Few expected the St. Louis Cardinals to be competitive in 2025. In fact, many anticipated a rebuild over the offseason, with superstar Nolan Arenado potentially being traded. However, the Cardinals started the season strong, only to begin faltering recently.
For St. Louis fans, the team’s 10-15 record is frustrating, especially since many of those losses seem preventable. Cardinals manager Oli Marmol, who entered the season under pressure, made things worse with his latest interview on MLB.com, intensifying the scrutiny on him.
St. Louis Cardinals manager Oli Marmol defends questionable bullpen management
Out of the 15 losses the St. Louis Cardinals have endured this season, seven have been by two runs or fewer. While it’s not about pointing fingers, the Cardinals’ bullpen has certainly made life harder for manager Oli Marmol.
Currently ranked 25th in bullpen ERA at 5.11, the team has also suffered six blown saves. These struggles are bound to be a major topic of discussion when Marmol faces the media. His take on the issue, however, is surprising, especially given that it could be contributing to the team’s slow slide out of playoff contention. John Denton of MLB.com highlighted some of Marmol’s baffling comments on the matter.
“We treat the bullpen arms differently than the position players because when the relievers struggle, it usually changes the game and hurts us,” Marmol said. “So the bullpen is the hardest area to be patient with. If we’re going to be so reactive with the bullpen, why not send some position players out too?”
This mindset suggests Marmol may continue to make decisions that cost the team games. His comparison of bullpen struggles to position player struggles doesn’t quite fit. Relief pitchers thrive under pressure and are expected to perform consistently in high-leverage situations. While they won’t be perfect, there needs to be accountability in the bullpen, though it seems that won’t come from the current manager.
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