Observations from Denver: a plane to catch.

[Melville]

I have client meetings in Denver tomorrow, so I arrived a day early to catch today's game.
I try to do that 2 or 3 times each year, when my travel schedule aligns.
The Cardinals looked like they had a plane to catch and wanted to be anywhere other than on a baseball field.
Burleson, Scott, Donovan, Winn, Walker, Contreras, and Arenado were all visibly disengaged.
Not paying attention.
Lethargic.
Took multiple plays off.
Pozo was the only position player who did not look bored.
With a lot of red in attendance, it was easy to converse with STL fans in the same section, in concession areas, and after the game.
Some locals, a lot from out of town like me.
An awful lot of frustration and disgust.
Understandably so.
Folks appeared to be of the common opinion that the sweep in AZ pretty much to all hope and competitive out of the Cardinals.

My 42 year old son lives in Denver and was also at the game. He texted me and said the Cardinals looked awful.

Checked out from the very first pitch.
Burleson was caught completely sleeping once and miscommunicated with Scott on another play.
Winn and Donovan looked like t-ball players - kicking the dirt in boredom, turning their back to the plate while pitcher/catcher were entering signs, etc.
At one point, Walker was simply strolling to his right - and then back to his left - as if he was shuffling around in his back yard in his bathrobe.
While Winn, Donovan, and Arenado were everything except focusing on the game, the Rockies infielders were on their toes every play.
I had one fan who said he came to the game from out-of-state comment that no coach would allow high school players to behave in such a disinterested way - and he was right.
Another said it reminded him of some of the 1970's teams.

[Bushiro]

I have client meetings in Denver tomorrow, so I arrived a day early to catch today's game.
I try to do that 2 or 3 times each year, when my travel schedule aligns.
The Cardinals looked like they had a plane to catch and wanted to be anywhere other than on a baseball field.
Burleson, Scott, Donovan, Winn, Walker, Contreras, and Arenado were all visibly disengaged.
Not paying attention.
Lethargic.
Took multiple plays off.
Pozo was the only position player who did not look bored.
With a lot of red in attendance, it was easy to converse with STL fans in the same section, in concession areas, and after the game.
Some locals, a lot from out of town like me.
An awful lot of frustration and disgust.
Understandably so.
Folks appeared to be of the common opinion that the sweep in AZ pretty much to all hope and competitive out of the Cardinals.

My 42 year old son lives in Denver and was also at the game. He texted me and said the Cardinals looked awful.

Checked out from the very first pitch.
Burleson was caught completely sleeping once and miscommunicated with Scott on another play.
Winn and Donovan looked like t-ball players - kicking the dirt in boredom, turning their back to the plate while pitcher/catcher were entering signs, etc.
At one point, Walker was simply strolling to his right - and then back to his left - as if he was shuffling around in his back yard in his bathrobe.
While Winn, Donovan, and Arenado were everything except focusing on the game, the Rockies infielders were on their toes every play.
I had one fan who said he came to the game from out-of-state comment that no coach would allow high school players to behave in such a disinterested way - and he was right.
Another said it reminded him of some of the 1970's teams.

No excuse for the defense or hitting ...but when your starters ...have you digging out of a whole after a few innings ....this type of play seems to follow.....and recently it's been often

[sikeston bulldog2]

In a normal situation, I'd say this is on the manager. But this isn't a normal situation. Marmol has little influence on anything. Mo wants to neuter his managers. The players know oli has very little stroke in the organization. They know he's forced to play certain people regardless of results. Since this is the case, the manager struggles to have leadership.

The players know there's a good chance some will be dealt within a week. They know most are being made available whether traded or not. For many, their days in StL are numbered.

These factors lead to loss of focus, lack of effort, and poor play. Granted, professionals should push through and perform their best. But that's not always the case. And may in itself be another issue facing this team.

You make a point I could almost thread- does the impending deadline cause players on struggling teams to lose motivation and focus weeks leading up to the deadline.

[Melville]

In a normal situation, I'd say this is on the manager. But this isn't a normal situation. Marmol has little influence on anything. Mo wants to neuter his managers. The players know oli has very little stroke in the organization. They know he's forced to play certain people regardless of results. Since this is the case, the manager struggles to have leadership.

The players know there's a good chance some will be dealt within a week. They know most are being made available whether traded or not. For many, their days in StL are numbered.

These factors lead to loss of focus, lack of effort, and poor play. Granted, professionals should push through and perform their best. But that's not always the case. And may in itself be another issue facing this team.

You make a point I could almost thread- does the impending deadline cause players on struggling teams to lose motivation and focus weeks leading up to the deadline.

From all appearances, getting annihilated in AZ did exactly that.
STL has played 6 games since the break.
The ONLY player who has really stepped up was McGreevy - and he was motivated by forcing his way onto the roster and seizing a rotation spot.
The other 5 starters bombed.
Not a coincidence.

[mizfan]

Even Chip made some comments that alluded to how the Cardinals were going through the motions yesterday. When he starts talking like that you know it's bad.

The Padres are not playing well but you know Shildt is licking his chops for this weekend.

[JuanAgosto]

In a normal situation, I'd say this is on the manager. But this isn't a normal situation. Marmol has little influence on anything. Mo wants to neuter his managers. The players know oli has very little stroke in the organization. They know he's forced to play certain people regardless of results. Since this is the case, the manager struggles to have leadership.

The players know there's a good chance some will be dealt within a week. They know most are being made available whether traded or not. For many, their days in StL are numbered.

These factors lead to loss of focus, lack of effort, and poor play. Granted, professionals should push through and perform their best. But that's not always the case. And may in itself be another issue facing this team.

You make a point I could almost thread- does the impending deadline cause players on struggling teams to lose motivation and focus weeks leading up to the deadline.

I think it does on teams with young players and poor leadership. And this group has both.

[rockondlouie]

I have client meetings in Denver tomorrow, so I arrived a day early to catch today's game.
I try to do that 2 or 3 times each year, when my travel schedule aligns.
The Cardinals looked like they had a plane to catch and wanted to be anywhere other than on a baseball field.
Burleson, Scott, Donovan, Winn, Walker, Contreras, and Arenado were all visibly disengaged.
Not paying attention.
Lethargic.
Took multiple plays off.
Pozo was the only position player who did not look bored.
With a lot of red in attendance, it was easy to converse with STL fans in the same section, in concession areas, and after the game.
Some locals, a lot from out of town like me.
An awful lot of frustration and disgust.
Understandably so.
Folks appeared to be of the common opinion that the sweep in AZ pretty much to all hope and competitive out of the Cardinals.

Oli pretty much echoed your observations:

“Worst game we’ve played all year, simply put,” Marmol said after his team mustered just five hits, two of them for extra bases. “Not a whole lot offensively, and the approaches weren’t very good. In my opinion, that’s the worst game that we’ve played.”

Denver is a great Cardinals town, still have a lot of fans there even after the Roxs came to town.

[Melville]

I have client meetings in Denver tomorrow, so I arrived a day early to catch today's game.
I try to do that 2 or 3 times each year, when my travel schedule aligns.
The Cardinals looked like they had a plane to catch and wanted to be anywhere other than on a baseball field.
Burleson, Scott, Donovan, Winn, Walker, Contreras, and Arenado were all visibly disengaged.
Not paying attention.
Lethargic.
Took multiple plays off.
Pozo was the only position player who did not look bored.
With a lot of red in attendance, it was easy to converse with STL fans in the same section, in concession areas, and after the game.
Some locals, a lot from out of town like me.
An awful lot of frustration and disgust.
Understandably so.
Folks appeared to be of the common opinion that the sweep in AZ pretty much to all hope and competitive out of the Cardinals.

Oli pretty much echoed your observations:

“Worst game we’ve played all year, simply put,” Marmol said after his team mustered just five hits, two of them for extra bases. “Not a whole lot offensively, and the approaches weren’t very good. In my opinion, that’s the worst game that we’ve played.”

Denver is a great Cardinals town, still have a lot of fans there even after the Roxs came to town.

When one of the worst teams in history still manages more effort and interest than STL did, there is a very significant problem infecting the Cardinals.

[rockondlouie]

I have client meetings in Denver tomorrow, so I arrived a day early to catch today's game.
I try to do that 2 or 3 times each year, when my travel schedule aligns.
The Cardinals looked like they had a plane to catch and wanted to be anywhere other than on a baseball field.
Burleson, Scott, Donovan, Winn, Walker, Contreras, and Arenado were all visibly disengaged.
Not paying attention.
Lethargic.
Took multiple plays off.
Pozo was the only position player who did not look bored.
With a lot of red in attendance, it was easy to converse with STL fans in the same section, in concession areas, and after the game.
Some locals, a lot from out of town like me.
An awful lot of frustration and disgust.
Understandably so.
Folks appeared to be of the common opinion that the sweep in AZ pretty much to all hope and competitive out of the Cardinals.

Oli pretty much echoed your observations:

“Worst game we’ve played all year, simply put,” Marmol said after his team mustered just five hits, two of them for extra bases. “Not a whole lot offensively, and the approaches weren’t very good. In my opinion, that’s the worst game that we’ve played.”

Denver is a great Cardinals town, still have a lot of fans there even after the Roxs came to town.

When one of the worst teams in history still manages more effort and interest than STL did, there is a very significant problem infecting the Cardinals.

From BDWJr to Mo to Oli