Every year, or at least every year since 2012, we’ve taken some time after the season was over to look at the past 162 games through the lens of the players that played them (and the management that was in charge of them). Last year, the Exit Interview series spent less time digging into splits and finding numerical oddities and more time reflecting on the player and their season. It was a style that seemed to work so we’re going to bring it back again this year. The legendary cardinalsgifs is back to bring us excellent series art, so it’s all downhill after you see that!
President of Baseball Operations: John Mozeliak
“You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become a villain.” The words from The Dark Knight are so very applicable to Mozeliak in the current era. If he had stepped down after the World Series in 2011 or, indeed, anytime before the start of the 2016 season, his reputation would have been almost immaculate. The streak of seasons with postseason access would have been unblemished. The team would have been seen as a powerhouse, at least in the NL Central, and with actual potential of going deep in the playoffs. The Cardinals were seen as a model for other organizations, the cream of the crop when it came to front offices.
Much like it did to the rest of society, the Cubs winning the World Series in 2016 seems to have opened a portal that ruined the good thing the Cards had going. Mozeliak re-upped Mike Matheny (oof), tried to get ahead of a non-existent market by signing Brett Cecil (ugh), and then got burned on trades for Marcel Ozuna and Matthew Liberatore. The front office seemed to stop innovating and apparently stopped communicating with the minor leagues in significant ways. It got to the point that many fans were advocating for Mo to go immediately, even though he had just one more year left on his contract.
I think it’s fair to give credit where credit is due, though. Mo was the one that advocated for bringing in Chaim Bloom to do his analysis and then to succeed him as POBO. I don’t think it’s impossible to believe that Mo saw the problems the club was having but knew he needed someone like Bloom, an outside respected voice, to get through to the DeWitts on how bad the issues where. (Given the end of year press conference, it’s still debatable if they have grasped the depth of the problems.) He also is providing Bloom some cover, staying on to perhaps make difficult decisions that he can take the heat for instead of the new guy.
Mo’s a clear Cardinals Hall of Famer, though his slightly mixed track record might keep him out of the Cooperstown discussion that occasionally pops up. He’s done a lot of incredible work and has a World Championship ring during his GM/POBO time to show for it. (He also has the honor of being the person in charge of drafting a guy named Albert Pujols.) It does feel like it is time for a change in the position but I am glad that he’s getting to go out on his own terms instead of being unceremoniously dumped.
What’s in store for 2025: One last ride. Mo probably won’t do anything too drastic, at least not without Bloom’s input and approval, so it’ll be interesting to see how he manages a season unlike any other in his tenure.
