Oliver Marmol, does he stay or does he go?

Oliver Marmol by Jeffery Dean of MLB via Getty Images.

The Cardinals' season has resembled the stock market of late. Up one or two games, then getting swept. As of now, they seem to be on an extended trend upward. With the impending changing of the guard in the Front Office, fans are left to wonder whether they will stay with current Manager Oliver Marmol.

Consistency is the key!

The Cardinals have had issues with putting together a consistent season since Marmol took the helm. A great season in his first year, followed by a disaster in 2023, Last season was back to maybe average. This season has been a yo-yo. Now, to be honest here, Olie doesn't deserve all of the blame. Certainly, the Front Office under John Mozelaik hasn't helped with arguably so-so off-seasons. The team's approach to player development. But those are things he can't control; what he can control is on the field. Now, some who have listened to my podcasts and have read other writings, I do think the play on the field is the responsibility of the player. The manager can't hit, pitch, run, or field for them. But he IS in charge. Much like a field General directs his forces to counter the enemy and uses his cadre of officers to initiate the direction of the battle plan. So, should a baseball manager look to see trends in his team's play that precipitate an adjustment to the game plan.

Here are some things that Marmol seems been lacking over the last three-plus years.

Here are three main issues he has

• *Line-up construction - In this day and age of versatility, Oliver Marmol seems to have a case of baseball anxiety. He can't seem to leave a line-up in place long enough to see if it is any good. With few exceptions, he moves players around like a wack-a-mole game.

• Batting Order - Marmol has an inability to realize when to move or where to place players in his batting order. Case in point, Willson Contreares pretty much struggled all of April after starting 0-19. Yet Marmol steadfastly kept in second in the order. Since moving Winn up in the order two weeks ago, the Cardinal offense has seemed to find a gear that clicks.

• Pitching moves - Now, some of this both blame and praise should go to Dusty Blake. In his first season, Marmol vowed there would be no real closer, suggesting a bullpen by committee that lasted two weeks. The overuse of Helsley in 2023 is followed by the restricted use of Helsley in 2024. Starters were pulled on pitch count, not on how effective they are. This year, pitchers are getting to the 6 and even 7th innings more often. I think the use of Helsley and the increase in innings by the starters is more a product of the maturation of Dusty Blakke as a pitching coach than Marmol as a manager.

John Mozeliak via St Louis Cardinals

Will Mo do anything as a lame duck PoBO?

This is the $64,000 question that has no clear answer. Certainly, what Mo has done(or not done) for the last six or seven years, (overvaluing what he had and undervaluing what is needed). Questionable free-agent deals and trades, extensions that don't make sense, have been commonplace the last few seasons. All of that must be figured into that as well. If the team were to head south in the standings and start looking more like 2023 than 2024, and Mo were to fire Marmol, he would in effect be laying open his OWN failure to arrange the best situation possible.

If he can somehow ride it out and put the decision on Chaim Bloom, the incoming PoBO, then he doesn't further tarnish his legacy.

So, what is Chaim Bloom's role in all of this?

Chaim Bloom via St Louis Cardinals

One would have to surmise that, even though right now has a duty to overhaul player development. I can't imagine him not being in the loop on day-to-day happenings. I mean, he will have the job next season. He is currently a member of the Front Office team, so to think that he has NO say in how things are going is, in my mind, ludicrous. He will be the top man next season, so it would only stand to reason that Mo would at least consult with Bloom on player personnel and coaching decisions. Next Season, (depending on how this one ends), Bloom will need to make a decision one way or the other. I think he would prefer it that way. Even if he ultimately was to remove Marmol. He would prefer doing it on his terms rather than having it dictated to him. I am sure he already has a short list of candidates to go to in case he needs them.

So, does the current situation favor Marmol?

With the team on an 8-game win streak, it is hard to imagine that Ollie is on a hot seat. Now I don't know if Marmol is evolving as a manager. Again, I think that the evolution of Dusty Blake and the hiring of Brent Brown and John Jay play a factor in the team's recent success. However, if things turn south, the temperature could start rising on both him and Mo, and even ownership itself to do something. For now, I would say he is quite safe. Firing Marmol now would be as bad a move as was firing Mike Schildt for philosophical differences.

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