The St. Louis Cardinals continue to embody inconsistency. The front office—formerly led by John Mozeliak and now overseen by Chaim Bloom—seems to be in a constant state of indecision. It’s clear that Oli Marmol isn’t the long-term answer at manager, yet the organization chose not to make a change this past offseason. Instead of bringing in a skipper aligned with Bloom’s vision, they kept Marmol while trying to rework the roster midstream. That hesitation has put them a step behind a division rival—the Pirates, who moved on from Derek Shelton and may have gained an advantage by doing so.
Don Kelly has taken over as interim manager in Pittsburgh. With his experience as an assistant, he could make a strong impression and potentially secure the job full-time. Regardless, the Pirates now have most of the season to evaluate their future direction—something the Cardinals failed to set in motion.
Why didn’t the Cardinals fire Oli Marmol last offseason?
The Cardinals chose to keep Oli Marmol largely due to his background in player development, hoping he could help young talents like Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman grow into stars. However, both players are currently struggling at the plate, batting below .200. While Marmol has acknowledged they still have time to improve, he also knows that time isn’t unlimited.
Following the 2024 season, Marmol emphasized that his future as manager depends on how well these young players develop. If he can’t guide them to success, his tenure likely won’t last.
“We need to elevate this group and prepare them to truly contend, not just occasionally make the playoffs,” Marmol said last September. “They’re young, but they’re talented. I believe the future is bright.”
But early results this season suggest otherwise — the front office is seeing that Marmol’s approach isn’t producing the desired progress. He doesn’t appear to be the leader St. Louis needs for its next competitive chapter. So the question remains: if he’s not the right fit, why is he still in the dugout?
The Pirates let go of Derek Shelton when it was clear he wasn’t the answer. The Cardinals, meanwhile, seem to be delaying the inevitable.