UTK Special 8/27/24

Pieces and Parts and Feathers

I’ve done radio in Columbia, Missouri for years, through host changes and station changes. I don’t do nearly as much radio as I used to, but the ones I do are long term. But that one, being there in the center of the state, makes me focus on the Cardinals and Royals more, every Tuesday on KTGR’s Big Show.

One phrase I’ve used over and over about the Cardinals is “pieces and parts.” For the last three seasons, John Mozeliak and the Cards front office has put together a roster I simply fail to understand, a collection of pieces and parts that doesn’t add up to a good whole roster. Ignore Oliver Marmol for now; he’s likely gone and there’s a ton of speculation that Skip Schumacher will plug in after exiting Miami. Let’s focus on how the team is constructed, not how they’re executing. There’s no GM that can make his players play, but he can put the team - and the manager — in a position to succeed.

The Cardinals Way struggled to define itself in the post-Yadier Molina era. Molina, Adam Wainwright, and Albert Pujols in a cameo appearance were the team’s identity and many teams do struggle losing a legend, let alone multiple. But legends are usually with teams too long and have descended. The Cards had two stars and absolute steals in Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt that basically fell out of the sky. It’s as good a base as any team could have and while they’ve done everything they needed to for years, there’s never been that third star. No, not even those legends.