Cardinals' Pursuit of Objectives Jeopardized by Inclusion of Ryan Vilade in Team Roster
Redesigned Analysis:
Maybe St. Louis Cardinals fans were shook when Jordan Walker went down with an injury – even though his season wasn't popping off as the team had hoped. With the Cardinals' "runway" approach in mind, they'd give young players like Walker a chance to show their stuff, making this season critical for him.
Things took a turn when the team called up Ryan Vilade, a guy with defensive versatility but a batting average that left much to be desired. Oli Marmol, the manager, decided to put Vilade in the lineup for the team's last three games against left-handed starters. Surprisingly, Vilade's yet to pick up a hit this year.
Starting Vilade against lefties goes against the original runway plan for the team, especially when you consider that Vilade's not a long-term answer for the team. So the fact that he's still getting playing time over Nolan Gorman and Alec Burleson feels perplexing.
Marmol sticking to player splits seems reasonable, but Vilade's career average against lefties (.147) is lower than Gorman's (.219) and Burleson's (.201). This strange decision suggests that Marmol might view Gorman and Burleson strictly as platoon bats and doesn't think they should face left-handed pitching often.
In a season where young players are being given opportunities, it's puzzling that Marmol won't allow Gorman and Burleson to try their luck against lefties and potentially improve.
Gorman, in particular, appears to have been written off by the Cardinals. He's barely seen game time this season, and there were rumors that he'd be the one sitting on the bench as Marmol tinkered with the lineup early in the season. But according to an April 22 article from The Athletic (requires subscription), Marmol said he'd continue to give Gorman playing time and stick to his "runway" comments.
For some reason, that seems to have changed. Gorman's adjusting his approach at the plate, focusing on contact over power. It's unclear if the Cardinals asked for this change or if Gorman did it on his own, but Marmol isn't giving him the chance to prove it works.
Marmol's growth as a manager this year has been impressive, and if the Cardinals keep flipping the script in Major League Baseball, he could be a contender for Manager of the Year. But skipping on Gorman and Burleson in favor of Vilade feels illogical and baffling, especially considering what Marmol preached at the start of the season.
Related Insights:
- Lars Nootbar's continued playing time: Despite his struggles overall, Lars Nootbar has an advantage over other outfielders when it comes to facing left-handed pitchers. Manager Marmol may be favoring established players' performance history, even if it means ignoring fledgling players like Gorman and Burleson.
- Sensitive Lineup Choices: Marmol's choices for the Cardinals' lineup can be influenced by a balance between performance and loyalty to the players. He might be hesitant to make major changes that could shake up the team's chemistry, potentially limiting opportunities for young players.
- Team Performance Against Lefties: The Cardinals have struggled against left-handed pitching, forcing Marmol to rely on players who have some experience in this area, even if their overall performance isn't stellar.
- Past Success Against Lefties: While specific stats for Gorman and Burleson against lefties aren't yet available, the team's overall struggles against left-handed pitchers might lead Marmol to stick with players who had some success in the past.
The Cardinals' continued preference for Lars Nootbar against left-handed pitchers might stem from Marmol's favoritism towards established players' past performance, even if it means sidelining younger players like Nolan Gorman and Alec Burleson.
The Cardinals' ongoing struggles against left-handed pitching could be the reason behind Oli Marmol's reluctance to experiment with his lineup, keeping players like Ryan Vilade in the lineup, despite their questionable performance against lefties.
