Former Cardinals hitting guru Jeff Albert's quick ousting by Mets may prove fans got it right

Old decisions are rarely vindicated during a baseball-less October. Still, that’s exactly what happened today, as the New York Mets announced they’re letting go of director of hitting Jeff Albert. 

Albert, 45, was with the Cardinals from 2018 to 2022. In his tenure, the team saw varying levels of success with very talented rosters. 

The hitting coach—although a necessity—is often scapegoated. When Albert parted ways with the organization, many believed that to be the case. 

2022 was a year like no other. Albert Pujols returned and went LeBron on ‘em, smashing over 20 home runs in an ageless season that marched him past 700 career blasts. Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado put together an MVP and top-three MVP season, respectively. And a truckload of young Redbirds flew sky-high in the batter’s box. 

Even so, amidst mammoth homers and a postseason berth, Albert was bastardized and subsequently left the organization. 

What ensued after his departure felt like the curse of a madman. The Cardinals’ 2023 season was enough to make a grown man cry, or leave him yearning for his team’s old hitting coach—whatever came first. 

The Cardinals crumbled in 2023. Did it correlate with Albert’s departure? That’s yet to be determined. 

Still, St. Louis was left searching for hitting answers when he skipped town, and now that he’s been thrust out of a bonfire organization, it’s rather comforting. 

The Mets entered this season with division-winner expectations. Utilizing a payroll high enough to fund a presidential candidate (maybe not win, but still), the Metropolitans embarked on one of baseball’s most hilariously asinine campaigns in recent memory. 

Following their fraudulent season, the Mets’ first order of business was to get rid of Albert. Cardinal Nation definitely enjoys that one. 

This season, the Redbirds turned to Brant Brown and Brandon Allen to lead their offensive brigade. 

Brown and Allen’s great interviews, where they discussed how they approach an at-bat and what they’ve worked on with various players, helped educate fans at home. 

Still, interview or not, the proof was in the pudding. 

Jordan Walker had a career year. Alec Burleson had a career year. And the Cardinals graduated plenty of young hitters to the professional ranks who found success. 

The new-identity Redbirds wiped most fans’ memories of the Jeff Albert era and the disdain it brought about. 

Still, now is a time to count your blessings. In a year of change, finally free from the clutches of an old regime, Cardinal fans can see shimmers from the past, eliciting nods of approval. 

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