Disgruntled ex-Cardinals manager takes veiled swipe at organizational management.
Hear Me Out, Baseball Fans: Mike Shildt and the St. Louis Cardinals Still Got it Going On
It's no secret that the St. Louis Cardinals and Mike Shildt's breakup has left a bad taste in the mouths of die-hard fans, as the team's postseason odds keep dropping for the third year in a row. Some have even started calling for Oli Marmol to step down, while others are still mourning the loss of their beloved manager in the 2021-2022 offseason.
Mike Shildt, who managed the Cardinals for three years, has quite a few noteworthy achievements under his belt. His tenure saw the team making three consecutive postseason appearances, coming off a three-year dry spell, and clocking in a 17-game win streak in 2021 alone. Shildt even finished third in National League Manager of the Year voting that very year.
The surprising part? Shildt was fired due to "philosophical differences" with the club and John Mozeliak. Over time, fans have begun to speculate on the real reasons behind this split. Perhaps Shildt felt the team's money was being spent unwisely, with the way the franchise decided to allocate funds in the 2024-2025 offseason. Or maybe it was the lack of support from the Cardinals' coaching staff, especially considering the minuscule staff sizes across all minor league levels following COVID-era cuts.
Regardless of what the real issues were, it's clear that there was never going to be a harmonious future for Shildt and the Cardinals.
So, What Really Went Down Between Shildt and the Cardinals?
Recently, Shildt sat down for an interview with Jayson Stark and Doug Glanville on their podcast, Starkville. Speaking about his time in St. Louis, he said, "I was super grateful, beyond grateful, for the 18 years in St. Louis."
When asked about the differences between the San Diego Padres, his current team, and the Cardinals, Shildt kept it real. "You go into this second opportunity a little more open, a little more aware of how the industry works, what I'm responsible for, what I need to let go of. But at the end of the day, I'm going to love our players. I'm going to treat people as well as I can, but I'm still also not going to apologize as respectfully as possible to a standard of excellence that, quite honestly, our ownership, our fans, our team expects."
Shildt's time with the Cardinals gave him a whole new perspective on baseball politics and management. He's keenly aware of these factors now and has built strong relationships with his players. Yet, make no mistake – he won't bend when it comes to his principles. He's there to win at the highest level of baseball, a standard that ownership, fans, and the team expect.
However, one big sticking point was a difference in organizational direction. "All I can say is where we felt the team was going, we were struggling to get on the same page," said Mozeliak back in 2021. "With him having one year remaining on his contract, we could have gone into 2022 having that over him, and we just decided that internally it would be best to separate now and take a fresh look as we head into a new season."
I have to admit I'm still not convinced about Shildt's departure. Even though he might not squeeze much more out of the current Cardinals lineup, I question whether letting him go was the right move. Players seemed to support him, and he had a knack for inspiring his team in ways few managers can.
As far as the wound between Shildt, Mozeliak, and the Cardinals is concerned? Well, it doesn't seem to be getting any smaller, given his latest comments. There's a good chance we'll continue seeing fireworks between these two in the near future.
- Mike Shildt, in an interview with Jayson Stark and Doug Glanville on their podcast, Starkville, expressed his gratitude for his 18 years with the St. Louis Cardinals but also made it clear that there were organizational direction differences that led to their disconnect.
- John Mozeliak, Cardinals' president of baseball operations, stated that the disagreement between Shildt and the team was about differing views on the direction of the organization and that a fresh perspective would be beneficial as they headed into a new season.
- Shildt, now managing the San Diego Padres, spoke about adopting a more open and aware approach in his second opportunity, but he stressed that he would not compromise on his principles and would continue to strive for a high level of excellence, as expected by ownership, fans, and the team.
- The departure of Mike Shildt, who had led the Cardinals to three consecutive postseason appearances, still sparks debate among baseball fans and commentators, with some questioning whether it was the best decision for the team's success moving forward.
