Cardinals outfielder Dexter Fowler admitted to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch this week that he felt “depressed” in 2018, the worst season of an otherwise solid career. Only three position players finished behind Fowler in fWAR (minus-1.2), whose offensive production fell off a cliff in the second season of a five-year, $82.5MM contract. Despite a nightmarish campaign which ended in early August on account of a fractured left foot, the soon-to-be 33-year-old Fowler still “truly loves” baseball and is gearing up for a rebound next season. It helps that Fowler still has the confidence of Cardinals president John Mozeliak and manager Mike Shildt, and he has grown particularly close to the former, Goold explains. On the other hand, Fowler suggested he lost the belief of former manager Mike Matheny, whom Shildt replaced in July. In an effort to bounce back to his previous levels, Fowler has enlisted the help of the legendary Barry Bonds this offseason for both workout and hitting advice, Goold details. On Bonds, Fowler said: “My whole mindset is if I’m going to learn from the best, I’m going to do everything that he says to do, and if I fail at it then I can always look back and say I did it. I did everything. I did everything and it’s not in the cards.” Goold’s full piece is worth checking out for more from Fowler.
Here’s more on the Redbirds, courtesy of Goold:
- Cardinals stalwart Yadier Molina underwent surgery Thursday to remove a bone spur from his left knee, Goold relays. After a two-week recovery, Molina should be ready to resume his typical offseason workouts, general manager Michael Girsch informed Goold. A healthy version of the franchise catcher is all the more important to St. Louis after it parted with young backstop Carson Kelly to acquire first baseman Paul Goldschmidt.
- The commissioner’s office has suspended Cardinals pitching prospect Griffin Roberts 50 games after a second positive test for a drug of abuse, Goold reports. The 22-year-old Roberts, whom the Cardinals chose 43rd overall in last June’s draft, will serve his suspension at the start of next season. Now the Cardinals’ 10th-ranked prospect at MLB.com, the right-hander combined for 9 2/3 innings at the rookie and Double-A levels last season after the team drafted him.
- The Cardinals aren’t yet sure whether they’ll deploy righty Alex Reyes as a starter or a reliever in 2019, per Goold. Reyes, one of the most promising young pitchers in the sport, saw injuries derail his previous two seasons. The 24-year-old missed all of 2017 because of Tommy John surgery, and after returning to throw just four major league innings last season, he suffered a torn tendon in his right lat and had to go back under the knife. Fortunately, St. Louis expects Reyes to be “close to full speed” when spring training rolls around, Goold writes. Then, based on how Reyes looks in camp (and how the club constructs its rotation and bullpen), the Cardinals will decide on his role and whether he’ll begin the year in the majors.
Whatever happened to those other right fielders they had that were so “bad” they needed to sign an over rated Fowler to an inflated contract?
I feel bad for Fowler. Must be so depressing to make 10+Mil a year playing a little kids game with no responsibility except staying in shape and padding that 401k so he can retire by 40.
Just a shame people have to go through that.
What I saw from Fowler last year was enough to get him off this roster. Matheny wasn’t a good strategist but for Fowler to imply it was partly or entirely Mike’s fault is stupid. Own your body language Dexter.
He didnt imply it. He said he lost confidence in his manager. Half the team said the same thing.
He’s using it as an excuse for HIS performance. The issue is HIM not Mike. He played horrible and wasn’t trying.
Oh he was trying. And no he is not using it as an excuse. He did an interview just a few days ago that said he just couldn’t get things together. He also said it was no ones fault but himself. I though will blame MM for a lot of things. Any other manager at the helm and the Cardinals would have at least made the playoffs the last 3 years.
This is about Fowler, not Matheny. Any other GM and we don’t have Matheny for the last 7 years. The GM/owner are the problems.
“This is about Fowler” Instantly blames Mo.
It was reported by others in the clubhouse that Matheny would not talk to players that were struggling for long stretches, Fowler without a doubt had a rough year, but Matheny was a terrible manager who needs some sensitivity training.
“you look like a real piece of crap”
Are you assuming his looks?
Sorry gang… Sorry for all the “assuming ” posts… I had diversity training all week. It was tough.
I root for Team Trump
Yes, I’m a bigot. Thanks for noticing.
And here is a flag for inappropriate use of the race card.
No he didn’t. He said, “he lost the belief of former manager Mike Matheny.” Losing the faith OF your manager is completely different than losing faith IN your manager.
Deflection technique
Maybe in that particular take. But there have been numerous times where he and others have said so. Molina even put it on his Instagram account.
Ah. He enlisted the help of a cheater. Hopefully they test him weekly.
How do you get drafted in June and already fail 2 drug tests?…it’s December
Fairer > Fowler
fowler=fowluper
Harper and Machado are going to the Yankees. 5/110 each. They owe them that discount. Then they are going to trade McKinney to the Indians for Cluber straight up, the Indians owe the Yankees that much. Then they are going to sign Dallas to a 3/45 deal. He owes them too. Yankees go.
For crying out loud, you guys are ruining this site.
If youre on this site and want to make post, fist ask yourself “Am I a Yankees fan?” If the answer is “yes” then you really need to never ever post here.
You have 1 ring in 18 years, that’s nothing special, your team isn’t special anymore you don’t win titles from buying FAs, you win with a core 4, which you refuse to let happen anymore because it means tanking for a couple years and you’d rather fake it to get to the playoffs then get bounced from them, every year its the same old story.
The Yankees need to rebuild more than anyone. They’re toast.
yet, they’ve made the playoffs 3 of the last 4 years. What have the Cardinals done in the last 4 years? And I’m not even a NYY fan, but I severely can’t stand arrogant, STL sheeple fans.
And here is the second place winner.
I love people on here who think they are the comment judges.
Glad you approve because yours are consistently the worst. But then again I think you purposefully troll. No way someone could legitimately make such comments and think they add substance.
Daved, you are ASSuming he is a Cardinals fan. Name like Justin Turner would lead me to believe otherwise, but then again I don’t stalk users, so who knows?
Claims he’s not troll then admits he’s troll.
Please show me where I wrote. “I am a troll.” Can you do that for me please?
“Troll”One who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument.
daved “but I severely can’t stand arrogant, STL sheeple fans”.
Maybe true but completely provocative.
so what you’re saying is twofold. 1) You can’t find what I asked,. 2) You are weak and insecure. Truth hurts. No trolling. Just stating my opinion that continues to get under the wool of the sheeple in STL fan circles.
You’re a genius and I submit to your genius. I’m weak, you’re strong. I’m insecure, you’re wonderful. But you’re still trolling.
I think you have the impression this site is filled with Cardinal fans. Have of those replying in here aren’t. So your wisdom is not truth, or accurate -therefore trolling.
Or hypocrisy- “No trolling. Just stating my opinion that continues to get under the wool of the sheeple in STL fan circles.”
Another definition for you: Trolling – (verb), as it relates to internet, is the deliberate act, (by a Troll – noun or adjective), of making random unsolicited and/or controversial comments on various internet forums with the intent to provoke an emotional knee jerk reaction from unsuspecting readers to engage in a fight or argument.
When you lose at trolling, you revert to calling someone insecure and weak. Nice.
Thank you Lucy Van Pelt for that $.05 analysis
That is the dumbest comment on here and that says a lot.
Posts like this are why weed should be illegal.
vote bonds in!
These boards are so full of hate now. It really did use to be a place where people discussed baseball. Now it’s just mean spirited comments and attacks.
in what way? I don’t see that at all. I see the random comment that doesn’t make a lot of sense, but the biggest problem people have on here is accepting fact and truth about their team, then their only comeback is to call someone a troll. That is the biggest issue on here. If you want pollyanna, rainbows and candy canes, go visit the “stltoday.com” forum pages and enjoy all the pleasures of the local sheeple.
Have you not seen these comments the last 4 months? It’s always “X leave troll.” “Oh look, X you’re a douchebag.” “X is first, wow, no life!” And then comes a swarm of replies and all that. Then JTO always talks about how we should not talk baseball ever because he knows more baseball in his pinky nail than we do in our entire body.
I have thick skin, so what others type on here isn’t all that important to me. When I see something worth responding to, then I respond. If I see something not worth my time, I gloss over it and move on. It doesn’t hurt my feelings, and I don’t feel the need to call someone a troll because of it.
Wow you just proved his point. Must be a Cubs fan.
If you say so.
I do, so glad you agree.
Quit your whining.
That’s why weed should be mandatory for posting on these discussion boards.
Dexter Fowler’s contract looks pretty bad now. I think they need to keep Jose Martinez in the likelyhood that Paul Goldschmidt becomes a FA. Perhaps STL can trade Fowler in a package to TOR for Russell Martin to lead while Yadier Molina is mending.
There is no need to keep a 30 year old Martinez any longer than TODAY. He’s a horrible defender no matter where you put him, and the longer they hang on to him, the harder it will be to trade him.
Fowler’s contract was bad the day it was signed. He came off a great year in Chicago, on a great team, playing in a small park. I knew there was no way he would play good defense in STL in a bigger stadium. He was an absolute horrible defender in Colorado and Houston, and how the front office thought this would pan out to a positive outcome is beyond me? Up the middle defense is so important. Your CF simply can’t be a negative defender. They finally clued in and dumped Willie jay because of his inept defense, rag arm and molasses speed, so why pay another guy like him $82.5M. DUMB!
I completely agree with the essence of what you say. It’s the way you say it that wrankles people. If you dont want people to take you seriously then continue, but if you want a real conversation you may want to include some tact. Just a suggestion because we both know my statement is meaningless unless if you are purposely trolling.
What wrankles is me the constant use of the word “troll” when you or anyone else who uses it disagrees with my point or any point that counters yours. If you want me to take you serious, come up with counter points and omit the word “troll” from your vocabulary on here. It’s that simple. My comments almost always have facts or stats to back up what i say, and then I will throw in my opinion as well;. It’s what a forum. If I wanted to just read 100 comments where everyone agrees with everyone, I’ll just read the comments on Derrick Goold column on the stltoday.com website.
I made a reply that didnt show *sigh*. I wouldn’t want a kumbaya message board. People call you a troll not for presenting facts or having a different opinion. They do it because you call people names and you dont actually have conversations, you tend to demand you’re right and call others names if they disagree.
So let me understand this. People can call me a troll all day long, and the minute I respond with calling them a name, I’m the bad guy? Got it. Thanks for clarifying the hypocrisy and double standard on this site.
Lol. You know what I’m saying and are being purposefully argumentative. You know what I mean. If you dont want to hear it that’s ok. These boards are much better when people have civil disagreements. Not ones like “I’m right you’re wrong, sheeple.”
My instincts tell me daved is a fan of some team in the NL Central other than the Cards.
Yeah I have that same instinct. But that doesnt mean we cant have civil conversations.
No, I really don’t know what you mean. You and others think it’s ok to call people trolls, yet you don’t want to be called out in response. I get it. It’s a double standard. Just as long as we’re clear on that, it won’t be a problem. Stop using troll and I’ll stop calling you and those that use it a moron or idiot. It’s not hard to understand.. You’re like the school bully who likes to dish it out but runs and hides when someone punches you back with your own medicine.
Your instincts need an overhaul.
No I dont call people trolls first. You’re actually twisting the facts now. Call someone a name THEN I will call you a troll.
Knowing what we know about Bonds and his past, I find it amusing that any player would make the comment “I am going to do anything he tells me to do.” When referring to Bonds.
Matheny was a curse for sure. Hopefully Flower rebounds. Working with Bonds helped Ozuna a couple years ago, maybe it will help Dex. I know Ozuna was injured last year but I really think he missed hitting in a line up with Stanton in it. Maybe Goldschmidt will help with that. Can spring training start already!
The FO milked the fans for years, and come 2016, reality began to hit us. We didn’t have the talent to compete in the division and with a rather bleak collection of bats on the farm, they did the only thing they could do to protect themselves. After the cow went dry in 2018, they fired the manager and promoted the top pitchers to replace the garbage in the bullpen.
The managerial change in 2018 did not represent a new direction. It was 100% a PR move to make the FO look competent after they spent the last 2 1/2 seasons dragging their feet.
Saying a guy is a curse when he led a constantly restructuring team to four postseasons and a World Series in his first four seasons as manager, and then two more winning seasons afterwards is laughable. Give him a golden egg like Maddon, Cora, or Hinch were handed and I’m sure he wouldn’t be cursed.
The FO stepping up for Matheny involved them trading a team-controlled pitcher for one year of gold glove right field, then failing to sign every star player they have gone after except Fowler and Leake… who were average players signed to star salaries.
There is definitely a curse in the organization. But it does not have slicked back hair. It wears glasses and a bowtie.
Unfortunately, the coupon he used on Mikolas may have earned him a 10-year extension.
Lol you’re funny. Got any more jokes?
Great rebuttal.
Leake did quite well for Seattle with some defense behind him which he didn’t have here except for Wong. Folks forget Leake was never a power pitcher. He was an innings eater who got opponents to hit a lot of ground balls. We didn’t have a defense to support that kind of pitcher. We are better now but still not much stronger than average on defense. With Carp at 3B perhaps a bit below average. Plugging up the holes in our defense is still a critical fix the team seems to be happy to ignore.
Mikey was a weak manager. He’s a very fine moral and religious guy with lots of BB smarts but he let the players get away with sloppier play every year. When under LaRussa did you ever see the team leading BB or the NL in errors?
The team got weaker on defense every year under him. He inherited a strong team which is why he did well. I don’t see any team jumping up to hire him as their field manager. KC has made him an offer but not as manager.
1 Aledmys Diaz (possibly the worst defensive SS in baseball)
2 Jose Martinez (physically limited from height and injuries)
3 Jhonny Peralta (couldn’t move or throw)
4 Yairo Munoz (our super utility player that stinks at every position he plays)
5 Matt Holliday to name a few more (strong arm and poor mobility)
6 Jedd Gyorko (Only decent at 3B)
7 Dexter Fowler (no hustle)
8 Matt Carpenter (dead arm)
9 Jon Jay (dead arm and limited range)
10 Stephen Piscotty (low IQ OF)
11 Allen Craig (limited mobility)
12 David Freese (so-so defender)
13 Matt Adams (decent 1B defense but unreliable and often injured)
14 Kolten Wong (so-so defender and a headcase until 2018.. everyone knew he was physically capable, just not mentally)
15 Marcell Ozuna (dead arm)
Tell me how the FO provided Mike with the option of defensive stability?
Wahhhhhhhhh, I’m depressed that I got $100 dollars and don’t even have to play every day …. wahhhhhhhhhhh
Just because you have money doesn’t mean you don’t have any problems what so ever to worry about ever for the rest of your life.
Yes your right – but for that kind of money I think I would get over the fact that I sucked and ran out of people to blame for it happening .
Big baby
Who’s to say there wasn’t anything happening in his personal life? If there was, then I’m sure it affected his performance, and the negative performance probably didn’t help. Plus, he wasn’t “blaming” anybody for bad performance.
lol whatever – he sucked . He’s getting paid 18.5 million dollars a year to produce – he didn’t have anything in his personal life to counter his production .
Just like any other job, he had a job to do. And he couldn’t do it . Most people get fired for that
Maybe he kept something behind closed doors for a reason. You never know.
He sucked – 18.5 million, no excuses . If it was that bad of a problem then it would have been known about . Death in the family, (fanacial problems (LOL), but if he was upset because his dog died or someone peed in his Cheerios, he can get over it for 18.5 million
In all fairness to Fowler – I probably shouldn’t be so hard on him . This is all pretty Much MO’s fault for an awful contract on an average at best player .
Now MO, instead of admitting to his mistake, will continue to defend Fowler – will give him every chance possible to play and will defend him in a social level … all instead of saying that he screwed up ♂️
Just ask Jay Z…Mo money, mo problems
Actually Biggie…my bad
Yeah if that’s how you think, you should be depressed.
Did anyone read the Barry Bonds is helping him with workouts sentence and think well he’s getting tested first week of spring training?
so what you’re saying is twofold. 1) You can’t find what I asked,. 2) You are weak and insecure. Truth hurts. No trolling. Just stating my opinion that continues to get under the wool of the sheeple in STL fan circles.
Sweet. Fowler should do well now. He’ll be “creaming” the ball!!!
Living in St. Louis would make anyone depressed. It’s a sh !thole.
With 11 championships.
All of you on here arguing and bringing politics in to these discussions make me want to never read another comment. Please stick to baseball and stop ruining this site.
I’m sure happy we picked up Goldy. It’s great to have a solid glove playing first. He can also hit well no matter where he’s placed in the order.
We still need to find a place to play Carp where his defense doesn’t allow as many runs as his bat produces. I like his grit and willingness to play when he’s hurt but the tough reality is he would be better match on an AL team where he could be a DH. If he were to stay healthy he could be like a JD Martinez for a team like Tampa Bay.
We need a good two way player on 3B like Moose.who is also a good LH bat which we need. 2 problems solved with him. We need a solid LH reliever like Miller or Britton to pick up our BP. Without these changes we may make the post season but we won’t go far. If management really wants to make the team a good post season threat they should go all out to snag Arenado if the ROX are really willing to let him go this year and get something for him rather than losing him next year and getting nothing. He could be a franchise player and show our own soon to be free agents that this is a team with lots of real winning potential. A place they would want to stay and pick up some post season winnings.
Then we face the prospect of losing our best players at seasons end. We have a challenge in front of USPS re-signing them all.. I hope Girsch and Moz can pull it off.
Mike Moustakas – ..962 Fielding %, -4 Defensive Runs Saved, .251 Avg, .307 OBP, .431 SLG
Matt Carpenter – .955 Fielding %, -1 Defensive Runs Saved, .274 Avg, .377 OBP, .470 SLG,
Do we want to trade Marp’s offensive stats for .007 fielding % points?