Even after outfielder Dylan Carlson was activated from the injured list yesterday, the Cardinals have opted to leave Tommy Edman in center field, where he seems poised to stick for the foreseeable future, as noted by Katie Woo of The Athletic. Manager Oliver Marmol expressed support of Edman’s glovework in center field, telling reporters (including Woo) that the switch-hitter “has done a really nice job in center”, calling his work in the outfield “darn impressive.”
Edman has paired his quality glove with roughly league average offense so far in 2023, as the 28-year-old utility man has slashed .246/.306/.417 in 221 plate appearances this season, good for a wRC+ of 98. While that figure represents a definitive step back from Edman’s .265/.324/.400 slash line in 2022 (108 wRC+), it’s worth noting that Edman’s .265 BABIP so far this season would be the lowest of his career over a full season, far below his career .303 figure.
While shifting a Gold Glove middle infielder to the outfield is a risky move when it comes to preserving infield defense, the Cardinals are fortunate to have quality options in Nolan Gorman, Brendan Donovan, and Paul DeJong up the middle, with veteran superstars Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt flanking them at the infield corners. With Edman sticking in center, Carlson has been used in Right Field since his return, with youngsters Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson patrolling left.
Of course, the club will have to revisit Edman’s hold on center field as more injured outfielders, such as Tyler O’Neill and Lars Nootbaar, return from the IL. That being said, it seems that any such decision won’t be coming any time soon, as O’Neill saw his rehab paused due to continued back discomfort at the end of May. Meanwhile, Nootbaar has only just begun to hit off a tee after going on the IL with back spasms last week per MLB.com’s John Denton.
In more positive injury news, Denton notes that left-hander Packy Naughton, who has been on the IL with a forearm strain since early April, is poised to make a Triple-A rehab appearance tomorrow. Prior to his injury, Naughton impressed with five scoreless innings where he allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out five, good for a 1.88 FIP. Upon his return, Naughton could factor into the St. Louis bullpen alongside the likes of Andre Pallante and Genesis Cabrera as the club relies on Ryan Helsley, Jordan Hicks, and Giovanny Gallegos in the late innings.
When did Carlos Marmol take over?
He’d probably do a better job 😀
A jar of Marmalade would probably do a better job
It is Oliver Marmol. Who unfortunately started managing the big league club in 2022.
While I agree that Tommy has done a nice job in CF, I don’t see how keeping him there helps sort out the logjam in the outfield. They should have sent Burleson down instead of Yepez if Burleson is going to sit. He probably needed a reset anyway, even after his game winner the other night.
Also, is there some reason Contreras has to play EVERYDAY and bat fifth? Knizner earned some PT and he has disappeared.
I think Marmol is getting more than his share of blame for players failing to play well, but letting Contreras hit 5th no matter what is a terrible take. No doubt he will heat up at some point but that can be from the 7 or 8 hole where his bat has belonged. Also just the blind love of Jordan Hicks. He throws 102! Yeah but he walks half of the people he faces. Not a reliable guy in big situations.
Where is Marmol getting the blame? On websites like this, where the only people who care what was said are the same people who wrote the comments? It seems to me Marmol is just as golden as Mozeliak. He can do no wrong, he’s perfect and we should feel blessed for having him.
Like every single comment on Twitter regarding the Cardinals. Are you not on Twitter or Facebook groups? The guy has no clue and Edman can chase down balls very above average but has a very weak arm and is suited for second. If they can get something for him they should trade him.
I agree with the Hicks comment, he needs to learn how to pitch and not throw, because you can throw 100mph doesn’t mean you should. He has no control. Take a lesson from Miles or Waino.
Perhaps Marmol is trying to go easy with Carlson for a while after the injury. Center is quite a bit more demanding.
Contreras is in a bad slump as is DeJong. DeJong stopped hitting a month ago.
I think it’s time to blame coaching for the Cardinals woes especially for pitching.
Most managers have stopped making unilateral decisions on players roles and how much they play.
This is no doubt true of the Cardinals that have made awful decisions since they fired Mike Schildt.
Paul DeJong stopped hitting a couple of years ago except for brief rebounds here and there.
I feel like so much has gone wrong, it’s kinda hard for me to see what is right, top to bottom and all around. I’m not the guy to diagnose most of the problems, but I do think the team would respond better to a stronger leader, regardless of whatever they say about Marmol.
Burleson definitely needs some time away to clear his mind and get back to basics. DeJong came up and hit well for a brief stretch. Players do this all the time and are sent down when they stop producing. He’s no longer hitting and hasn’t for a while, but continues getting at bats in a crowded lineup.
This organization as a result of its leadership is lost.
I guess Nick Senzel will go down as a top 3 Reds bust
There will not be a bust of Nick Senzel in any hall I can think of.
Odd place to post this comment, and quite possibly quite wrong. He’s been an oft-injured and only decent player, but he’s been a big leaguer for a few years, something a number of high draft picks haven’t achieved.
How much of the future is foreseeable?
7.35921%
Don’t believe gbs42 — 47.3% of all statistics are made up.
I feel sorry for the Cardinal Fans. You have a good team playing poorly. However, something needs to give shortly!
I know that the lack of success for the Cardinals cannot all fall on the shoulders of Marmol, but he is clearly way over his head. He appears confrontational in every interview, win or lose, at press conferences, with his players and the umpires. The players do not have to like the manager to have success but they don’t look like they are enjoying the game. I think his lineup construction is poor at best, his use of the bullpen is terrible. However Mozeliak has built the team causing him to have to play guys out of position and has not given him any starting pitching protection. His bullpen is frankly bad. Time for the Cardinals to move on from Mozeliak and Marmol.
I dunno about Marmol, but at least the clock is steadily counting down for Mozeliak. The problem is, I think a Mo-wannabe-mindset will replace him, so I’m not expecting much to change even after he’s gone.
Every time I see a reference to the Cardinals and 1964, as depicted in the pic next to your handle, as a Phillies fan, I get ill. 1964 was supposed to be the best summer a teenager ever had in terms of rooting for his hometown team. Then, bam! My guys lost ten games in a row and tied a big ribbon on the NL pennant for your Cardinals.
In the world of fandom, that summer, and the way it ended, earned me whatever the baseball fan equivalent is of a Purple Heart.
At least you are the backup catcher to the backup catcher. That was a crazy year and just gives hope that a team can get hot and change their fate. We were not better than the Phillies and certainly not better than the powerful Yankees but was able to pull it off. Good luck to you.
Well, it doesn’t make up for the pain of 1964, but my Phillies did get lucky last year by getting hot at the right time and making it all the way to Game 6 of the World Series.
Like your ’64 Cardinals, the 2022 Phillies were not better than LA, SD, NYM or maybe even your Cardinals. The mantra, “Just make it into the dance and anything can happen.” has never rung more true.
BTW, I still believe, when it’s all said and done, your Cardinals will win the NL Central. Just gotta move one of their outfielders for a decent SP. Of the lot, I think Carlson might interest folks the most given that Walker is untouchable right now.
If only Packy Naughton could pitch to the quality of his name.
If he could be sent back in time a century, where his name would seem rather commonplace, he would dominate.
I really like Edman in the infield. He’ll win the utility gold glove this year if there’s justice. He’s a high level defender anywhere in the field. Catching is the only defensive skill he lacks.
To me, he seems like a guy who eats, sleeps, dreams and breathes baseball, and he has his entire life. I know I’m thankful to have him on our team.
Just too bad he can’t hit at a major-league average level.
Cardinals are a small market and their owner is the former CEO of Budweiser. The vast majority of his wealth is in Budweiser stock. If he ever sold it he would have to pay taxes. Budweiser stock has been decimated and it looks like the US company could inevitably go bankrupt. Would not be surprised if stl starts dumping salary soon.
Bill Dewitt Jr. has never had a role at AB. AB has had no link to the team since Dewitt bought the team from AB in 1995. The only links to AB and the Cardinals are historical links.
Making up pure nonsense on the internet. Glad nobody else on here ever does that. Thanks Jeremy320 for sharing your idiotic bliss.
This team makes me think of a restaurant that has terrible management. You can have really good members on your wait and cook crews, but with no leadership the day can end up out of control very quickly. As far as I’m concerned, the Cardinals’ woes stem from the top.