Cardinals: Yadier Molina proves Tyler O’Neill right in one highlight (Video)

The St. Louis Cardinals have a clubhouse problem, as Oli Marmol called out Tyler O’Neill for not hustling. Does Marmol remember Yadier Molina’s baserunning?

Yadier Molina didn’t run the bases well — that’s fair to say. Especially late in his career, Molina’s casual trot to first base on double play opportunities was routine, rather than an attempt to give the Cards an extra out.

Molina was rarely criticized. Meanwhile Tyler O’Neill is public enemy No. 1 in St. Louis for not following the Cardinal Way. Something has to give.

Marmol wasn’t the manager on that Cardinals team, but Molina made a habit of walking to first base on what he considered sure outs, and there was nothing wrong with it. Yadi, of course, was a franchise icon, and could get away with far more than O’Neill.

Cardinals: Why does Tyler O’Neill get different treatment than Yadier Molina?

It seems rather obvious that the O’Neill and Marmol beef goes far deeper than we realized. This time around, Marmol criticized O’Neill’s hustle publicly to the media, which the player did not appreciate. Some things should be handled in the clubhouse, and that’s one of them. Marmol noted the Cardinal way, and benched O’Neill for the following game.

“That’s not our style of play as far as the effort, rounding the bag there,” Marmol said. “It’s unacceptable.”

O’Neill clapped back, saying he did put in the effort. O’Neill has a looming leg injury he suffered last season, and hasn’t played a full season in his career. It’s easy to understand why he might run casually in the first week of the season.

“He didn’t think I gave the best effort,” O’Neill said. “I’m out here every day grinding my ass off, giving it my all and trying to stay on the field for 160 games out here.”

That 160 games is a mark O’Neill has yet to reach. This season would be a good start, if Marmol let’s him play.