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St. Louis Cardinals finally drop the axe on Mike Matheny

By David Hill

ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny (22) as seen in the dugout during the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds on July 14, 2018 at Bush Stadium in Saint Louis Mo. (Photo by Jimmy Simmons/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny (22) as seen in the dugout during the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds on July 14, 2018 at Bush Stadium in Saint Louis Mo. (Photo by Jimmy Simmons/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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In a move that has seemingly been coming for a while, the St. Louis Cardinals dropped the axe on manager Mike Matheny and two of his coaches.

The St. Louis Cardinals have been a disappointment this season. Expected to contend for the NL Central, the Cardinals sit at 47-46, having lost three in a row and four of their last five games. The Cardinals are in danger of missing the postseason for the third consecutive season, which would be the first time that has happened in the 21st century. The clubhouse is in turmoil, the lineup has disappointed, and the Cardinals appear to be a mess.

It was time for a change. The Cardinals front office has finally realized that this situation could no longer continue, and have decided to make a needed change. Manager Mike Matheny has been fired, as have hitting coach John Mabry and assistant hitting coach Bill Mueller. Bench coach Mike Shildt will take over the managerial reins on an interim basis.

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Matheny has had quite the tumultuous tenure with St. Louis, but it was not without success. His 555 victories are the fifth most in franchise history, The Cardinals won three NL Central titles in his six and a half seasons, and made the playoffs four times. Matheny posted a .555 winning percentage, a better mark than either Tony LaRussa or Whitey Herzog. He joined those two, and the late Red Schoendienst, as the only people to manage at least 1000 games with the club.

And yet, there were problems in the locker room. Mathen and Dexter Fowler have been at odds for most of the season, reportedly having barely spoken to one another for months. Closer Bud Norris and rookie Jordan Hicks were said to have a rough relationship, although both pitchers downplayed that report.

Nonetheless, it is fair to say that the Cardinal Way has lost its way under Matheny. Instead of a cohesive unit that was machine like in its precision, a team bonded in a tradition of excellence, the Cardinals had become a fractured unit. Matheny had come under increasing fire for his decisions and roster management. These clubhouse problems, and the Cardinals inability to climb up the standings, have finally led to Matheny’s downfall.

Likewise, a change in approach was needed on offense. Prized trade acquisition Marcell Ozuna has faltered, looking more like the player he was before Barry Bonds got ahold of him in Miami. Fowler has been completely lost, and may be better off with a change of scenery himself. The Cardinals rank 21st in runs, 20th in OPS, and 24th in total bases. Whatever Mabry and Mueller were doing was not working.

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There is still plenty of time for the St. Louis Cardinals to turn their season around. By finally giving manager Mike Matheny the boot, and relieving John Mabry and Bill Mueller of their duties, that turnaround may well happen.

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