St. Louis Cardinals manager Oli Marmol has reflected on the team’s elimination, admitting that the franchise’s failure to address inconsistency was their biggest mistake.
“We showed flashes of how good we can be, but we couldn’t sustain it,” Marmol said. “From the bullpen to the lineup, and even with my own decisions, we fell short in key moments. That’s what cost us.”
The season was filled with highs and lows, marked by bullpen struggles, late-inning collapses, and untimely hitting droughts. Marmol acknowledged that some of his managerial calls, particularly with pitching changes, did not work out.
“I take full responsibility,” he added. “There are games I wish I could manage differently, but leadership means owning those decisions.”
While stars like Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt had strong stretches, the offense often struggled against top pitchers. Marmol emphasized that the failure was collective, not individual.
“This isn’t about one player—it’s about all of us,” he said. “We didn’t adapt fast enough, and that falls on the staff, ownership, and players alike. We win together and lose together.”
Looking ahead, Marmol vowed to learn from the mistakes and rebuild trust with fans.
“Cardinals fans are some of the most loyal in baseball,” he said. “They deserve better. The only way forward is to fix what went wrong.”
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