Turner Ward, the St. Louis Cardinals’ hitting coach, was chosen as the fall guy. However, Oli Marmol has not accepted much responsibility for their troubles.
Turner Ward, the St. Louis Cardinals’ hitting coach, will not return in 2025, according to The Athletic. This is not surprising given the Cardinals’ struggles this season with runners in scoring position. Changes had to be made, but it looks that they will not involve manager Oli Marmol, who is under contract until the end of the 2025 season.
Marmol did not mince words about these similar difficulties, implying that the Cards must improve with runners in scoring position.
“One, it was not good and it’s not something that is predictive from year-to-year,” said Marmol. “It is something to address in terms of ‘why weren’t we good?’ And we looked into it quite a bit. It should be emphasized [by 2025].”
However, by firing Ward, Marmol is given an out that he should not have had in the beginning.
Oli Marmol doesn’t take responsibility for Cardinals failures
Marmol soon stated that hitting with runners on base was a strength for the Cards in 2023. Last season, they took a significant step back.
“This is one of those situations when we could keep the same roster of guys. And [hitting with runners in scoring position] may fluctuate from year to year. But from an approach sense, we didn’t execute it well this year,” Marmol said.
Marmol’s points are not intrinsically wrong, but they lack accountability on his part. Heading into what should be the final year of his contract, barring a surprise run in 2025, he clearly bears some blame for his team’s shortcomings, even if Ward had a greater direct impact on the Cards’ approach at the plate with runners on base.
This is a recurring theme between Marmol and Mozeliak. They’re eager to make minor modifications to please the fans, but they don’t see the overall picture. Mozeliak would finally be replaced by Chaim Bloom, a decision announced shortly after the end of a poor regular season. As for Marmol, there isn’t a more lame-duck manager in the sport entering the winter.
