ST. LOUIS — No regrets.
That's the message former Cardinals manager Mike Matheny had Sunday, just a day after he was dismissed from his role with the team.
"For how I went about the business, how we prepared, how we feel our guys represented our organization, the goals we set, the way that we tried to wear the uniform, I’d say that I have no regrets on how we did that," Matheny said.
Matheny said one of his goals as a manager was to make an impact on people. In the short time after his firing, he said that came flooding back through his text messages.
"I was blown away at the responses I got," Matheny said. "I think it's over 200-something texts now, and many of those are not just current players, but former players."
Matheny joined an exclusive group earlier this year when he managed his 1,000th game for the Cardinals. He joined Hall-of-Famers Tony La Russa, Red Schoendienst and Whitey Herzog as the only four to reach that plateau. His .555 winning percentage was the highest of those four.
The move came after reports frayed relationships and questions about the leadership of veteran Bud Norris in the bullpen and clubhouse. But Matheny said the story with Norris was misrepresented and he doesn't think that had much to do with the firing.
"I doubt it," Matheny said. "It’s the bottom line, wins and losses. I don’t think it helps, but those are the kind of conversations that are always in flux," he said. "There’s always stuff going on that we’re working on to try and keep the clubhouse where it needs to be, but it’s never perfect because there’s eight spots for players and only so many innings for the pitchers."
Matheny said he will be able to spend time watching his sons play the rest of this summer, including his son Tate, who plays for the double-A affiliate for the Boston Red Sox.
Mike Shildt took Matheny's place on the bench Sunday. He will serve as manager on an interim basis.
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