The St. Louis Cardinals have started off the 2024 season almost the same way they ended 2023 – in last place in the NL Central. While the team has battled multiple injuries to key players, the biggest issue for the Redbirds has been their woeful lack of offense.
In his post-game press conference following his team’s 5-1 home loss to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, the Cardinals skipper Oliver Marmol commented about the team’s performance thus far. In particular, he was questioned about his club’s performance at the plate. He also addressed whether his coaches might be in jeopardy of losing their jobs.
Marmol has cause for concern. His squad is currently ranked 27th in Major League Baseball in hitting with an overall .214 batting average. They’ve also hit just 23 home runs (29th overall) and stolen 15 bases (26th). Now sitting at 15-19, the Cards are again in the Central cellar, leaving their leader searching for answers.
Oliver Marmol Says Cards’
Following the Pale Hose taking 2 out of 3 games from his team during a weekend series at Busch Stadium, Oliver Marmol addressed the media. He tried to provide some answers regarding the club’s rocky start.
“We’ve had months like this before where it doesn’t look very good and then we come out of it,” Marmol said, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “We need to come out of it. A day like today, a series like this one — you’ve got to figure out a way to take this series. We didn’t. We didn’t even give ourselves opportunities today.”
The manager was asked about potential changes to his staff. However, Marmol stated he has confidence in hitting coach Turner Ward, assistant hitting coach Brandon Allen, and game planning coach Packy Elkins.
“I like the voices we have,” Marmol said. “I can’t speak higher of Turner, BA, and Packy and what they do in that department. No one is getting a whole lot of sleep right now, I’ll tell you that. They’re working at it. They’re trying to make sure they’re not missing anything. The communication with the players is really good. It sucks. Bottom line. It just does.
“Yes, we continue to look at everything possible to make sure we get out of this. But these are the players we’re going to win with, and we need to get them going.”
Cardinals Fans are Getting Frustrated
As one of the most decorated franchises in MLB history, the Cardinals aren’t used to this kind of failure. Neither are their fans.
St. Louis has long been known as one of the best baseball cities in America, but patience is wearing thin – even with a fan base that regularly fills the stadium. 2023 was the first season that the Redbirds finished in last place since 1990, and this season is on a similar pace. It’s left many in Cardinal Nation questioning the moves of Marmol and team president John Mozeliak. That’s despite the team having made it to the National League Championship Series in 2022.
The Cardinals made several key additions to their starting rotation in the offseason. But until they begin to rattle the bats, the Redbirds seemed destined for a repeat of a year ago.
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