3 candidates to replace Oliver Marmol if Cardinals fire him as manager
By Kevin Henry
So far, it has been a nightmare of a season for the St. Louis Cardinals. Will the shocking slow start be enough to cost manager Oliver Marmol his job?
The question certainly isn’t out of the realm of possibilities. Many predicted the St. Louis Cardinals to repeat as champions of the National League Central with a lineup that included reigning NL Most Valuable Player Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, free agent signing Willson Contreras, and plenty of other weapons. Instead, the Cardinals enter play on Friday with a 10-22 record, the worst mark of any NL team.
Knowing time is of the essence for the Cardinals to turn around their season, could they take a page out of the Philadelphia Phillies playbook from last season? The Phillies axed Joe Girardi after the team’s 22-29 start and elevated bench coach Rob Thomson to the role of interim manager. The move paid off as the Phillies rebounded to not only make the postseason, but also earn a spot in the World Series.
At the start of the season, the move might have been thought to be unthinkable in the Gateway City. Now, with the Cardinals going 1-9 in their last 10 games and boos reigning down on the team from the Busch Stadium faithful after suffering a three-game sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Angels, it feels like every option is on the table.
So who might be the next in line should the St. Louis Cardinals fire Oliver Marmol? Here are some ideas.