photo: C.B. Bucknor and Oliver Marmol, 8/21/22 (Bally Sports Midwest)
After a 3-2-2 week, the St. Louis Cardinals are 9-9-4 on the spring. Manager Oliver Marmol received a two-year contract extension. Our history feature returns to the shortened spring of 2020.
Cardinals extend Oli Marmol
In a press conference held on Friday, March 15 at Roger Dean Stadium, the team announced a two-year contract extension for Oliver Marmol. It covers the Cardinals manager through the 2026 season.
President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak told media that he and owner Bill DeWitt Jr believe Marmol to be the right manager to right the ship following the disastrous 2023 season. Mozeliak stated that having a lame duck manager at the helm for this potential comeback season would be the wrong strategy for the team.
The contract extension came together quickly, as Marmol met with Mozeliak and DeWitt on Thursday, and the extension was announced the next day.
Following the surprising termination of Mike Shildt, Marmol led the team to 92 wins and the Division Championship in his first season as manager. 2022 ended with an early exit in the postseason. The 2023 team went 71-91 and finished in last place, 21 games out of first.
Marmol’s current three-year contract was set to expire at the end of this season.
Spring Training game recaps
Monday, March 11, 2024 – Cardinals 4, Nationals 11
The Cardinals lost to the Nationals by six runs at Roger Dean Stadium on Monday. Starter Miles Mikolas, who was later announced as the Opening Day starter replacing injured Sonny Gray, pitched four innings, gave up one run on six hits, and struck out five.
Ryan Helsley relieved and threw a scoreless fifth. Giovanny Gallegos, JoJo Romero, Wilking Rodriguez, Matt Svanson, and Kyle Leahy followed. Gallegos surrendered one run in the sixth. Romero yielded four runs. Rodriguez also gave up four runs and Svanson allowed one run.
Brendan Donovan was 2-for-2 with three runs scored. Paul Goldschmidt was 2-for-2 with an RBI. Dylan Carlson was 2-for-4. The offense scored four runs on 11 hits. The only extra base hit was a double by Goldschmidt. Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras, and Nolan Gorman each drove in one.
On the base paths, Donovan stole his first base. In the field, Michael Siani had an outfield assist at second base. Mikolas picked a runner off first base.
Tuesday, March 12, 2024 – Cardinals 8 at Red Sox 6
On the road Tuesday, a younger version of the Cardinals defeated the Red Sox by the score of 8-6. Starter Matthew Liberatore pitched four innings, gave up five runs on seven hits and struck out five.
Connor Thomas relieved and threw a scoreless fifth. Michael McGreevy and Trent Baker followed. Baker allowed one run in the ninth.
The Cardinals offense scored eight runs on 12 hits. Victor Scott was 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Alec Burleson was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Jordan Walker was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Ivan Herrera plated two. Burleson and Herrera each hit a solo home run.
On the base paths, Scott stole his fourth base. Walker swiped his second bag. Jared Young also stole a base. Walker was also caught stealing.
In the field, minor leaguer Darlin Moquete had an outfield assist at third base.
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 – Cardinals 1 at Twins 1
In the finale of the two-game road trip, the Cardinals played the Twins to a 1-1 tie on Wednesday. Starter Zack Thompson pitched four scoreless innings, allowed no hits, struck out five and walked one.
John King tossed a scoreless fifth. Ryan Fernandez, Riley O’Brien, Andre Pallante, and Nick Robertson followed in relief. O’Brien surrendered the lone run for Minnesota.
The offense scored one run on four hits. No Cardinals hitter had multiple hits. Dylan Carlson drove in the only run on a solo long ball.
On the base paths, Jordan Walker was caught stealing for the second time this spring.
Thursday, March 14, 2024 – Cardinals 0, Mets 0
The Cardinals and the Mets played to a scoreless tie at Roger Dean Stadium on Thursday. Starter Lance Lynn pitched four scoreless innings, allowed one hit and struck out four.
Ryan Helsley tossed a scoreless fifth. JoJo Romero, Giovanny Gallegos, Andrew Kittredge, and Kyle Leahy each pitched a scoreless inning.
The Cardinals offense was held to three singles, one each from Dylan Carlson, Matt Carpenter, and Willson Contreras.
On the base paths, Brandon Crawford stole his first base.
Friday, March 15, 2024 – Cardinals 4, Marlins 8
The Cardinals fell to the Marlins by four runs on Friday at Roger Dean Stadium. Starter Steven Matz pitched three innings, gave up three runs on four hits, struck out four and walked two.
Drew Rom, Andrew Marrero, John King, Nick Robertson, and Wilking Rodriguez followed Matz. Rom surrendered four runs in 2 1/3 innings pitched. Rodriguez surrendered one run in the ninth.
The offense scored four runs on nine hits. Michael Siani was 2-for-5. Nolan Arenado, José Fermín, Nolan Gorman, and Jordan Walker drove in one each. Fermín hit a solo home run. Walker, Siani, Gorman, Arenado, and Ramon Mendoza doubled.
Third baseman Matt Lloyd made a fielding error.
Saturday, March 16, 2024 – Cardinals 8 at Nationals 5
The Cardinals beat the Nationals by an 8-5 score in Palm Beach on Saturday. Starter Miles Mikolas pitched six innings, gave up two runs on seven hits, struck out two and walked one.
Andrew Kittredge tossed a scoreless seventh. Ryan Fernandez and Riley O’Brien finished the game. Fernandez surrendered three runs in the eighth.
St. Louis’ offense scored eight runs on 11 hits. Matt Carpenter was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Masyn Winn was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Thomas Saggese was 2-for-3 with an RBI. César Prieto was 2-for-3 with five RBI. The only extra base hits were doubles by Carpenter and Prieto.
Sunday, March 17, 2024 – Cardinals 10, Astros 6
The Cardinals blasted the Astros in a 10-6 win on Sunday at Roger Dean Stadium. Starter Matthew Liberatore pitched 3 2/3 innings, gave up three runs on five hits and struck out five.
Andrew Marrero, Ryan Helsley, Giovanny Gallegos, Andre Pallante, and JoJo Romero followed Liberatore. Helsley surrendered one run. Pallante yielded two runs, one earned.
SS Brody Moore gives the #STLCards the lead with a go-ahead GRAND SLAM! pic.twitter.com/oIzVQqilH7
— Cardinals Player Development (@CardsPlayerDev) March 17, 2024
St. Louis’ offense scored 10 runs on nine hits. Dylan Carlson was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Minor leaguer Brody Moore hit a grand slam. Carlson and Luken Baker added a long ball each. Alec Burleson and Jordan Walker also drove in a run apiece.
On the base paths, Nolan Gorman stole his first base. In the field, Moore made a throwing error. Willson Contreras had a passed ball.
Spring Breakout game recaps
Friday, March 15, 2024 – Cardinals Prospects 2, Marlins Prospects 3
In the first of two Cardinals Spring Breakout games, St. Louis’ prospects lost to the Marlins prospects by a 3-2 score. Starter Tink Hence pitched two scoreless innings, allowed one hit and struck out three.
Max Rajcic relieved and surrendered two runs in two innings. Rajcic was followed by Tekoah Roby, Gordon Graceffo, and Sem Robberse. Roby yielded one run.
The offense scored two runs on three hits. No Cardinals prospect had multiple hits. Zach Levenson hit a solo home run. César Prieto tripled.
Masyn Winn stole a base. In the field, Thomas Saggese made a fielding error.
Sunday, March 17, 2024 – Cardinals Prospects 1, Astros Prospects 0
Cardinals prospects blanked the Astros prospects in a 1-0 contest at Roger Dean Stadium on Sunday. Starter Adam Kloffenstein pitched two scoreless, hitless innings and struck out two.
Michael McGreevy relieved and tossed two scoreless innings. Cooper Hjerpe, Edwin Nunez, and Quinn Mathews completed the team shutout.
The offense scored one run on four hits. No Cardinals prospect had multiple hits. The one run came on a solo home run by Joshua Baez. Chandler Redmond hit a double.
Lizandro Espinoza stole a base. In the field, Nick Dunn made a throwing error.
Spring Training Big Picture
The Cardinals ended the third full week of spring training games with a record of 3-2 plus two ties. The two ties were 1- 1 with the Twins and 0-0 against the Mets. The Cardinals’ current Grapefruit League record is 9-9-4.
The Cardinals begin the final full week of camp with an off-day Monday. On Tuesday, the Cardinals play split squad games against the Marlins and the Mets. Next up are the Nationals, Astros, and Marlins, then the Nationals again and the final Grapefruit League game with the Astros on Sunday.
Over the past week, the top hitters by OPS among those competing for jobs are Victor Scott (1.381), Dylan Carlson (1.154), Matt Carpenter (1.127), Alec Burleson (1.033), Ivan Herrera (.967), and Brendan Donovan (.900). Minor league standouts in limited action include Nathan Church (2.000), Ramon Mendoza (1.667), Brody Moore (1.666) and Arquimedes Gamboa (1.167).
Starter ERAs for the week were Lance Lynn (0.00), Zack Thompson (0.00), Miles Mikolas (2.70), Steven Matz (9.00) and Matthew Liberatore (9.39).
The bullpen was fine for the most part. The strugglers over the past week were JoJo Romero, Ryan Fernandez, Drew Rom, Wilking Rodriguez, and Matt Svanson.
There are seven games remaining on the Grapefruit League schedule. The Cardinals then travel to Arizona to play two final spring games against the Cubs on Monday, March 25 and Tuesday, March 26.
News and Notes from Cardinals Spring Training
This section features spring training news items each week that do not require extensive coverage.
- The Spring Training broadcast schedule is here. Typically, 15 games have been televised, but the 2024 game schedule indicates only 12 games are televised by Bally Sports Midwest. The total number of Cardinals games broadcast by Bally Sports Midwest plus other tv outlets has also declined.
All games are available in some medium however, as the remainder of the games not televised by Bally Sports Midwest or the TV outlets of opposing teams will be picked up in audio form by either KMOX or the Cardinals Radio Network. This includes all 30 games in Florida plus the two scheduled games in Arizona against the Cubs.
- Regular season single game tickets are now on sale. Tickets can be purchased online here or on the Ballpark App.
- The Cardinals announced that Sonny Gray will not make the Opening Day start as originally planned. That start against the Dodgers on March 28 will instead be made by Miles Mikolas. No announcement has been made as to whether Gray will begin the regular season on the injured list, but a short stay may be likely.
Trade and Acquisition Rumors
There are no trade or acquisition rumors to report.
Transactions
3/14: 10 cuts from camp. One 40-man player optioned, RHP Sem Robberse. Nine NRIs reassigned to minors camp. LHP Connor Thomas, RHP Tekoah Roby, RHP Ryan Loutos, RHP Gordon Graceffo, RHP Michael McGreevy. Also, Cs Aaron Antonini and Jimmy Crooks. IFs Arquimedes Gamboa and Jeremy Ramos. 38 40-man players and eight NRIs remain in camp.
Injury Report
- CF Tommy Edman (arthroscopic wrist surgery) will begin the regular season on the injured list. Edman has been bothered by inflammation and not a structural issue. Edman will be shut down for a week before attempting hitting drills again.
- LF Lars Nootbaar (two non-displaced rib fractures) injured himself trying to catch a fly ball in the outfield. Nootbaar has begun throwing from 90 feet and he will continue to increase the intensity of his workouts with the goal of being cleared to hit soon. His progression is contingent on healing and pain tolerance. No decision has been made on whether the outfielder will begin the regular season on the injured list, but it seems increasingly likely.
- RHP Sonny Gray’s (right hamstring) imaging revealed his hamstring strain is mild. Gray pitched in a simulated pregame situation on Sunday. This involved hitters standing in the box but not swinging. Gray will not make the Opening Day start, replaced by Miles Mikolas. Whether Gray will begin the regular season on the injured list has not been announced. He could be cleared to pitch at some point on the initial road trip.
- RHP Keynan Middleton (right forearm strain) has been shut down for 10 days and will begin the regular season on the injured list. It is hoped his IL stint will be for the minimum 15 days, but that remains to be seen.
- SS Brandon Crawford was hit by a pitch on his left wrist and was removed from Sunday’s game. X-rays on the wrist were negative. No further information has been made available.
Looking Ahead
The Cardinals have completed the third full week of Grapefruit League games with one to go.
The final full week of spring games begins on Tuesday, March 19. The Cardinals play the Marlins and the Mets in split squad games on Tuesday. They then face the Nationals and Astros twice each and a second game with the Marlins.
The Cardinals Spring Training schedule can be found here.
A link to the Spring Training broadcast schedule is provided in this report.
The last spring training game in Florida will be against the Astros in Palm Beach on Sunday, March 24. The Cardinals will then travel to Arizona to play the final two spring games against the Cubs on Monday and Tuesday, March 25 and 26.
The regular season begins on Thursday, March 28 with a four-game set against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. They end the road trip in San Diego with three contests beginning Monday, April 1.
The Cardinals home opener is on Thursday, April 4 against the Marlins.
Blast from the Past
Spring Training is winding down, with only one full week of games left on the schedule. Blast from the Past continues to look at past spring trainings. In this installment, we take a look at a spring training that departed from the usual scheduling due to outside circumstances.
Spring Training 2020 began as normal but did not end in the same fashion.
The website Baseball Cube has spring training stats going back to 2006. The roster for 2020 Cardinals spring training consisted of 35 position players and 36 pitchers.
The primary position players in 2020 were much the same as the 2019 team, which we covered in last week’s Blast from the Past. The one difference is the departure of LF Marcell Ozuna, who was replaced by Tyler O’Neill. The remaining regulars were Yadier Molina, Paul Goldschmidt, Kolten Wong, Paul DeJong, Matt Carpenter, Tyler O’Neill, Harrison Bader, and Dexter Fowler.
Starting pitchers included Adam Wainwright, Jack Flaherty, Carlos Martinez, Kwang-Hyun Kim, and Dakota Hudson. John Gant was also included as a possible starter for the season. Miles Mikolas missed the entire 2020 season, including spring training, due to surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his right arm.
The full 2020 spring training roster can be found here.
Stats for this spring training are available but will not be cited here as in past installments. The 2020 Grapefruit League (as well as the Cactus League) ended prematurely.
The Cardinals played 21 spring games from February 22 through March 12. The concluding record was 10-9.
During the period of spring training in 2020, the US as well as other countries were dealing with a worldwide pandemic. The virus, called COVID -19, started in China at an unknown time (possibly as early as December 2019) and spread around the globe, including to the US. The first laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19 in the US was reported on January 20, 2020.
Because of the rapid spread of the virus in all parts of the US, Major League Baseball made the decision to shut down spring training following the games of March 12. The Cardinals’ finale was a 10-9 win over the Marlins.
What followed was a long period during which MLB and the MLB Players’ Association negotiated a shortened 2020 season.
When play began, the Cardinals had one exhibition game against the Royals on July 22, and the season began on July 24. The regular season ended on September 27.
There was no minor league season. Each team set up an Alternate Training Site where they placed selected minor league players who worked out and were ready as needed to replace injured players at the major league level. These Alternate Sites had a maximum roster size of 60 players.
2020 spring training and regular season were most unique.
A full timeline of the Cardinals-related events of 2020 can be found here:
Next week, we will return to another spring training that was delayed due to a labor dispute.
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