Don't rule out Joe Maddon next year ....

[brock118]

Chaim Bloom and Joe Maddon are good friends from their days in Tampa. They even socialized together and Maddon has spoken glowingly of Bloom over the years.

If Maddon still wants to manage a year or two, it could be in STL next year.

Somebody like that might help some of the youngsters like Walker.

I'm pretty sure Bloom will want to start fresh with a new manager.

from Grok:

Yes, Chaim Bloom and Joe Maddon are friends, based on their long professional collaboration and personal interactions during their overlapping time with the Tampa Bay Rays from 2006 to 2014. Bloom joined the Rays as an intern in 2005 and advanced through roles in baseball operations, working closely with Maddon (the team's manager during much of that period) on player development, scouting, and strategic planning. Maddon has repeatedly described their bond in warm, personal terms in interviews, highlighting Bloom's intellect and their ongoing connection even after both left the organization.

In a 2022 interview, Maddon reflected on their Rays tenure, saying: "He and I had a great relationship and still do have a great relationship. Aliza, his wife, they lived near us in Tampa and they came to our Gasparilla parties. I just watched him bloom, blossom. He was like the guy in the background that eventually just keep going. He’s brilliant. He’s a brilliant guy. He and I had a lot of conversations, all the time. I always sought out his thoughts because he would clarify things." This indicates not just a professional rapport but a social friendship, as their families socialized together (e.g., attending local events like Gasparilla, Tampa's annual pirate-themed festival).

Maddon has also praised Bloom publicly on multiple occasions post-Rays. In 2019, after Bloom was hired by the Boston Red Sox, Maddon called him someone with "the most common sense in any room" and expressed confidence in his future success, noting, "I loved working with both of them [Bloom and Rays GM Erik Neander]." In 2021, Bloom himself referenced drawing lessons from Maddon during challenging times with the Red Sox, quoting advice like "Don’t let it get away. Stay with it and eventually it comes back to you," which underscores the mentor-mentee dynamic that evolved into a lasting advisory friendship.

Their paths diverged after 2014—Maddon left for the Chicago Cubs, and Bloom stayed with the Rays until 2019—but the mutual respect and personal ties persisted. No evidence suggests any falling out, and recent coverage (as of 2025) of Bloom's role with the St. Louis Cardinals does not contradict this; instead, it aligns with Maddon's earlier endorsements of Bloom as a "brilliant" collaborator. While "friends" can be subjective, the combination of shared professional history, family interactions, and ongoing positive public comments substantiates a genuine friendship beyond mere colleagues.

Madden grew up a Cardinal fan as well if I recall correctly.

[Rojo Johnson]

He is going to be 72 at the start of next year. Will his health and desire continue? I would prefer someone younger than 72 but not as young as Oli.

Hey, I’m 72 and if you leave me alone with Dana Perino, I’ll show you something about health and desire.

I have nothing against being 72. I am sure that you could last for a while with Dana but could you handle almost every day month after month and night after night with a lot of travel?

Don’t overthink the deal.

[Ozziesfan41]

Lord I hope not he’s way overrated he does things so dumb not even oli would do them and yea he won a World Series with the cubs beast of a team but he almost gave that away with his questionable moves. He’s great at self promotion but managing not so much

Does he pull unhittable starters at 75 pitches and try to get 2 innings out of closers with a jammed throwing finger?

EDIT- wait, actually, was he the manager that DID pull an unhittable starter in the playoffs simply because the lineup was about to rollover for the 3rd time? I remember some manager doing it a year or 2 before Oli did and the whole baseball world was up in arms. lol

My favorite Maddon is a dip [shirt] moment is when he walked seager intentionally with the bases loaded when the angels were trailing 3-2 in the fourth inning. Then the pitcher imploded and everyone scored. And after the game said the numbers didn’t support doing it but it was an emotional move and the emotions of the game dictated it and that he did it to stir his team up and hoped they responded to it. Jomboy did a break down of it complete with showing the utterly confused look of Mike trout when he did it. I’m no fan of olis but he wouldn’t be that dumb and the reasons he gave for it were even more dumb. Could you imagine if oli did that and said the numbers don’t support it but it was an emotional move cards talk would completely melt down and people actually want to hire that clown?

[icon]

I like ABM -- Anybody But Marmol.

[BrockFloodMaris]

If the Cardinals were an underperforming win now kind of team you could make a case for Maddon, but this will be a multi-year project.

Agreed. Isn’t Bloom going to want to hire a manager that is on board for a long-haul plan (3-5 years) for success?

[ecleme22]

I think I’m ok with it. Joe has won a WS. How many has Oli won?

he tried very hard to blow it. but i think even Oli could have won it with the '16 Cubs.

Maddon did a great job in ‘16.

he had some rough moments in the WS.

Sure. And TLR had a rough moment or two in the ‘11 WS.

[CorneliusWolfe]

Lord I hope not he’s way overrated he does things so dumb not even oli would do them and yea he won a World Series with the cubs beast of a team but he almost gave that away with his questionable moves. He’s great at self promotion but managing not so much

Does he pull unhittable starters at 75 pitches and try to get 2 innings out of closers with a jammed throwing finger?

EDIT- wait, actually, was he the manager that DID pull an unhittable starter in the playoffs simply because the lineup was about to rollover for the 3rd time? I remember some manager doing it a year or 2 before Oli did and the whole baseball world was up in arms. lol

My favorite Maddon is a dip [shirt] moment is when he walked seager intentionally with the bases loaded when the angels were trailing 3-2 in the fourth inning. Then the pitcher imploded and everyone scored. And after the game said the numbers didn’t support doing it but it was an emotional move and the emotions of the game dictated it and that he did it to stir his team up and hoped they responded to it. Jomboy did a break down of it complete with showing the utterly confused look of Mike trout when he did it. I’m no fan of olis but he wouldn’t be that dumb and the reasons he gave for it were even more dumb. Could you imagine if oli did that and said the numbers don’t support it but it was an emotional move cards talk would completely melt down and people actually want to hire that clown?

That was pretty bad and I’m not saying Maddon is the guy, but I would like to see a manager that is more instinctive, goes with the occasional gut feeling and capable of a little creative thinking now and then.

We basically have Siri as the manager right now.

[ScotchMIrish]

If I was going in the direction of a veteran manager I might go for Hurdle who is 68 but as much as I respect guys like Maddon and Hurdle perhaps a younger manager would be better for an obvious rebuild.

[jbrach]

oli has done as good a job as is possible...to be a 500 team with this crew is an accomplishment and nothing can be blamed on him and it is silly to suggest it

[ecleme22]

oli has done as good a job as is possible...to be a 500 team with this crew is an accomplishment and nothing can be blamed on him and it is silly to suggest it

Really is nuts this team is 70-71

[tokyojoe1954]

If the Cardinals were an underperforming win now kind of team you could make a case for Maddon, but this will be a multi-year project.

True. I don't expect Maddon would take on this jerking boat. That being said, if he did sign on it would be a good indicator that the Cards want to contend again.