Cardinals Rumors: Skip Schumaker a candidate for managing positions

St. Louis Cardinals bench coach Skip Schumaker has been a welcomed addition this season, but should be a major candidate for managerial roles.

The St. Louis Cardinals made major changes to their coaching staff this season, promoting Oli Marmol to manager and bringing in former second baseman/outfielder Skip Schumaker to be the club’s bench coach. Both Marmol and Schumaker have been exceptional in their roles for St. Louis, and it’s only a matter of time before Schumaker finds himself leading a club of his own.

Schumaker played 11 seasons for St. Louis and other teams around the league before becoming the San Diego Padres 1st base coach in 2018. In 2020, Schumaker was promoted to Associate Manager and served in that role through the 2021 season. Over the last few years, the 42-year old has had his name floated in managerial conversations, so this is nothing new.

In Derrick Goold’s recent story, he quoted Schumaker as saying that despite his desire to be close to family in Southern California, he has loved his return to St. Louis and envisions himself remaining with the club beyond this season. Still, he will weigh any managerial opportunities as they come.

There will be plenty of opportunities this winter if Schumaker does decide to take on a managerial gig. Here are the options that would be most appealing to him.

No. 5 Philadelphia Phillies

After firing manager Joe Girardi midseason, the club promoted Rob Thomson to interim  manager, and the club turned things around for the majority of the season. But after going 11-14 so far in September and potentially missing out on the playoffs once again, they may be looking for a different leader next season.

Schumaker is the exact personality you would want leading a club like this. The Phillies are full of superstar level talent but continue to fall short of expectations, and need someone who can relate to players but also light a fire underneath of them when needed.

Unless Schumaker was confident that the club was primed to turn things around in 2023, it’s unlikely he would move to the East Coast to manage the club. Schumaker really values being close to his family, and has already said that if it wasn’t for St. Louis’ culture, he would have moved back.

No. 4: Chicago White Sox

To say 2022 has been a disaster for the Chicago White Sox would be an understatement. The club was expected to runaway with the AL Central this season after finishing 93-69 in 2021, but have instead limped to a 78-79 record and missed the playoffs entirely.

Manager Tony La Russa is as good as gone after the season. Since becoming the team’s manager, La Russa has had frequent issues with his players, publicly calling them out and destroying any potential chemistry the team could have. How fitting would it be for his former player to turn things around?

Schumaker could provide the White Sox with what La Russa could not, a manager who knows how to hold his players accountable but do so in a way that maintains the respect of the clubhouse.

Any manager who takes over the team in 2023 will have a low bar to pass in comparison to the dumpster fire La Russa has been for the club, but the team also has major blow up written all over them. If Chicago struggles out of the gates next season, they may find themselves entering a rebuild.

No. 3: Texas Rangers

After spending more than half a billion dollars on free agents like Corey Seager and Marcs Semien, the club has once again been one of the worst in baseball, currently sitting at 66-90 and have already fired manager Chris Woodward.

Team owner Ray Davis has already committed to spending again in 2023, and with an improving farm system and deep pockets, Schumaker could see Texas as an attractive rebuild that would bring him close to home. The Rangers play in a difficult division with the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners, but have an opportunity to rise to contention soon.

Schumaker may receive a longer leash in a place like Texas rather than struggling contenders like the Phillies or White Sox, allowing him to establish a culture and build toward a winning club. Texas is not the best job available by any means, but could fit enough of the criteria that Schumaker is looking for.

No. 1: Wait for the Giants or Padres job

If Schumaker really is content with his role in St. Louis, he would be wise to stay in St. Louis for the foreseeable future until one of the contenders in California have a job open up.

The San Francisco Giants won 107 games in 2021, but have been a major disappointment this year, with just 79 wins and third in the NL West. Kapler will get another year as the manager, but could find himself on the hot seat him the season goes poorly. The Giants have deep pockets, a great front office, and terrific farm system, making them an attractive job for anyone in baseball.

The San Diego Padres have underperformed in 2022, and with the clear chemistry issues after Fernando Tatis Jr’s PED suspension, may find themselves having more issues in 2023. With such high expectations on the club, any future struggles will surely put even Bob Melvin on the hot seat. With Schumaker’s prior experience with the club, he would already have relationships with key players.

Schumaker may not seem like the top candidate for these jobs, but if he continues to build a name for himself as a key leader in the St. Louis clubhouse, teams will have to seriously consider him for any managerial job that comes up. Schumaker should wait and at least give himself a shot for one of these jobs, as other jobs will always be available.