Three games. Zero runs. And a fanbase that’s completely out of patience with the Cardinals and Manager Oli Marmol.
The St. Louis Cardinals didn’t plate a single run during their trip to Pittsburgh, getting blanked in a full three-game sweep by a last-place Pirates team. That’s not just a cold spell — that’s a crisis. And the worst part? When fans were looking for some urgency, something from their manager to match the moment, Oli Marmol offered up… nothing.
Can Oli Marmol and the Cardinals do Better?
“We have to be better” would’ve been a layup. Instead, he gave the usual shoulder shrug and pointed to a few unlucky breaks and some missing names from the lineup. This, from a manager who’s never shied away from calling out his players in the past — but now, with a fanbase ready for accountability, Marmol played it safe. Read the room, man.
For someone touted as the front runner for Manager of the Year, this doesn’t seem very managerial.
Yes, Willson Contreras, Ivan Herrera and Nolan Arenado were unavailable for parts (or all) of the series. Yes, Paul Skenes is a future ace. But the Cardinals knocked him out in the fifth inning and still couldn’t capitalize. And against Andrew Heaney and Mitch Keller — two solid but not elite starters — the offense still couldn’t figure it out. Pittsburgh’s bullpen came in ranked 20th in team ERA. That’s not a buzzsaw. That’s beatable.
The Cardinals weren’t overpowered — they just came up short, over and over again, especially with runners on base. That’s where their offense usually thrives: grinding at-bats, finding gaps, working counts. Not this time. Every promising moment fizzled. No big swings. No timely hits. And thus no pressure on the Pirates at all. Just silence.
Momentum Lost
And now, just like that, the Cardinals have dropped five of their last ten and sit five games behind the division-leading Cubs — erasing most of the ground they’d gained over the last two weeks. This sweep wasn’t just a missed opportunity. It was a momentum killer. This fact is proven by the dismal performance against the Cubs in the next series.
Thankfully, someone stepped up to say what needed to be said — even if it wasn’t the guy in the manager’s office.
Brendan Donovan was blunt after the finale:
“Obviously the series is frustrating, but it’s just one little blip on the radar of 162 [games],” he said. “So, is it frustrating? Absolutely. But they just beat us. They’re playing good ball. We were playing good ball and they shut us down, so, [we’re] on to Chicago.”
That’s honesty. That’s accountability. AKA leadership — the kind that should’ve come from the top.
Sure, the Cardinals are still in the hunt. They control their own destiny, and a big showing at Wrigley this weekend could shift the narrative. But make no mistake — getting swept by the Pirates, with the division on the line, was a gut punch. And if there’s a rally coming, it has to start with more than just clichés.
