OAKLAND, Calif. — When they spoke over the past few years as only a few people can — Cardinals manager to Cardinals manager — Whitey Herzog would talk with Oliver Marmol about something the Hall of Famer felt was vital to the role, something he did arguably as well as any of his peers during those peak seasons in the 1980s.
“In the conversations I’ve had with him, it was always about setting the tone,†Marmol said Tuesday in his office at Oakland Coliseum. “When you think about that era of baseball, he did exactly that. That is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of him. As far as how it plays into how I think about the game — setting the tone and what that looks like.â€
On Monday in ºüÀêÊÓƵ, Herzog died after a weekend spent “surrounded by family,†according to his loved ones. He was 92. The Athletics had a moment of silence to honor Herzog before Tuesday night’s game.
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His influence on the Cardinals of his era is as obvious as the three National League pennants won during the 1980s, but what he brought to the organization — from the style of play to the size of crowds — continues today, and can be felt in the expectations within the clubhouse and manager’s office, as Marmol acknowledged.
For 11 seasons as manager of the Cardinals, Herzog set such a distinctive, successful and popular tone for the Cardinals that it reverberates generations later.
When the Cardinals talk now of reestablishing the defensive identity that escaped their reach last season, they do so with the athletic, nimble and shrewd style of defense that defined Herzog’s “Whiteyball†teams. When the modern Cardinals talk about building a team that fits their pitcher-friendly Busch Stadium III, they echo what Herzog did on the turf of Busch Stadium II. A few hours before his major league debut, Victor Scott II, who stole 94 bases this past year in the minors, was asked to describe his game.
“I’m just new-age Whiteyball,†said the outfielder, who was born 19 years after that style of baseball won the 1982 World Series in ºüÀêÊÓƵ.
The Cardinals’ commitment to curating their history and connecting it through the years puts former managers in contact often. From Red Schoendienst to Tony La Russa, Herzog to Mike Matheny and onward to Mike Shildt and now Marmol, there are chats at the ballpark or charity events. The opening day festivities spur conversations, but so too does spring training. Herzog made annual trips to spring training, and it was there that he enjoyed seeing the young players and, just as Schoendienst did, spotting the rising talent before they did.
“Guys he was excited about, guys he had been watching,†Marmol said. “His thoughts on them and what they needed to do, stuff like that.â€
Tone was a topic, but players were often the subject in their talks.
A manager can set a tone, but it takes players to carry it.
“Especially when you have someone as respected as him and the history (he has),†Marmol said. “The last couple of years, I had a couple different charity events (and) at the stadium a couple of times, being able to interact with him, he was, one, sharp, and two, always wanting to talk players more than strategy. It was interesting what he would see, how he would describe it. Even last year during the tough year, he was very encouraging.â€
Thompson’s role shifts
Sonny Gray did more than extend his scoreless streak to start his Cardinals career to 11 innings and claim his 100th victory late Monday night against the Athletics. He pitched deep enough to the game to position himself for 85 or so pitches in his next outing, and that frees up lefty Zack Thompson to be used as a reliever.
Role? TBD.
Thompson had been tethered to Gray during the right-hander’s return to the rotation and recovering from a hamstring strain. Thompson took Gray’s spot in the rotation to open the season, and when Gray returned, it was the lefty Thompson who was stashed as insurance should the Cardinals need a long reliever. Gray threw 72 pitches in his win Monday night, and Thompson was not needed. That was the threshold outing for Gray, allowing Thompson to be used when needed, not saved for when necessary.
In three games (two starts), Thompson is 0-2 with a 5.27 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 13⅔ innings. He and Matthew Liberatore are the Cardinals’ middle-inning lefties with JoJo Romero set to handle late, high-leverage spots. Thompson, who is working to regain and sustain higher velocity on his fastball, and Liberatore have differentiated themselves this season from similar pitch profiles a year ago. Liberatore’s higher-powered fastball stands out, and Thompson is able to work with two different curveballs, including a smaller, faster one.
“I think they’ve both, in their own way, have done exactly what they needed to do,†Marmol said.
Injury, illness roundup
- Brendan Donovan had no lingering swelling or stiffness after being drilled on the right kneecap by a pitch late Monday night. Donovan remained in the game at DH and started at second base Tuesday with no limitations.
- Liberatore (illness) worked through two bullpen sessions over two days, feeling comfortable and stronger off the mound Tuesday at the Coliseum. The Cardinals considered him available for that night’s game.
- Keynan Middleton (forearm strain) recovered well after throwing Monday and will advance to a greater distance of 120 feet — the final step before move up on a mound and into bullpen sessions.