I see myself more as a mediator than a reporter, writer, or analyst regarding St. Louis Cardinals fans. The Cardinals have climbed back into the NL Wild Card race and are now above .500, quieting the calls for Marmol’s dismissal…for now.
One error won’t change that, considering the Cardinals are currently three games over .500, securing the second spot in the NL Central and the third in the NL Wild Card position. They are 1.5 games ahead of the New York Mets.
However, as the manager in St. Louis, Marmol holds a crucial role as a link to one of the most passionate baseball fanbases, the Cardinals’ fans. While other fanbases may have strong supporters, the Cardinals’ fans are known for expressing their discontent clearly. Whether it’s a player, Marmol, or John Mozeliak and the front office, any avoidable error by a Cardinal member receives criticism.
One common grievance of Cardinals fans against Marmol is his management of the bullpen. In the game against the Pirates, Marmol substituted Mikolas with Giovanny Gallegos after six innings, who then gave up a run, elevating his ERA to 9.75. Following a scoreless inning by Matthew Liberatore, Marmol brought in the usually reliable Andrew Kittredge, who allowed two runs in the eighth inning.
“We’ve got a couple guys down that have pitched a lot. We’re going to have to figure out a way to win without them from time to time. … You mix and match as good as you can going to the end of that game,” Marmol mentioned post-game.
Cardinals supporters were quick to question certain decisions. Firstly, why did Marmol remove Mikolas after just 87 pitches? Pulling starting pitchers early, between 75-90 pitches, has been a recurring pattern for Marmol this season, which has proven detrimental to the Cardinals.
Secondly, why wasn’t Ryan Helsley utilized? The Cardinals’ star closer was noticeably absent during the game, sitting idly in the bullpen. While an argument can be made for Marmol due to Helsley’s extensive usage leading up to the All-Star break, with 31 saves overall, he had not pitched since June 30 and only appeared briefly on Tuesday against the Pirates, throwing just 17 pitches.
Cardinals fans always offer suggestions, whether valid or not. It’s a long season, and St. Louis is positioned well for a playoff push. If they maintain their current standing and make some key additions before the deadline, Marmol’s position should remain secure.
