Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
The St. Louis Cardinals have had a rough past few seasons, and fans are over it. The proof is the attendance at home games. The normally packed stadium has become a ghost town as of late. Also, there’s no shortage of top-notch seating available for pennies on the dollar. The fans are sending a message that should be loud and clear to management. Something needs to change in a big way, and it needs to happen at the top.
Cardinals Likely to Miss Postseason for Second Consecutive Year
Barring a complete collapse by the teams in front of them, the Cardinals are on track to miss the postseason for the second season in a row. This follows a run where they made the postseason four years in a row. However, even when they have made the playoffs, there has been little to no success. The Cardinals have only won a single postseason series over their last nine seasons, and it will likely be ten after this season is complete. Furthermore, they have won only one postseason game since 2020.
The front office seemed content building teams that were capable of making the playoffs, but not good enough to go all the way. While this approach may have worked in the past, times have changed, and the Cardinals were left behind.
Leadership has Lost “The Way”
The organization has been one of the most successful franchises in baseball. A big reason for this has been their ability to evolve with the times. An organization that has been consistently at the forefront of innovation in the game of baseball now find themselves on the outside looking in.
The term “The Cardinal Way” has been a philosophy of great fundamental baseball combined with innovative leadership and a knack for developing homegrown talent. A philosophy that has been passed down year after year.
If the Cardinals’ front office doesn’t make some changes quickly, that term could take on a completely different meaning. Unfortunately for Cardinal fans, “The Cardinal Way” seemingly has been making terrible free agent signings, poor trades, and several questionable extensions. They put teams on the field that are just good enough to compete in a weak division. This approach has led to several playoff appearances, but as mentioned above, they have not fared well.
Prospects Provide Hope for the Future
Despite recent struggles, the organization has done a decent job at one thing, and that’s the draft. What has happened to some of the prospects during development is a different conversation entirely. Randy Flores has had some stellar draft classes, with the 2020 draft being a highlight. The Cardinals acquired Masyn Winn, Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson, and Tink Hence in that draft. There are several quality prospects that are near or are ready for a chance at the big league level. These hungry young players should give Cardinal fans hope for the future. However, the front office needs to supplement the roster through free agency and trade acquisitions. Unfortunately, current Cardinal leadership has failed repeatedly where that’s concerned.
