Cardinals: Tommy Edman critical of team’s offensive game plan

St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Tommy Edman took a shot at the team’s offensive game planning as struggles continue to mount.

St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak recently said that the club was happy with their coaching staff, including hitting coach Jeff Albert, who has come under public fire in recent seasons. But after yet another loss, this time against the Pittsburgh Pirates, second baseman Tommy Edman said something that should have the team concerned and possibly changing their thinking.

“I don’t think we’ve necessarily done the greatest job of making a game plan for how guys are gonna throw us day by day and working on things pregame,” Edman said, via Bally Sports Midwest. “I think we’re going to start to implement a few more of those things.”

It’s a clear shot directed at Albert, though it’s unclear how the Cardinals plan to implement new things offensively. Considering that Mozeliak recently said that the coaching staff is safe, the team figures to give Albert a shot to turn things around, but his seat could become very hot if the offense does not turn it around after he implements new things in pregame meetings with players.

But the Cardinals have to be better and Mozeliak, manager Mike Shildt and the entire organization knows it. The trade for Nolan Arenado was supposed to put the Cardinals over the top. Instead, their .225 team batting average ranks 28th in baseball. Their 293 runs ranks 26th in baseball. Their .671 OPS ranks 26th in baseball, ahead of only the Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners and Pittsburgh Pirates.

It’s simply not good enough. The Cardinals have experimented with changing the lineup, which saw little results in the first day with Dylan Carlson at leadoff, and could look to upgrade the roster via trade well before the July 30th trade deadline.

But the longer the Cardinals struggle, the hotter Jeff Albert’s seat will become, and Edman’s comments after an 8-2 loss to the Pirates only made them hotter.