Former Cardinals who could have gained from the current youth-focused strategy shift
Let's Talk '25: St. Louis Cardinals' New Game Plan
Hey there, sports fans! Let's dive into the fresh strategy brewing amongst the blues and reds of the St. Louis Cardinals. But here's the twist - the ultimate aim isn't just about bagging the World Series or even dominating the National League Central.
John Mozeliak and Oliver Marmol are steering the Cardinals towards something different this year, and it's all about growth. Growth in their prospect pool, organizational coaches, and most importantly, the players themselves.
Young guns like Jordan Walker, Nolan Gorman, Masyn Winn, Alec Burleson, Ryan Fernandez, Matthew Liberatore, and Lars Nootbaar are poised to receive consistent playtime this season. For the pitchers, they'll be handed prime opportunities to extract themselves from tricky situations or explore unique pitches.
Haters might say that the Cardinals should pull rookies in slumps, like Fernandez, Gorman, or Walker, and ship them off to Triple-A Memphis to get their heads straight. But Marmol's approach is starkly different. Instead of demoting struggling players, he's letting them keep playing in an attempt to grind out the kinks in their games.
Imagine Gorman, batting away in the eighth inning of a tight tie game against the Atlanta Braves, with three stranded runners. Instead of swapping him out for a pinch-hitter, Marmol opted to let him take his swings. And boy, did he come through - farming a three-RBI double that motivated us all with a 107.2 MPH smash and a 13-degree launch angle.
This novel team management technique is giving players the chance to iron out the wrinkles in their games, a luxury that's been scarce in Cardinals' history. In the past, the organization has often prioritized immediate returns over player growth, gutting their prospect pipeline to bolster the major-league roster.
The Cardinals' ill-fated decision to trade Marcell Ozuna, in desperate search of a power-hitting left fielder, is a prime example of their misguided focus. The trade has since left fans questioning their judgment, as Ozuna plummeted while the Cardinals regrettably lost out.
If the Cardinals had followed their current, more development-focused approach earlier, trades like the Ozuna deal might never have happened, and players like Colby Rasmus, Tyler Greene, Allen Craig, and Shane Robinson would have had a better shot at blossoming within the St. Louis organization.
Instead, these players have gone on to thrive elsewhere, leaving us to rue the missed opportunities. But hey, here's hoping the Cardinals' new plan results in some homegrown success that keeps us proud and cheering in St. Louis!
- In the St. Louis Cardinals' new game plan for 2025, General Manager John Mozeliak and manager Oliver Marmol are focusing on guiding the team towards growth, particularly in their prospect pool.
- The Cardinals' roster includes promising young players like Jordan Walker, Nolan Gorman, and Ryan Fernandez, who are set to receive substantial playtime this season.
- Despite setbacks, manager Oliver Marmol is adopting an unconventional approach, allowing struggling players like Gorman to continue playing to help them work through their issues.
- If implemented correctly, this new development-focused approach could lead to homegrown success for the Cardinals, preventing regretful trades like the one involving Marcell Ozuna in the past.
