It wasnt a situation where a guy made a mistake and looked over at the bench and was like, `Am I coming out? said coach Michael Malone, whose team finished 33-49 in his first season in Denver. Guys had the confidence to play through their mistakes.That approach certainly will apply to Murray, the seventh overall pick during the June draft. No doubt, Murray can shoot. No doubt, the Kentucky product will at times play like a rookie.All part of the process, Malone said.For a change, the Nuggets actually head into a season healthy. Wilson Chandler is back from a hip injury that sidelined him all last season and Danilo Gallinaris ankle -- the one that forced an early end to his season -- is healed.Im well rested and ready to go, Gallinari said Monday.This city has grown on Gallinari, so much so that the Italian forward has a house in Denver. This roster has grown on him, too. So much so that hes voiced his desire to remain with the squad whenever trade rumors seem to surface.I think were close and getting closer, Gallinari said.Still, the Nuggets are a team without an alpha player -- a LeBron James or Steph Curry type that can take over in big moments.The way general manager Tim Connelly sees it, maybe that top-notch player is already on the roster, and just needs some time to mature. Possibly even Mudiay, the seventh overall pick in 2015.Im an alpha player. Ive been like that my whole life, Mudiay said. I dont plan to change that.Nor do the Nuggets want him to. Millers task is to help Mudiay & Co. elevate their games -- and think big.Our expectations and our goals have got to be playoffs, Miller said. I wouldnt say that if I didnt think it was realistic, because nothing good comes out of making unrealistic goals, especially for a young team.Keep winning and the fans should return, too. At times last season, the Pepsi Center looked half-empty.President Josh Kroenke understands. The Nuggets have to earn back respect after missing the postseason for a third straight year. This offseason, Kroenke made a big push to bring in Dwyane Wade, before Wade signed with Chicago.Fans are going to see a direction with a young roster that has a chance to be pretty good, Kroenke said.Game notes The Nuggets will retire Dikembe Mutombos No. 55 jersey in a ceremony on Oct. 29, even wearing the Rainbow Skyline throwback jerseys for the occasion. Mutombo was drafted fourth overall by Denver in 1991 and played for the Nuggets before leaving after the 1995-96 season. ST. LOUIS -- Carlos Martinez pitched seven sharp innings, Jedd Gyorko hit his 29th homer, Brandon Moss homered to break out of a big slump and the St. Louis Cardinals stayed in the middle of the NL wild-card race.All that, but the most memorable moment in the Cardinals 7-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on a rainy Friday night was provided by Matt Holliday.Holliday launched a pinch-hit home run in the seventh inning in what could have been his final at-bat after 7 1/2 seasons in St. Louis.Holliday was given a standing ovation before he stepped into the batters box and was called out for a curtain call after he drove an 0-2 fastball into the right-field bullpen for his 20th homer.I still have chills, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. It was a great crowd and every one of them made that extremely special for him. It meant a great deal to him, probably more than what words can describe.Said longtime teammate Adam Wainwright: You cant make that stuff up.Everybody in the dugout was saying, man, it would be cool if he hit a home run. And he did it on an 0-2 pitch. You just dont see that.Holliday, out since Aug. 12 because of a thumb injury, was activated off the disabled list at his request Friday. The club informed him earlier this week that it is not planning to pick up the $17 million option on his contract for 2017, and instead will pay him the $1 million buyout.Holliday had left the clubhouse before the media was allowed in.The Cardinals began the day trailing San Francisco by one game for the second NL wild-card spot. The Giants played host to the Los Angeles Dodgers.It was special for me watching it as an outsider, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. The career for him is not over but what a reception from a baseball ttown.dddddddddddd.Holliday became the sixth Cardinals player to reach 20 homers this season, tying an NL record. It was the first pinch-hit homer and RBI of Hollidays career and was the 17th overall by St. Louis this year, extending its major league mark.Martinez (16-9) gave up five singles, walked one and struck out nine in his career-high 31st start. John Jaso led off the second with a single and was the only runner to reach third base against Martinez, who left with a 3.04 ERA.Im been pleased with my starts all year, said Martinez, who said he dedicated the game to his friend Jose Fernandez, the Miami Marlins pitcher killed Sunday in a boating accident. I feel comfortable on the mound. Its not just a physical thing but being able to go out there and be comfortable.Tyler Glasnow (0-2) finished his rookie season with his most effective start, working five innings and giving up Gyorkos homer. Glasnow did not allow another Cardinal past second.The Cardinals took a 5-0 lead in the sixth with four runs off reliever Trevor Williams. Yadier Molina and Stephen Piscotty doubled in runs and Moss hit a two-run homer, his 28th.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: LF Starling Marte (back) was not in the lineup and is not expected to play in the final two games.UP NEXTPirates: RHP Chad Kuhl (5-4, 4.25 ERA) lasted two innings in his only start against the Cardinals, a 12-6 loss on Sept. 5.Cardinals: RHP Michael Wacha (7-7, 4.93) has allowed 10 earned runs in 5 2/3 innings over three relief appearances since returning from the DL. He was picked to start Saturdays game against the Pirates instead of struggling LHP Jaime Garcia. ' ' '