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3 things we've learned about the Cardinals so far, 3 we're still unsure of
With a record of 10-13, the St. Louis Cardinals aren't off to the start fans hoped for. It isn't easy right now after a 2023 season that ended with a 71-91 record, but Cardinal fans can see some positives over where we saw the team.
What are some things Cardinals fans have learned so far about their team, and what are some things fans are still unsure of almost a month into this season?
Learned: Pitching additions are good, but not enough
The additions of Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn, and Kyle Gibson have been good, but combined with the existing starters Miles Mikolas and Steven Matz, it just doesn't seem to be enough to help the team get out of a rut they still find themselves in.
The pitchers are doing their jobs, and the defense is doing their best behind them. However, management's little decisions - such as when to remove a pitcher or to keep going with them - are having the biggest drag on the pitching staff. Manager Oli Marmol and pitching coach Dusty Blake have yet to figure out those little things and trust them. Thankfully, the starting pitchers are able to go deeper into games this season, and the bullpen isn't getting overused.
Learned: Veteran additions aren't what has been advertised
Several individuals were brought in to add a splash of veteran leadership to the club. Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, and Oli Marmol agreed that adding veterans would help them. Goldschmidt and Arenado aren't vocal leaders; they lead more by example. They believed that having Matt Carpenter and Brandon Crawford would add some vocal veteran leadership to help the talented youngsters on the team. These two also appear to be more quiet leaders, too. It's hard to see if they are vocally bringing anything to the clubhouse.
It was good to see Goldschmidt talk with the media after his breakout game Monday in which he had a game tying home run. He also praised teammates Lars Nootbaar and Nolan Gorman, who had a walk off home run Monday.
Lance Lynn has been an excellent addition to the starting rotation. He is grizzled and vocal. Lynn seems to be what Mikolas wants to be, but he isn't pulling off the tone appropriately. But like the rest of the staff, they are their own man. It will be interesting to see if they click as a rotation unit as the season progresses.
Unsure: Oli Marmol
At 10-13, is Marmol's unraveling as Cardinals manager coming?
He hasn't publicly criticized a player yet, which is a great thing. But as the Cardinals' frustrations continue to mount, the more you fear he will do or say something to cause unnecessary drama to get the team going. Waiting for it to happen is almost cringe-inducing. The players have to be curious to see if it comes. That can't be a good environment, which may explain why they play with such frustration. The players need an environment where they don't have to worry about their manager going on a tirade.
It will be curious to see if Mozeliak and, more importantly, the DeWitt family tolerate this as we get deeper into the season. Mediocrity shouldn't be rewarded. Neither should a negative environment.
Unsure: Yadier Molina
Where is Yadier Molina? When he became Mozeliak's special assistant, it was reported that he would be present during Spring Training and regularly seen in uniform this season in the dugout.
This has not happened—yet, anyway. He's most likely attending to family matters and his teams in Puerto Rico. It would be nice to know when he will officially be ready for his return to the Cardinals.
When he does come around, it will be interesting to see if he can revive the aura in the Cardinals clubhouse.
Unsure: Offense as a whole
It would be curious to know what happens in the clubhouse regarding the roster and the hitting coaches. Are they on the same page? Are the coaches doing too much? Have they ruined Jordan Walker? Goldschmidt looked like he had a productive offseason. What happened? Arenado also looked like he had a productive offseason. While he's getting better, it's taking a lot of time.
Fans clamored for former hitting coach Jeff Albert to be moved. The team has the same issues. It may be time for them to bring Jim Edmonds down from the broadcasting booth to the dugout. That might be extreme, but the Cardinals need a new voice with success at hitting. Something is not clicking and needs to change if this team hopes to succeed.
Seeing the number of runners left in a scoring position has been ridiculous. How many times were the bases loaded, and they blooped a hit to strand the runners? That's unacceptable. This happened so much last season. It should have been left last season. This should have been stressed as another need this offseason.
Learned: One more starter would still be nice
The Cardinals agree that another starter is needed for the club. They optioned Andre Pallante to AAA Memphis to stretch him out as a starter. This should have been done in the offseason because he has performed better as a starter.
It will be curious to see how Marmol and Blake handle this.
That being said, the Cardinals could use another starter. Whether via free agency, trade, or even a minor league addition, the Cardinals must address this soon and not wait until the trade deadline. The team needs some urgency, a jolt, and new energy immediately.
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