Sometimes, it's easy to hear a manager's comments and make an assumption about how they go about their job.
Growing up, I can remember St. Louis Cardinals managers such as Whitey Herzog, Joe Torre and Tony La Russa working the media circus like a master conductor of words, catchphrases and sound bites. Mike Matheny basically sounded like an upset dad after a game where his kids went 0-4 and gave up the winning run.
When Mike Shildt went on a tirade on Wednesday, breaking down the media's perception of the club as well as the fan's take on things, it was easy to hear it and digest it as another upset parent defending his club. Unless you're a maestro like La Russa or others, it is the way all managers sound during a team slump.
In the weeks leading up to last night's feeble 2-0 loss to the Oakland Athletics, fans have already called for Shildt's head, claiming he's another Matheny. A man twisted around by John Mozeliak and Michael Girsch, someone without much control.
I'll be honest and admit sometimes I wonder if Shildt manages Yadier Molina or is it the other way around. Other players seem to be able to stay in games or wield power over Shildt at times, and you think to yourself, "What would Tony have done?"
When you have legends manage the team only to see an inexperienced former catcher try his hand, the next guy is going to have high expectations. It's as hard to squeeze your feet into tiny leftover shoes as it is to fill the big ones.
A thunderous start to Shildt's Major League managerial career last year sure helped the confidence. Mozeliak trimmed the roster, shook up the bullpen, and the Cardinals went on a tear that saw them nearly make the playoffs, losing out during the final week of the season after being dead in the water around mid-July. Shildt's managing was more risky, comfortably brazen, and went for the kill.
The lineups shuffled, the play on the field sharpened, and the team bought into that the Shildt method. During postgames, he was courteous, laid back, and answered questions like he was giving directions on a back road in El Paso, Texas.
In 2019, that risk-taking management and demeanor have tightened a bit. When your team is barely better than .500 with a $162 million payroll, it's normal to get short with questions, become defensive and mimic the previous guy in office.
Here's the thing. Shildt can't make Paul Goldschmidt become the difference-maker that Mozeliak traded for. He can't make Harrison Bader hit above .230, or get Matt Carpenter to be more consistent at the plate. Shildt has stuck to a lineup for a moderate portion of the season, but he's also found ways to shake things up. Slotting in Tommy Edman, who had two hits, into the leadoff spot Wednesday was a step in the right direction. A sign of bold Shildt coming back. Mixing opportunity and timing together with purpose.
Shildt deserves time to settle into a job that he's had for less than a full season. One could make the argument for giving him an early extension, but you have to understand he's been with the organization for a long time. There's talent and roster management skills there, but some things take time. With Goldschmidt in tow and the pressure on to make the playoffs, things haven't gone according to plan, and that places the perception on the manager.
When the St. Louis Blues missed the playoffs and started this past season in a slump, Mike Yeo was fired in the second month of the season. NFL coaches feel the heat as well for team failure. If the players don't perform, the manager gets the hook often times. It's written in stone somewhere. Shildt has a three-year contract, but if things wouldn't turn around, he will be gone.
Let's let him breathe for now. Don't forget about the small yet vital improvements. The baserunning is a lot better, and the Cardinals are stealing bases again. The defense is no longer making two to three errors a game. There are run-savers out there. The pitching staff seems to be held together with duct tape at times, but it's performing well in the circumstances. The bullpen is leaking oil, but not blowing game after game.
The lineup needs to produce. Guys like Goldschmidt and Carpenter have to start cranking because Marcell Ozuna won't carry this thing all summer. The bullpen has to remain reliable without being bogged down by work, so the rotation needs to provide more innings. Miles Mikolas and Jack Flaherty need to stop giving up so many home runs.
Moves will need to be made at the deadline. The team will need backup, and it's not coming from Memphis or Springfield this time.
Here's a few things Shildt needs to do better:
First, don't be afraid to yank a starter who is getting ripped. A few times recently, Shildt has been hesitant to pull a guy getting hit hard. Be bold and don't worry about feelings or egos.
Second, if Carpenter and Bader continue to struggle to hit, turn Edman loose. He's got speed, switch-hitting ability, and can be an igniter for the offense. Don't be afraid to rock the boat and keep altering the lineup.
Third, rest Molina more often and start Matt Wieters. Molina's bat hasn't been especially potent and Wieters has a good stroke and will save Molina's glove and legs for August and September. Real-time practicality is better than respecting history.
Fourth, don't be afraid to show some fire out there. I love it when I see Shildt get loud, red, and mad. The team responds to those things, almost like a wakeup call.
Fifth, don't worry about the fans' perception. Disregard it, because you won't win there. La Russa and the greats never did. Get the team right and the on-field product will produce. Everyone's concerns can be dulled by winning baseball.
There will be a time to judge Shildt's work, but now is not that time. He can't make high paid hitters be better at their job. All he can do is insert them into the lineup while challenging their position with younger and more hungry ballplayers.
Shildt came into the Cardinals at a time of aggressive change and expansion, with a timetable on getting back into the playoffs. The team is making money, but the record hovers near average. All he can do is control what is possible and necessary. The team has to do the rest.
There are problems with this team, but I wouldn't classify Shildt as one of them ... yet.
