St. Louis Cardinals: Mike “Maytag Repairman” Matheny

May 24, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny reacts during a MLB baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
May 24, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny reacts during a MLB baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

St. Louis Cardinals millennial fans are saying “Maytag Repairman,” WTH? He is a commercial character for Maytag appliances introduced in 1967. He is “the loneliest guy in town” because Maytag appliances are so dependable they seldom need repair…

Baseball teams, alas, DO often need repair. That is when “the manager” becomes “the loneliest guy in town.” The original Maytag Repairman was Jesse White who played “Cagey Calhoun” on The Ann Southern Show. He was later replaced by Gordon Jump a/k/a “Mr. Carlson” from WKRP In Cincinnati. The cool stuff a St. Louis Cardinals fan learns at Redbird Rants.com… Huh?

Mike Matheny is “under the gun” for the Cardinals’ uninspiring anemic offense these days. You and Bill DeWitt and John Mozeliak all know it. Mike Matheny knows it. Mrs Matheny and their children know it.

Q: What does Mike Matheny have in common with Whitey HerzogJim LeylandJoe TorreSparky AndersonTerry FranconaBobby Cox and Tony La Russa?

A: They all have career W-Ls records over .500.

At .565, Mathey’s W-L % is higher than all of them. Cox is second at .555

Q: What does Matheny NOT have in common with all those accomplished baseball men?

A: They were all fired at least once. Matheny has not been fired… yet.

I have done sports commentaries for 18+ years. At no time during those 18+ years have I NOT had a coach/manager on “The Hot Seat” with one or more of the teams I report on. Often two or more concurrently.

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This season is a third over. Despite blah, blah, and blah… The St. Louis Cardinals are still very much in contention in the NL-Central. So, what will bring a smile to ever-stoic Mike Matheny’s face?

Mike Matheny SMILE?  Yeah, right.  That is probably asking for too much?

Next: What's ahead for Cardinals in June?

What do YOU think? Let’s hear your opinion. It doesn’t have to make sense. Mine often don’t.