St. Louis Cardinals: Great but unlikely replacements for Mike Matheny

The St. Louis Cardinals already have a better manager in their organizational ranks in Memphis.

The St. Louis Cardinals should- in all actuality- replace Matheny today with the likes of Stubby Clapp. Clapp became the manager of the Memphis Redbirds this season and has lead that team to amazing successes. In fact, the Redbirds sit at 40 games over the .500 mark. 40 games!

The Redbirds have already stamped their ticket to the AAA postseason so it is unlikely that Clapp would replace Matheny today (although it should happen) but it does not preclude him from replacing Matheny the moment the Redbirds seize the AAA title (something that seems inevitable at this point).

Of the three names listed here, Clapp seems the most likely candidate to replace Matheny if Mozeliak/Girsch become smart enough to make this happen. And, in all likelihood, Clapp would bring with him Mark Budaska as the new hitting coach replacing the horrid Matheny.

I love Buda and have written about his wonderful successes reinvigorating players who are struggling. Want to see some praise we’ve written about him? Jump here for that.

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In addition to Buda, I bet Clapp would be wise enough to snatch up Chris Carpenter as his new pitching coach. See how this would be a win-win? I imagine too that Clapp would keep Mike Shildt but likely do away with the Quality Control Coach moniker and instead use Shildt as his bench coach (in essence having two managers on the bench).

What a powerhouse! I’m pausing just to catch my excited breath at these thoughts.

And how about experience? Clapp has that. For a review of this, jump over to my news piece that I wrote when Memphis was wise enough to name him their manager after Shildt was promoted. You can read that piece here.

Lastly, I’m not alone in believing that Clapp is the successor to the failed Matheny. Tina recently wrote for us here at Redbird Rants that Clapp was listed as the best managerial candidate by the Pacific Coast League’s Best Tools List for 2017.

All of these hopes will all-but-likely be smashed however once the St. Louis Cardinals organization simply asks Matheny to return as manager in 2018. While it shouldn’t be the case, Matheny does have years remaining on his extension and the Cardinals are likely to keep him through this, but they shouldn’t.

Next: A permanent plan for Waino

Time will tell if any of these three might once again (Carpenter and Oquendo) join the Cardinals or if the rising superstar from Memphis will take the helm. Any of these would be better choices than who is currently leading the St. Louis Cardinals if only the front office would listen to me (and the countless others who urge for the removal of Matheny).