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St. Louis Cardinals: Mike Matheny approaches historical mark and fans don’t care

By Neil Harrington

FORT MYERS, FL - FEBRUARY 27: Casey Matheny of the Boston Red Sox presents the lineup card with his father, Mike Matheny of the St. Louis Cardinals before a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 27, 2018 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
FORT MYERS, FL - FEBRUARY 27: Casey Matheny of the Boston Red Sox presents the lineup card with his father, Mike Matheny of the St. Louis Cardinals before a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 27, 2018 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /
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St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny approaches a historical MLB record, even among all of the pressure this job brings in Arch City. Yet, their fans don’t seem to care.

If you look solely at the message boards or on social media, you would think St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny would be lower on the totem pole when it comes to racking up wins in the Arch City. But, the record books tell another story than the keyboard warriors or even the head-hunting media outlets.

Tonight, Mike Matheny will manage game number 1,000 as skipper of the St. Louis Cardinals, one which will cement him in the MLB record books as the most winning manager in St. Louis Cardinals history through 1,000 games — with a current winning percentage of .560.

Through his first fours seasons as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, Mike Matheny made the postseason in each of those campaigns — the only manager to do so in the history of MLB.

Mike Matheny season by season with the St. Louis Cardinals

  • 2012 Record:  88-74.  Winning percentage: .543. NL Wild Card. Lost in NLCS
  • 2013 Record:  97 -65. Winning percentage: .599  NL Central Champs. Lost in World Series
  • 2014 Record:  90 -72. Winning percentage: .556  NL Central Champs. Lost in NLCS
  • 2015 Record:100 -62. Winning percentage: .617  NL Central Champs. Lost in NLDS
  • 2016 Record:  86 -76.  Winning percentage: .531
  • 2017 Record:  83 -79.  Winning percentage: .512
  • 2018 Record: 15 -12    Winning percentage: .556

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That’s a combined record of 559-400 in the regular season, with his MLB postseason record 21-22. The past two season, the Birds on the Bat have missed the playoffs, large in part due to the resurgence of the Chicago Cubs.

Mike Matheny got the most out of the 2016 squad that anyone could have, finishing just one game behind the San Francisco Giants for the final wild-card spot.

Last season, Mike Matheny dealt with a young and injury prone roster, managing to finish above .500 in the process. At times, his roster was virtually that of their Triple-A team, the Memphis Redbirds.

Unfortunately, I’m convinced that most of Redbird Nation want Mike Matheny gone, and that’s a total shame.

Mozeliak: “This city has high expectations, and he gets beat up a lot for what happens with this team, and he takes it. He understands his responsibility, and he owns it.”

His bullpen usage and make-shift lineups are justly criticized, but the results speak for themselves. Mike Matheny wins games Period.

Mike Matheny shows confidence in his players, often leaving them out their in tough situations — case in point Greg Holland this past Friday night.

Even though most look at that in a negative light, I respect Mike Matheny for showing trust in his guy. Long-term, that will pay dividends for Greg Holland in getting his confidence back.

One thing he’s missing is a World Series title, and that doesn’t sit well with a substantial portion of St. Louis Cardinals fans, who forget that the team went 24 years without a World Series title from 1982-2006.

Until Tony LaRussa won his first ring with the St. Louis Cardinals during the improbable 2006 World Series run, he faced similar criticism for not winning it all. The same rings true for Mike Matheny, who goes about his business with class.

Michael Wacha spoke with Derek Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who showed his appreciation and admiration for Mike Matheny.

"“He’s got a lot of talents. He covers a lot of different aspects in life with religion, with athletics, with family, even with hunting, or other interests. He has it all covered. Whenever he talks in front of a group of people that group of people is leaning in, listening to what he’s saying. He carries that confidence that he knows he belongs where he is.”"

I had the pleasure of watching his son, Tate Matheny during his collegiate career at Missouri State. Tate Matheny’s character, work ethic, and caring nature was undoubtedly a reflection of his father. It’s a shame the St. Louis Cardinals fanbase overlooks this aspect of Mike Matheny — one of class and dignity.

Next: Carlos Martinez's glove represents heroism

Plus, he’s the winningest St. Louis Cardinals manager in their rich history. But, there’s no pleasing the spoiled and entitled fanbase of Cardinal Nation, and that’s a shame.

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