Former Cardinals player, broadcaster pulls no punches on team

After spending a dozen seasons being concerned with St. Louis Cardinals tv broadcasts in some capability, former Cardinals participant Jim Edmonds will not be again in 2025 in what Edmonds described as a “mutual choice” as a part of an interview on “The Morning After” on 101ESPN in St. Louis on Monday.

Nonetheless, whereas Edmonds could also be strolling away from his broadcasting place, he definitely has loads of ideas on what has been and is occurring with the Cardinals, a group that hasn’t reached the postseason since being swept out of the wild-card spherical in 2022.

“It is not enjoyable any extra,” Edmonds mentioned. “They do not make you are feeling such as you’re needed, be across the stadium. I like (supervisor Oliver Marmol), the DeWitts, I’ve a lot respect for, (president of baseball operations John Mozeliak). Everyone’s nice. However in some way, indoors, within the inside circle … It is simply not the identical group.”

Edmonds referred to as out an absence of clubhouse entry as a part of the issue, insinuating the Cardinals weren’t prepared to hearken to a number of the recommendation he had gathered as a former participant and broadcaster.

“They make it fairly apparent, even the safety guards, like, ‘Hey, you realize, it won’t be a great time,'” Edmonds mentioned. “I am like, ‘Fantastic with me. I do not should be in there. If you don’t need me to inform your pitchers that they are tipping their pitches … I’ll take my abilities out right here to Tennessee and discover ways to be a gardener and farmer.”

Edmonds mentioned the Cardinals “do not invite” former gamers to spring coaching to combine with the present gamers, asking the radio hosts, “When was the final time you have seen a Corridor of Famer within the dugout in spring coaching?

“They simply do not invite us down there any extra,” he continued. “It is a complete completely different ambiance and it form of makes you are feeling you are not appreciated, not needed and do not want your assist.”

Edmonds was requested if a part of the disconnect could be as a result of Marmol and Mike Shildt, the final two Cardinals managers, weren’t former gamers. Edmonds, nonetheless, dismissed that thought.

“I like Oli, and Mike was superb,” Edmonds mentioned. “It is simply the ambiance. You may simply really feel the strain whenever you stroll round.

“It is simply bizarre. It is only a completely different ambiance now. We’re undoubtedly conscious of it as a gaggle that we’re not likely needed round there any extra.”

Within the PECOTA projections from Baseball Prospectus launched on Monday, the Cardinals had been predicted to complete with a shedding report and in the course of the Nationwide League Central in 2025. If that holds, it will imply the Cardinals would miss the postseason for the third straight 12 months, so Edmonds was requested if the latest play by the Cardinals has added to the chasm between the previous and the current.

“I’d assume that may make it the alternative, would not you? Would not you assume that there can be different guys that would perhaps assist? Perhaps sure eyeballs aren’t seeing sure issues,” Edmonds mentioned. “Or are you so ingrained in what you are doing that you do not you assume you want any assist?”