SUNDAY: The Cardinals plan to have Shildt finish the season as their manager, Mozeliak told Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and other reporters Sunday. Meanwhile, they’ve promoted minor league assistants Mark Budaska and George Greer to serve as hitting coaches, per Goold. It doesn’t appear the Cards will name a bench coach to succeed Shildt, but Mozeliak said Greer and third base coach Jose Oquendo could help fill that void (Twitter link via Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com).
SATURDAY: Mike Matheny is out as the Cardinals’ manager, the team announced in a press release today. Hitting coach John Mabry and assistant hitting coach Bill Mueller have also been let go, and bench coach Mike Shildt will serve as interim manager for the time being.
As the Cardinals mentioned in the release on Twitter, Matheny has been at the helm for the Cardinals for the past six-plus seasons, during which time he helped the club get to the playoffs in four consecutive seasons from 2012-2015. That stretch included a National League Championship in 2013. He’ll end his Cardinals tenure with a 591-473 record.
While the team won’t hold an official news conference until tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m., President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak offered some words on the subject.
“These decisions are never easy, but we felt that a change in leadership was necessary as the team prepares to enter into the second half of the season. I would like to thank Mike for his exceptional commitment and devotion to the Cardinals organization, including many fond memories of our years working together.”
Though Matheny figured to be on the hot seat pending the outcome of the 2018 season, it’s certainly a surprise to see him let go here and now. The Cardinals have never had a losing record under his leadership, and though they currently sit just a game above the .500 mark, they’re just four games back of the NL’s second Wild Card spot and at least within striking distance of the NL Central crown.
Then again, the standards for Cardinals fans and personnel alike are higher than those of most ballclubs. If the Redbirds fail to make the playoffs this season, it would mark their third consecutive campaign without a playoff berth; that hasn’t happened in St. Louis since the 1997-1999 seasons. Furthermore, the Cardinals certainly didn’t expect to take a step backwards following key additions like Marcell Ozuna and Bud Norris, along with a wealth of young talent coming up through the farm system.
Matheny’s also been surrounded by at least a bit of controversy of late in regards to player management. After reports surfaced that Norris had been “mercilessly riding” 21-year-old rookie Jordan Hicks (some described it as bullying) in the clubhouse, Matheny received criticism from some in the baseball world for his decision to side with Norris and not address the situation more seriously. Matheny’s most notable response was that Norris was from a “different generation of players.” It’s unclear whether this played even a small role in Matheny’s dismissal, but it does raise further questions about his performance as manager, at the very least.
Matheny’s also received criticism for his bullpen management, poor use of the double-switch, and his failure to motivate players such as Dexter Fowler (whose effort level Mozeliak recently criticized). However, none of this takes into account that this Cardinals team is suddenly much younger and more raw than in years past. It’s also entirely possible that Matheny’s dismissal is simply a shake-up, and that St. Louis will be searching for a candidate whom they believe can get the most out of the club’s young core in a second-half push towards the playoffs.
Bye
Cardinals’ fans everywhere can finally rejoice.
July 14, 2018,
finally Fired Matheny Day
Now they just need much better players to compete with Chicago and Milwaukee
Really if that’s your competition then you guys just suck bro
Top 2 records in the NL.
Stupidest comment I’ve ever read. And that’s saying a lot.
And Cincinnati apparently
Now, we just need DeWitt to fire Mozeliak.
They can celebrate with a ice cream cone as today is National Ice Cream day! Oh, and Bud Norris has issues…..
I think it’s against team rules to celebrate anything relating to ice cream…
Bastille Day
Themed, paging Themed.
Silence. Crickets.
Best baseball orgainization, best farm system, best choice of wall paints, blah blab la frickin blah. The cardinal way.
Well then
Wow
Expected it to happen, didn’t think they would do it during the season though.
Yeah, I kind of expected them to let the season play out and see how they finish. Didnt expect it right before the all star break
Wtf why
how to be a scapegoat 101
coach and gm have been riding the coattails of the last leadership and it finally ran out.
Have you been living under a rock?
Not a Cardinals fan but this was a long time coming.
He was an awful manager
Like you would know
Well….if JD Goat was alive and watching Blue Jays games 20 years ago he would have known about Mike Matheny as a player. He was supposed to be this excellent game-caller and defensive catcher. I didn’t see it when he played for the Jays. Then he’s traded to St Louis and his catching is suddenly all-world.
Like Brad Ausmus, Matheny’s catching was overrated. He was decent. As a manager he was decent. Decent wasn’t cutting it for the Cardinals. Mozeliak isn’t going anywhere because he was promoted in 2017 and he’s not the GM. Someone had to go, it was Matheny.
You’re an idiot,
I’m referring to teddy. Dope.
You didn’t see it in those 179 plate appearances in 1999 ….. lol
You must not watch the games?
Because his post sucked that means he doesn’t watch the games? Some people watch every single inning and still don’t have a clue.
Took them long enough.
At least a couple years late at this point.
They did win the division in 2015. Its not that it’s late. They were good in 2016 and 17. The Cubs were just better.
It IS late. The warning signs were clear years ago, regardless of what the Cubs were doing. They have been consistently underperforming for the past couple of years, which is pretty clear to those who follow them closely
Those who follow the Cardinals close may be seeing everything through rose tented glasses.
Under performing? Some could argue the team has over performed!
The only players that have under performed are Fowler and Carlos Martinez!
Lets go around the field on everyone else…Molina is Molina. Jose Martinez is showing exactly what he is. Wong had never been consistent. Dejung has been hurt. Gyrko never lived up to the hype/never been real good. Carpenter is just getting older, it happens, and not as good. Ozuna had a career yesr in 2017, is he that player or the 2016 version? As for Pham, nobody really knows what kind of player he was going to be! I tried to tell all my friends that are Cardinal fans Pham is not as good as his 2017 stats showed.
The pitching staff is very young! Waino has been hurt…the bullpen has been hit or miss! Holland showed these signs at the end of last year! Norris has been great!
Should Matheny have been fired…YES…but at what point do you look at the team on the field and question the quality that has been provided?
This is quite possibly one of the worst talent assessments I have ever seen.
They clearly did. This is the first time this ownership group has fired a manager.
Everything that you said is the reason that he got fired.
The minor league development has been terrific for St Louis. Some late bloopers have come up to perform, non-1st round picks. It has been the saving grace for Matheny and the front office.
a rookie that does well one season is not development.
As soon as the league figures out the player he starts to suck. Neither is spending tons of cash and trading.
The saying is: You can’t fire the whole team, so you have to fire the coach. Many good coaches get the boot for that reason, and Matheny is now among them. The Cardinals have talent, but are currently a cut below the Cubs and Brewers, mostly because they are no longer the great defense and pitching team they once were. Firing Matheny won’t change that, but you’ve got to start some where.
tv – not sure who you are talking about because I would agree with that. Diaz is currently one of those guys in Toronto that was a flash in the pan in St Louis.
Also don’t know why you want me to do your research. Matt Carpenter was a 13th round pick. Solid player.
Who knows how good DeJong will be. He’s 24 years old. 38th round pick who’s been pretty decent.
As much as Pham has been knocked by people on here, 16th rounder.
Cardinals have had a lot of guys come through the organization and have made a short term, and long term impact, over many years. Many other organizations would kill for that kind of development.(Freese, Craig, PUJOLS AT ROUND 13, Ankiel becoming a hitter etc…)
You clearly don’t know enough about the Cardinals to be making this argument. Also he said underachieving for the past couple of years, it’s like you missed that part.
It is late. You might miss that if you look at it on the surface. His record, 3 NLCS appearances, 1 WS appearance. But dive deeper. The team could have won it all 2012 and 2015 and probably should have in 2013 and 2014. In all four of those seasons, critical managing mistakes cost them playoff games. He has ruined pitching arms. He has shown a complete ineptitude for offensive, defensive and pitching substitutions. He has alienated several young and talented players. All of this has created an apparently unattractive environment for free agents who may have signed there otherwise. This change is overdue. Long overdue.
Nah. There’s no such thing in the World Series as “should have”
That’s right. Cuz if that was the case St Louis would have never won 06.
He decided to pitch to Big Papi instead of walking him…that was pretty costly.
Man, Cardinals fans are so spoiled. Complaining about a guy that made the NLCS 3 times in 6 years. Eight of the 15 NL teams have not even been to the NLCS once in the last 10 years. Poor babies.
It’s about the NOW! Going on 3 straight seasons of no playoffs. 2 teams in the division have passed them by. It’s a business.. When companies lose market share to competitors, heads roll and changes are made. This is no different.
cardinals I agree I think the Cardinals made a mistake when they Hired Methney and he hasn’t been a good coach all the years he was a coach. this is long overdue and I am glad he is gone. just hope they replace him with a great coach and that the team is successful the rest of the season.
you really should blame the owner. They don’t spend bear what they could or should
That just isn’t true. I mean I wouldn’t say St Louis “should have” beat San Fran in ‘12 but they certainly could have. It was close, the NLCS went the distance. I feel like Matheny’s decisioning (especially with the BP) cost us that season, maybe even the division and potentially home field advantage, maybe tactically in that series. All I know is afterwards I felt like if TLR had not retired the year before they would have beat San Fran and from there I gunk it fair to say Detroit since they got swept. But I don’t want to take anything away from the Giants with “if’s”. I’ll just that was the 1st time Matheny made us feel that way but not the last. In 2013 the Sox were just too good BUT the Cards should have done better … they did not look like the been there done that team they should have and I also blamed Matheny for that … and so on … I’ll stop there
No, although he ultimately dictates how much can be spent he hires people to decide what should be spent and others too maximize the potential of what has been spent. The answer isn’t to just spend more … we have seen that not work way too often.
They have been in a slow, now fast decline since he took over. He started at the top, then the roller coaster went downhill fast and never went back up. The “competitive records” of 86 and 83 wins may work in Pitt, Cincy, Oakland, SD, Tampa, Baltimore, Minny, etc., but it doesn’t fly in STL.
Seems long overdue. Was just the benefit of good teams, not a good in-game manager.
Not surprising, with the Dexter Fowler thing and the Hicks deal. Surprised it took this long
Fowler was a Mozliak (sp?) thing.
It was also reported on recently that Matheny would not talk to Fowler. They did not have a relationship. So no, it wasn’t JUST a Mozeliak think.
they both suck. He did not build the winners he inherited them
As a Cub fan, this is terrible news to hear.
Lol
Sarcasm?
Ya think. Lol
I don’t think it was sarcasm. We generally want him to keep managing that dumpster fire.
duh
Agreed. I loved Matheny. He was a perfect manager to ensure our extremely easy path past the Cardinals. Lol. We’ll still be fine, though, no to worry.
Aw man. I’m really gonna miss the way he managed his bullpen 😀
See even cubs fans can see how much of a sh*t show it was here. Why didn’t management?!?!
Looks like it will remain to be a Shildt show!
Best comment of the day
Often times management just looks at wins, losses, and postseason appearances. “Hey we got to the postseason and won the NLDS, he must be a good manager.”
Agreed lmao
The Central Division will miss you, Mike!
Thank God!!!!
Hate to say it, but with all of the rumors about him pretty much losing the club house, it had to happen.
I said it earlier this afternoon. Needed to be done
Who did you say it to?
On one of the posts about the cardinals. Look it up I’m too lazy and I don’t know how to link. Otherwise please just believe me
And I’m Papa Emeritus of the band Ghost B.C.
Are you on the square?
Was this it?
mlbtraderumors.com/2018/07/trade-notes-machado-bra…
They killed all the Papas. Now it’s Cardinal Copia, but it is still the same dude Tobias Forge.
I forgot about that, I’m not a big fan of them. I occasionally listen to their music. (Tobias and his hired hands) I’m planning on listening to more of their music. Check out Celldweller too, he makes awesome music.
I didn’t hear you. Only thing I heard was you making it about you.
Up next on the orioles are trash, mike matheny hired as manager
Alleluia about time!!
I’m not asking “Why?” but I am asking “Why now?”. This is not a good enough team to suddenly turn things around and make the playoffs.
Thought the same thing…strange timing…expected in October.
Why not now. If it’s not good enough to make postseason….why not…nothing to loose.
They are trying something
Many teams in 2nd/3rd place have switched managers during the season and made a solid run in the second half. A few have even come back to win their divisions. The 1978 Yankees and 2003 Marlins are the best examples, and sure the Yanks were already a championship team, but look at the 2004 Astros, the 1996 Dodgers, and the 2008 Mets. Though the Mets didn’t make the postseason, they were playing barely .500 baseball under Willie Randolph, but under Jerry Manual went 55-38 in the second half.
So if management can bring in a hard nosed manager to right the ship and get them to a 55-38 type record after the break, you can bet they would contend for a playoff spot.
Joe Girardi, perhaps?
A “harder nose” to tolerate Fowler’s nonsense?
At this point the Cards may as well let Molina player-manage and make a serious run at Girardi for the 2019 season.
Yes, let Molina manage. Then all the Cards can put a quart of stickum on their uniforms in the “Cardinal Way” he does.
Did I say he had to be harder-nosed, or that Matheny wasn’t?
Nope!
I think he has embarrassed the team too often.
Where is Themed at?
Scumbag-Themed*
It was inevitable with him getting a gar longer leash than he should have had, the bullpen and use has been a mess since he took over. Bring in Clapp or Oquendo..
Good. Used to like him but he wore out his welcome and really isn’t a good in-game manager. Time to say goodbye.
Not necessarily shocked by the move just the timing. Would LaRussa be interested in a half season stint?
Would it interfere with his binge drinking?
Funny stuff. Every time they show in game shots of both him and Dombrowski together during games? they are both sitting back in their chairs, arms folded with a scowl on faces. no matter winning or not.
Great baseball man. Great for the game. Maybe not the best at managing a pitching staff. Good luck to him in his future endeavors. He’ll Always Be Greatly Respected in SF.
Great baseball man? Great for the game? His players hated him lol. Are you that out of the loop?
Other great baseball men who were good for the game…Kirk Gibson, Matt Williams, Brad Ausmus, Robin Ventura etc. Shall I go on?
Only because he let SF beat us in the playoffs lol Bochy out managed him every time…with that said I like matheny but he had to go…he actually should have won manager of the year instead on Maddon
Wrong.
Bochy Schools everybody in the Playoffs,even guys like Madden who have more talent,seen it
What makes him a great baseball man and great for the game?
HAHA There is a god!!! I might actually tune in now. They were going absolutely nowhere fast. Had they stayed the course, they were heading for baseball purgatory.
Time for the Stubby Clapp era of Cardinal baseball!!
Be careful Cardinal fans, I caught that once. Really uncomfortable and embarrassing. It’s drug resistant and when they said it was the stubby variety I was afraid they meant they had to amputate. Luckily it’s just named after the first guy to catch it. A couple months of a couple strong antibiotics and I was good as new.
I’m gonna be honest I googled his name cause I thought it was an std or something
FINALLY!!!! IT HAPPENED!!!!
The Cardinals are right where they are supposed to be, middling around .500 and looking up at the Brewers and Cubs, who both assembled substantially better baseball teams over the offseason. Maybe they get a “dead-cat bounce” from the firing and finish 3 or 4 games out of the second Wild Card instead of 6 or 7 games out?
The Cardinals do not have terrible players. They have been hit hard with players underperforming and injuries. You’re gonna tell me that starting the season a lineup consisting of Fowler, Ozuna, Carpenter, Pham, and DeJong isn’t great? The Cardinals clearly don’t care much for their manager and is probably part of the underperforming.
Yeah its not great!
Pham has never been great! Was last year a fluke? He is showing it to be a fluke! Ozuna had a career year in 2017…this year he is much closer to his career numbers! Carpenter is just an older player and declining! Fowler was good, but never great! Dejung is the player that could be great, but has been injured!
So yeah that lineup is NOT great! I said it and gave reasons!
Carpenter is declining? Perhaps you should look at what he has done since May 1. He had a horrible April. That’s it. He has been one of the better hitters in MLB since.
but he sucks at every defensive position he plays.
Carp can hit, but in the field he’s a statue with a rag arm.
I also heard they have a future HOF catcher?
because they don’t know how to value players. they bring up an unrated prospect and he plays well so they think they have gold. lol then the scouting report gets good and they suck. to be fair everyone in baseball overhyped them. A 300 rank was a top 50 if he was a card
I didn’t follow them closely enough to say whether he should be fired or not, but it sure seemed like 98% of Cardinals fans wanted him fired, so…
They must be elated right now.
Yes
Very much so
Yes, they are moist
Yikes!
Dang
Padres should hire him and fire green
Trust me, you wouldn’t want to subject yourself to that.
Good luck with that.
Cards are an organization that hated doing this…that’s how bad Matheny has been.
too many concussions
Too many concussions? What a douchebag comment. I don’t even like Matheny but that’s just stupid.
@juanpaolo
Do you really think that is funny
new STL mantra “Shildt Happens”!
Stunning!
Cardinals are one game over .500, not great but respectable.
Orioles despite glorious Roman victory of 1 to 0 are still 42 games under .500 and everyone has their job.
PS . In 2016 Matheny’s contract was extended to 2022
Cardinals owe a lot of scratch to Matheny
His contract was only extended through 2020.
Apparently I did not go to a trusted source (WIKI) it sounded credible.though
On May 27, 2016, Matheny gained his 400th career win in a 6–2 defeat of the Washington Nationals. In 2016 Matheny’s contract was extended to 2022
In 2016 Mike Matheny was extended to 2020.
Terms were undisclosed. This would indicate amount Cardinals owe Matheny is probably negligible at best.
Source- Cots Contracts legacy.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/na…
This is absolutely NOT respectable when you look at the roster of this team.
Your saying Matheny received a 6 year extension
Somehow i think most cardinal fans are acting like they just won the world series with this move lol.
baby steps.
Thank you god!!
The best players on the Cubs’ team just got fired. Lol
Hilarious
I’ve never been a fan of Matheny but I still feel Mo needs to assume much more responsibility for what has happened also!
Good for St. Louis, they deserve better. Hopefully Minnesota follows the same path, because MOY Molitor is just another Matheny.
I wonder if the story about how Norris treated Hicks and had Matheny’s support, and how Fowler and Matheny barely spoke – two stories that came out recently – were the breaking point.
Absolutely that was the breaking point
Two things-anyone who considers deadspin a reliable source isn’t too bright. Second IF it was true at all, Hicks needs a manhood check. Tired of this victim mentality, whiny millennial crap.
I live In the STL and we were upset about the loss but partying now! Everyone is excited about the news. Mozalak is next. Then Time to hire Girardi before the season ends.
Maybe you could consider Buck Showalter.
Please and Thank you.
Cardinals would be lucky to have Buck. Orioles are the worse organization in baseball. Buck deserves better
Orioles ownership group is the worst in baseball. Worse than; Rays, White Sox, Royals, Rangers, Padres, Pirates. Although the Blue jays are right there w them.
The whole city is a disaster.
The Baltimore Dog Catcher has a rescue center filled with Cats, no Dogs in sight.
I wonder if Machado likes Showalter enough to come to STL if he was the manager.
Well, Girardi is originally from East Peoria, Illinois. He graduated and left a few years before I lived out there (I was there from 88-90 when he was a Cub). I wish I knew who he rooted for, but because of the Peoria Chiefs being a Cubs farm team at the time most people were Cubs fans.
I am not sure if he was there in 1984 or not but that was when Joe Maddon managed the Peoria Suns. The Sins/Chiefs were a great team to be a fan of. Players like Greg Maddux and Mark Grace were very accessible and had an autograph booth set up for every home game. I still have my autographed Greg Maddux (Mad Dog) baseball card somewhere..
Girardi grew up a Cardinals fan
Brad Ausmus is looking for a job.
Try the minors. He may have been the worst manager in baseball.
Brad is in the Angels system, waiting for them to finally pull the trigger on Mike
Mozeliak is next? You are a moron.
He took over for Lunow and made us name fling whatever LaRussa said needed to happen. Mo certainly has been underwhelming since he had to step out of Tony’s shadows.
By the way, for anyone who hasn’t seen the video of Matheny taking a pitch to the face when we was with Milwaukee, look it up. Made me a little scared of him.
Thanks for the tip…took it Happy Gilmore style
This could end up helping the Cards in the clubhouse and the win column. But man, what about playing the game the right way?
Have you watched them play the last few years? It certainly hasn’t been the right way.
Can i get a hell yes
Bring Baltimore back to St. Louis!
Joe Girardi will take over next season
All depends on how much money he’ll get.
Supposedly, he has the same demeanor as Matheny. It’s possible but they have to change the culture.
Girardi PLEASE!
Girardi is no different … Maybe find a manager who relates to current ball players instead of a guy who wishes it was 1950.
“Girardi is no different …“
Than Matheny? Lmao. You couldn’t be more wrong
Yankees may be doing well now with Boone at the helm, but the work Joe Girardi’s done with the Yankees is respected by all NYY fans. He is light years, above and beyond better than Matheny, especially with regards to bullpen management, which I thought Girardi was best in the game at.
Joe is respected by any fan who follows the game.
Girardi’s a damn good manager. If players don’t like his “hard nose” approach, it says more about the players than it does Girardi. Earn your big payday, stop being entitled and respect your coach. I can respect a manager who wants no BS, wants to win and knows how to win. Girardi is all that.
I am a Yankee fan. I like Aaron Boone so far.
Bur I *loved* Girardi. He was a GREAT manager.
What an asinine comment.
So basically any manager who actually gets on his players for lack of hustle or effort and holds people accountable “wishes it was 1950”?
Lol, relate to the players, like mickey callaway?
A manager is not there too be the players friend, cupcake.
Go hire someone like that, see how it works ot for you.
Let the inmates run the asylum, always works, lol
Meanwhile Craig Counsell keeps his firm grip on worst manager in the NL Central
Your’e crazy
You’re not paying attention. First half burnout followed by fade…like clockwork with Counsell.
Interesting.
I’m not surprised by the move, just the fan base.
As an Astros fan, I used to deal with STL ever year. (Now just Pujols). I’ve always respected cardinal fans as a higher class fan. But right now, they’re freaking out like Mets fans. Guess the move was that badly needed.
The issue is there are things about this particular team that isn’t just poor play/players that results in a bad record, all players have shown ability, and it’s difficult to see those players roil between their own idea of potentially fixes obviously because they aren’t being assisted. Its more frustrating than just knowing your team doesn’t have the tools to be competitive.
There are always questionable decisions in baseball, and there is always overreaction. This though, is absolutely warranted. After 2 1/2 seasons of the exact same style of play, i.e. poor defense, baserunning, suddenly missing offense, etc., not to mention the now ongoing norris/hicks and fowler clubhouse issues. Its not a good look, and is definitely time for a change.
As a Die hard Cub Fan, I totally agree w you
Absolutely was. He should not have gotten his extension after the ‘16 season. Even Cubs fans are saying this was long over due on this thread.
As a Cards fan I hope they can get Jim Edmonds to step away from broadcasting (he’s terrible) and become the hitting coach. Or better go get Barry Bonds to get Ozuna’s ground ball problem fixed. Problem solved; Edmonds assistant coach to Bonds
He isn’t great but I like Edmonds on TV because he really provides excellent insights on hitting and defense. Agree he could make an excellent coach.
I like Edmonds on the broadcast. yeah his delivery is off somewhat but he is very knowledgeable about the game. He would make a great coach I think but dont see him giving up that foxsports paycheck.
Given the “alleged” clubhouse discord, I wonder if they would go the Yankee route, with someone like Boone. A young, recently retired player, that could “relate” better to the players. Girardi, while a good manager, just doesn’t seem right for this team right now, given his similarities to Matheny.
Girardi is nothing like Matheny. Joe is not a yes man for the organization which is what has always led to his dismissals. Matheny was just a puppet with bad in game decisions. Mozalakcan save his career by giving personnel decisions to Girardi or the Cards will fire Mo and hire Girardi themselves.
Be careful what you ask for. You may get someone like this year’s Boone, or you may get a Kapler or an Ausmus.
Isn’t Kapler sitting in 1st place?
Who do you think started the recent trend of hiring a recently retired player as the manager? And who was that recently retired player? I will give you a hint, he is featured prominently in the article above. They are not going to go that route again.
They haven’t missed the playoffs yet. There is still a lot of season left.
Great news and a long time coming. Finally something to cheer about. Matheny was the absolute worst!
Over green? You kidding me ?
Disappointing. This can only hurt the rest of the division.
Sorry but Bud Norris is a key addition?!
Key to the clubhouse discourse, anyway. Consistently malcontent.
Bud Norris is a leader to nobody unless it’s at Golden Corral.
I’ve been watching the Cardinals for more than a century and it has been painful to watch them become an offensive laughingstock. Although I don’t care for his managerial deficiencies, all the blame cannot be placed on Matheny, Mabry and Mueller. It’s time for DeWitt to take a look at the timing of the departures of Luhnow and LaRussa and when the current descent began. Also take a look at how African-American players have been categorized at problems — and don’t be afraid to address the issue. There’s a valid reason the game’s top players don’t want to play in St. Louis. Fix the real problems and don’t just settle for another cosmetic fix! There’s still one more individual with a last name that begins with “M” who needs to be held accountable.
how old are you?
Hahaha
Are you a vampire?
Please tell us of all the mistreatment of African American players?
We are waiting, hope you didn’t die since you posted that since you have to be at least 110 years old.
More than a century? Who sent you?
mo is just trying to save his job
Exactly
I’m hoping Cardinals go after Joe Girardi or Jose Oquendo!! Then, hire Matt Holiday as the Hitting Coach!
Matheneys firing is justified, Mozeliak keeping his job is Not!
Wonder if John Hart is looking for a job? What does this guy Girsch do as well. His first statement after getting the job was “well, it’s hard to make a trade” and getting to the puke point when considering a trade, really? DeWitt needs to get a front office with some coconuts!
Hey, they fired Matheny we all thought they were bold enough to do it but they did
Hart did somewhat well with the braves, look at the results this season, but hart either did not have Copella under oversight or encouraged coppy to cheat. And that cost the braves intl. prospects. Teams have won without intl prospects before, but that just sucked.
If I can ever claim I’ve been following the Cardinals for over a century I’m gonna need to take my ipad with me in a casket equipped with wifi.
I really wonder what he meant. Half a century? A decade?
Most of the century?
What seems like a century since Matheny was named manager?
Enter Joe Girardi.
Congratulations Shildt! long time coming for a great baseball mind.
Cardinal organization is crumbling
If Cards are Crumbling… I think they will rise from the ashes like The Phoenix after this firing.
Cardinals 2019 staff will be:
Mark McGwire as Manager
Dave McKay as Bench Coach
Dave Aldrete as Hitting Coach
Mike Maddux stays as pitching coach
Please no, and I think you mean Mike Aldrete.
With the orioles underpreforming beyond belief, I bet buck showlwalter, gets shown the door. Though their window closed early and some of the fa signings did not help.
Well, one thing going for Matheny is that he wasn’t busted for drunk driving just a month before one of his pitchers died in his second drunk driving incident in a week like Josh Hancock did on La Russa’s watch, allegedly after leaving a Cardinals broadcaster’s sports bar noticeably intoxicated.
@agentx
Why be a jerk?
Pointing out free passes given La Russa and others associated with the Cardinals on serious organizational culture issues that could extend as far back as 2007.
Here’s hoping this is the moment that a Cardinals organization that does so many things right can correct certain clubhouse culture issues that have persisted far too long.
Maybe Gyorko will finally play regularly now.
…and hopefully for another team
If I were a GM I’d pluck Gyorko from the Cards. Like taking candy from a baby. Gyorko combined for 50 hr’s between 2016 and 17, yet Matheny played Mendoza line Wong over him. Matheny should’ve been fired for that alone.
Stl is still the team to beat in the Division! Our bullpen is the best in the Central…. woooh woooh woooh
Yours truly, The typical delusional Cards fan
Amazing how no one says that, but keep making stuff up to make yourself feel better…who’s delusional?
Cardinal fans have a hard time accepting that the Cardinal organization is no longer relevant in the division or post season baseball
This post is not well written.
Suggesting Bud Norris was a “key addition” that would lead to high expectations for the team is absurd.
The Norris/Hicks paragraph is both pointed and wishy washy at the same time, tries to do too much. So many adverbs. The contraction starting the paragraph is really bad. And the one starting the next paragraph. The “also” after each one doesn’t help.
Too many filler phrases..”doesn’t take into account,” etc.. Just doesn’t read well.
If you want something better, search for baseball articles on quotev.. it’s got some interesting stuff and hopefully is more palatable.
I thought it was aight… I am drunk af though.
@cxcx
The post nailed it. Especially the parts about Bud Norris and Hicks. Perfect amount of adverbs. Reads real well.
The final straw was a rookie relief pitcher getting goaded into telling the Norris story. Jordan Hicks will be hailed a hero by Cards fans for letting a veteran reporter pry the story out of him.
Girardi should be front-runner about now, yes?
IF a deadspin story is actually accurate-It’s simply another indictment on the whiny, victims mentality, micro-aggression, crackly millennial generation. Hicks probably needed a boot up his a__.
Hicks throws 105, you need a boot in your mind if you think workplace harassment is fine and dandy.
Waaaaaaa
Pansy ass cry baby
On behalf of Cubs nation, this really s u cks. Bring him back. Give him another 7 year chance. Have a heart.
As a Cubs fan, this suck
hey nek – if you have been watching cardinal baseball for a century,
man I wanna hang with you, what assisted living community are you in?
Moz: “Sorry Mike, everyone knows you’re partially to blame…and I had to buy myself some time.”
NO FREAKIN WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! At last. But on a serious note, it sucks that it didn’t work out, I never like to see someone canned, but it just wasn’t working anymore. Hope they find someone who can bring out the best in these players for years to come.
In a way, it’s kind of unfair. Yes, this is the first time since ‘97-‘99 that the Cardinals have missed the playoffs in 3 consecutive seasons. But it also marks the first time in God knows how many seasons that there has been actual competition in the NL Central for 3 consecutive seasons.
It’s not unfair, at all.
A guy with zero managerial experience is hired to manage the defending champions, and after 6.5 years has shown little to no improvement in game management, consistently fields a team with poor fundamentals, and has begun to develop rifts inside the clubhouse…is finally fired. He was lucky to get the job in the first place.
You are getting way ahead of yourself, the season is far from over and a strong second half could push them into a wildcard spot. We haven’t even hit the read deadline yet lol
Trade deadline*
Bud Norris is a bad man…..
Been a bad pitcher most of his career also…
Deadspin is a terrible source of information. And if everything shared was true, it’s more a bad reflection on the whiny, victim mentality, micro aggression millennial generation.
The Hicks/Norris story was written by Mark Saxon of THE ATHLETIC
and your post is a reflection of what a terrible human being you are, so there you go.
Go suck your thumb
Joe Girardi is the next manager, I’m calling it right now.
So noted. Paul called it right now.
And if its not Girardi Paul Heyman will not say a word about his “call”
He probably will, If there’s 1 thing I know from Paul Heyman’s posts, it’s that first and foremost, he’s a Cards fan. He will probably say something along the lines of “I preferred Girardi” if the new permanent manager isn’t Joe Girardi after 2018.
For what it’s worth, Girardi should be managing now, Paul! He would be my #1 choice.
They can have Davey Martinez of the Nationals
#Cardinals Fans…… WTH Happened? Did someone get………. FIRED?
SUFFER Cardinals fans, SUFFER! MIKE MATHENY……GONE
Oh well, the Pirates are still terrible.
Always easier to fire the manager than the handful of underachievers who say he doesn’t understand their underachieving. Mike Matheny is better off without them. He is a class act.
Yea sure a real class act who allows young players to be bullied and sides with the bully to make it worse. Sorry Matheny has no class
Go suck Your thumb: you could probably use some good bullying. Dumbass
In general , when a manager is fired midseason , its because veterans go to ownership and let them know the manager has lost the clubhouse.
Poor performance actually awful performance and unprofessional performances from the players have cost one of the greatest Cardinal manager of all time his job. I blame Fowler Wong Lyons Ozuna Holland Weaver Brebbia Pham for there remarkable lack of effort and or skills for this. But you can’t fire all of them. Pitiful!Hope they are all gone or most likely just released by the end of the year.
You have Matheny as one of the greatest Cardinal managers of all time? Really? Really?
Stuff stays on the internet forever. You’re going to be really embarrassed soon.
Maybe the manager is to blame for lack of effort from so many … yea its on the manager. He should have been fired long ago
Do you have any clue what you are saying or do you pretend to?
Playtime is over.
Please tell me that you’re between the age of 10 and 16 and just became a Cardinal fan in the last six years
As an outsider,I see the Cardinals “just have passed by”really the GM should have been Axed too!Metheny is a good man,he’s old school with accountability not hugs but the Cardinals are a terrible defensive team with a inconsistent Bullpen and overrated FA signing of Ozuna who put up the numbers ie.Juston Upton but never there in the big moments when your team needs you the most,those are the things that Statcast don’t show
Ozuna not a free agent signing. Most people here have no clue. LaRussa much overrated like Madden is now. He had loads of talent and monkeys could have managed those teams. That’s what the Cardinals need now. Loads of talent. That’s what is lacking. Matheny perfectly capable of managing a pitching staff but whenever and whoever he calls on doesn’t do the job he gets the blame. You people are clueless.
Look in the mirror pal. Get a reputable news source instead of the rags you read now. Maybe attend a game.
….smoldering dumpster. Enjoy.
Sorry not a FA,The point is Ozuna is way overrated always has been like Upton,never there when you really need them.Obviously you thinking with your heart lol
The dumbest comment in this article is labeling this as any sort of a surprise… The guy is an awful, unqualified manager. He did well with LaRussa’s culture in place. Sucked on his own and is possibly the worst pitching staff manager in the history of baseball. It’s to rejoice STL fans!
Oh I wish they would drop that ridiculous Congo line whenever they hit homeruns. It’s embarrassing to me. I want old school baseball. Let’s look like professionals. Quit the nonsense.
agreed
Anyone who puts up with players bullying should be canned and the player suspended. . But but they did it in my generation. They also said cigarettes were healthy you ingorant dinosaur.
Doesn’t surprise me in the least. They play terrible ball. Poor fundamentals. No enthusiasm.
This isn’t a good day for Cubs or Brewer fans. I was hoping they gave him a extension and ditto for the GM
MLB imposed rules to prevent this “hazing” of players after the 2016 season but Matheny could care less.
He had Norris as his personal SNITCH and in exchange allowed his SNITCH to haze and behave as poorly as he wanted.
Moz was clueless as usual and the once proud Cardinal franchise has yet another scandal on his watch. Sad to see a franchise that once was the model for a good organization crumble and fall into the abyss. They may never recover
I don’t think an organization can be successful forever but the Cardinals are pretty darn close to it. Every organization has ups and downs and when it comes to the Cardinals everybody like you freaks out and you think they won’t recover. Didn’t the Cubs for example suck for a decade and they are now a top team in the majors. Dude. My point is Cardinals will recover it’s just a matter of time. They are like any other organization that struggles.
Sure they can. But I think they need to clean house and get a new front office. Firing Matheny alone does not get it done IMO.
They’ll recover, but as long as Ricketts, Epstein & Co. are in Chicago, they’re always going to be chasing the top dog Cubs.
Ricketts will do anything to win. They’ll spend if they have to, and Theo and Co. is about as good as it gets, not only in baseball, but in all of sports.
Shildt is getting the rest of the season hopefully as a fair chance to audition for the permanent job. But this isn’t going to quiet any Joe Girardi talk. Frankly I couldn’t see Girardi coming in midseason anyways. I’m a little surprised it’s Shildt instead of Oquendo: does this mean Oquendo will not have a chance at the permanent position after the season?
Really? Bud Norris was a “key acquisition”??
Give me a break! Norris was an accidental performer. I guess it’s easy to use hindsight and tell us the Cards knew what Norris would do, but smart fans know that what he brought to the bullpen is totally a fluke! He’s a journeyman who was picked up because no one else wanted him. Now, Ozuna was a “key” acquisition…problem is he has failed so far to produce as expected.
Watched the press conference, and I think Mike Girsch is an actual puppet. It was 25 minutes long, and he didn’t speak until the 23rd minute. When he did, it was a stuttering disaster and MoTie had to bail him out.
Joe Torre was the biggest farce I’ve ever seen as a manager, if it wasn’t for Don Zimmer Torre would be trying to earn a few nickels on that crappy EGO I mean MLB Network.
Hopefully Mozeliak will be axed in October. What does this guy Girsch do anyway?
The bottom line is that they have a weak team
The old school players from the past are gone
Molina and Carpenter are all that is left
They need a total overhaul
Wow knew things were bad there in St. Louis and figured Matheny would make the year before being let go. Don’t watch too many Cardinals games but there seems to be a lot vitriol from Cards fans towards Matheny.
They do need a major retool. Wacha should bring back a good return. Get what they can out of J. Martinez. Listen on Pham and Ozuna. See if there are any takers for Gyorko and Wong. Trade Fowler, and Cecil for Pujols, and cash. The Cards can announce that 2019 will be Pujols’ last season, which will help with attendance in a “retooling” year.
But why would the Angels make that trade? At least Pujols is still productive even if overpaid.
I’m not a big Mathaney fan, but he isn’t the one that put the Cardinals together over the past 4 seasons. Mathaney had to find a place to play the less than elite players Mozeliak provided him with. In my opinion, Mozeliak should have gone with the others if the Cardinals want a real change in direction.
Good Point Cardinals17
Could not agree more with the fact that Mozeliak needs to go if there is to be any
improvement. I have never liked him from the day he began as he has tried to take us to the bottom of the heap each year. Thanks Mike for the wonderful books, your attitude, and your career as a Cardinal. I will not be attending anymore games until Mozeliak is gone.
Mr. Dewitt, are you brainwashed by Mozeliak? No class in letting a manager go in the middle of the year. I imagine you also voted for the idiot who is our president.
Rebel
Rebel is you typical crybaby liberal. Still whining about the election.
lmao at that “different generations” comment, uhh, no matter how old you are, bullying and harassment are literally never allowed in the workplace.
Can la Russia please come back to managing
Matheny isnt a great manager you never want to follow a legend. Girardi did it with the Yanks, Asmus did it in Detroit and now Matheny look where they are.
Girardi did just fine
Of course getting rid of Oh was a ‘great decision’. I mean look at the way the Cards bullpen has performed. How they ever decided to go for Holland and pay him millions was an absolute joke. Oh did not pitch badly in 2017, it was more a fact of the way Matheny misused him. Furthermore, you only have to look at the way Oh has pitched for the Jays in a harder division against tougher opposition to show that getting rid of him was a mistake. Meanwhile, the Cards have pitchers like Cecil, Bowman, Brebbia, what a joke. The whole bullpen was mismanaged in the whole time Matheny was at the helm.