After a horrific and drama-filled start to the 2023 season, are the St. Louis Cardinals finally turning things around? Here are three reasons why it's very possible.
Let's face it … there was plenty of panic sneaking into St. Louis after the Cardinals started the season with a 13-25 record and were settled into the bottom of the National League Central standings. However, after a four-game winning streak (including a three-game road sweep of the Boston Red Sox and a mauling at home of division rival Milwaukee), the Cardinals are suddenly showing some of the swagger everyone expected them to have this season.
So can the Cards keep the momentum going? Here are three reasons why it can happen.
St. Louis Cardinals reason for hope: Willson Contreras issues working themselves out
Oh the drama there has been around the biggest signing of the offseason for the Cards! However, things seems to be settling in for Contreras as he has returned to handling duties behind the plate.
Monday's start for Jack Flaherty was not only a good sign for the pitcher, but also for Contreras who, in the span of roughly a week, went from primary catcher to secondary catcher but primary designated hitter to primary catcher again.
With the cloud perhaps lifted over the future of Contreras in the Gateway City, the Cardinals can focus on other things, like making sure their pitching improves as much as Flaherty's did on Monday.
St. Louis Cardinals reason for hope: Nolan Arenado's hot streak
All of that worry over the start of the season for the All-Star third baseman seems to have dissipated with a power surge that has seen Arenado sending balls out of play at Fenway Park and Busch Stadium.
Yes, Arenado has been mashing over the last four games, but expand that out over the last seven games and you'll see that Arenado isn't just hitting the baseball over the fence, he's spraying it all over the yard. He has 11 hits in 25 at-bats (including those four homers), helping his slash line stand at .440/.444/1.000 during that span.
Compare that to the .239/.281/.319 slash line that Arenado posted in March and April games (including just two homers in 28 games) and you'll see why what the best third baseman of this generation is bringing to the lineup has suddenly become such a weapon for the re-energized Redbirds.
St. Louis Cardinals reason for hope: Perhaps Oliver Marmol can find a rhythm
The Cardinals have had plenty of issues make it into the press this season, including the questions about Tyler O'Neill's hustle and all of the back and forth regarding Contreras and the catching position. Many of those issues have happened while the Cardinals have been losing and trying to find their rhythm. Now, with the Cardinals playing well, will Marmol be able to focus on managing the complexities of the game without adding more to it by introducing comments that should be staying behind closed doors?
If the Cardinals are able to click with their talented roster, it will take away a lot of the questions about Marmol's future in the St. Louis dugout. It will also allow Marmol, now in his second season as the St. Louis skipper, to simply be the manager of a team that had high preseason expectations and talked plenty about wanting to put last season's quick postseason exit behind it.
Marmol bringing a calm presence to the Cardinals can start with the backtracking of his Contreras no longer catching comments and use that as a path forward for himself and the team. With the Cardinals in a good place on the field, it's time for Marmol to give the Cardinals a good and safe place off the field as well.
