The St. Louis Cardinals are flipping the script this season, and at the heart of their unexpected success is manager Oli Marmol. Despite a roster that lacks the star power many teams boast, and with a bullpen and pitching staff that could be described as shaky at best, Marmol has been the maestro orchestrating a symphony of wins that defy the odds.
Now, not all of Marmol’s calls have been crowd-pleasers. Take May 14, for instance, when he made the bold decision to pull starter Michael McGreevy before the seventh inning after just 74 pitches.
McGreevy had been holding the Athletics at bay, allowing only one run on five hits. But when the bullpen faltered, letting the lead slip, it was Marmol’s tactical acumen that eventually saw the Cardinals claw back to a 5-4 victory.
Fans were buzzing after the game, questioning why Marmol would take out a pitcher who seemed to be in control. But when Marmol addressed the situation on 101 ESPN on May 19, he laid out his reasoning with the kind of insight that shows why he’s steering the Cardinals ship.
“He’s at 74 pitches, and once you get into that sixth inning, for me, it’s less about pitch count and more about effectiveness,” Marmol explained regarding McGreevy. “Out of the 19 balls in play, 14 of them were hit over 94 mph, seven of them were hit over 100. His expected ERA was like 13.80, and he walked out of there with a 1.50 [ERA].”
Marmol may have fudged the numbers slightly-McGreevy actually faced 13 balls hit at least 94 mph and six at 100 mph-but the point stands. Along with pitching coach Dusty Blake, Marmol recognized the potential for disaster and even considered pulling McGreevy before the sixth inning began.
“His sinker wasn’t behaving the way it normally does,” Marmol added. “[McGreevy] knew it from pitch one, so we have his feedback too, understanding how he’s feeling throughout the course of the game. … I would love for him to go back out if I feel like his stuff is actually doing what he wants it to and we’re not relying strictly on the balls being hit at somebody.”
It’s this kind of strategic thinking that should endear Marmol to Cardinals fans. His and Blake’s analytical approach to McGreevy’s performance is likely to win over the more data-driven supporters, and even those who have been skeptical of Marmol might start to see him in a new light. The Cardinals are thriving in a season that many had written off, and Marmol’s gesture of purchasing the remaining seats for the “Tarps Off” section on May 16 and 17 only adds to his growing rapport with the fans.
Winning over a baseball fanbase is no small feat, especially with legends like Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina hinting at future managerial aspirations. Fans have been ready to scrutinize Marmol’s every move, but as long as he continues to guide the Cardinals to victory and keeps Busch Stadium buzzing, the calls for his dismissal should fade into the background. In a city where excellence is the expectation, Marmol’s achievements are nothing short of impressive.
