If the Reds can do it, then why can’t the Cardinals?
With only five games remaining in the 2024 season, the Cincinnati Reds fired manager David Bell late Sunday, creating a very interesting summer vacancy.
The 2024 season has clearly been a disappointment for the Reds, who emerged as a potential postseason contender in 2023. They’ve already been eliminated from postseason play, and if they lose another game, they’ll finish below.500 after winning 82 games last year.
The decision to terminate Bell is particularly interesting because the organization extended him in July of last season. He was under contract until 2026, and the 2024 season was his first full season under the new agreement. Despite that, the Reds released him.
If his extension didn’t guarantee his job stability, should anyone? What are the St. Louis Cardinals’ reasons for keeping Oli Marmol, who was just extended?
Cardinals have perfect excuse to fire Oli Marmol after Reds let go of David Bell
For reasons only John Mozeliak and the Cardinals organization understood, they chose to extend Oli Marmol prior to the 2024 season, mostly to guarantee that he was not deemed a lame duck. The Cardinals did not want to portray this season as a failure on Marmol’s part if they fell short of expectations.
Well, the Cardinals season fell short of expectations. They’ll probably finish with a higher record than the Reds, but they’ll miss the playoffs for the second consecutive year. It wasn’t just Marmol’s responsibility, of course, but he’s made it quite plain in his three years as head coach that he doesn’t raise this roster at all.
Cincinnati’s 2024 season did not go as planned, but Bell does have an explanation. Their roster was ravaged by injuries during the season. Matt McLain did not appear in a single game. Jeimer Candelario, TJ Freidl, and Noelvi Marte have all lost substantial time as position players due to injury or suspension.
Almost every Reds starter this season, including All-Star right-hander Hunter Greene, spent time on the injured list.
Every team experiences injuries, but aside from a pair of terrible Willson Contreras injuries, the Cardinals had a rather healthy squad. The team simply underperformed. Much of the blame falls on the players and John Mozeliak for failing to produce and develop a strong roster, but Marmol is not without fault.
If the Cardinals honestly believe Marmol is the appropriate candidate, it’s difficult to see why, but so be it. If the Cardinals’ reason for keeping Marmol beyond this season is due to his contract, it will not go over well with the fans. The Reds just dismissed their manager, despite having had terrible luck all year and being just extended. The Cardinals should have felt comfortable doing the same with Marmol to begin with, but the Reds’ move ensures that his extension cannot be used as an excuse.
