8:09pm: Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch tweets that Matheny received a two-year deal with a club option for 2014.
5:11pm: The Cardinals have named former big league catcher Mike Matheny as their new manager, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (Twitter link). The Cardinals will hold a press conference tomorrow morning to officially announce the move.
Matheny, 41, doesn't have managerial experience but is no stranger to the game. His Major League career spanned 13 seasons, including five with the Cardinals from 2000-2004. Several candidates interviewed for the job, with former Red Sox manager Terry Francona presenting Matheny's most notable competition. Others included Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg and Cardinals third base coach Jose Oquendo.
The move figures to be a popular one for many in the organization, as SI.com's Jon Heyman tweets that the Cardinals players and pitching coach Dave Duncan "love Matheny" and that they view him as the "ultimate leader." That likely includes pending free agent Albert Pujols, who has "a ton of respect" for Matheny, according to this tweet from Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports. It will be interesting to see what kind of impact, if any, this decision has on Pujols' decision. Earlier in the month, former teammate David Eckstein told Morosi he thought Pujols would stay in St. Louis if Oquendo got the managerial nod.
I wonder why the team passed on Ocquendo, going into this process it just seemed like a lock.
Rumor was they felt he was too much of a friend with some of the players. They hired Matheny because they felt he would lead everyone and not let personal relationships get in the way.
Rumor was they felt he was too much of a friend with some of the players. They hired Matheny because they felt he would lead everyone and not let personal relationships get in the way.
interesting…. I thought they would chose Francona
Cardinals top consideration is leadership, giving the stories coming out of Boston about the September collapse, I think the cardinals had legitimate concerns about his personal issues.
If you have been following Francona news he has said he really wants the Cubs job !
PASS!!!!
a few days before that news came out, the reports were that he really wanted the cards job. When the story about him and the cubs came out, it confirmed what seemed apparent from Francona’s quotes after his interview with the cardinals, that the interview didn’t go well.
Thats because Francona was drinking beer during the interview.
i love it!
um, ok?
He was a great Giant for what little time we had him!
It would seem to me that Matheny =/= Oquendo.
When should we expect the “Marlins Sign Pujols” article?
right after we see the “hell freezes over” article
post of the month
thank you
At the time, this comment could have just as easily been addressed to someone saying that about the Angels… but no one was even suggesting that idea at the time anyway.
Ocquendo was quoted as saying that he wanted to stay on regardless as to whether he was promoted or not.
And if the reports on rotoworld are correct Reyes is a Marllin.
They are wrong.
yah you’re right I see that the story has been retracted
(NULL)
See, I can do it too.
(iphone error)
But the (null) joke is over.
Just curious … has he ever managed before?
YAYYYYYYYYYYYY! YOU’RE PROBABLY GONNA GET IN TROUBLE FOR THAT!
Yep.. haha
The_BiRDS 1 day ago
“Just like the Marlins questionable uniforms leaked, the new manager for St. Louis has leaked as well.. Looks like Jose Oquendo got offered the position and Mike Matheny was offered the assistant manager role. Press conference scheduled for Monday. Looks like Albert might have got his boy in STL. Just hope Ecksteins comments were right.”
You were saying? Hope you learned your lesson…
I knew I read that somewhere and couldn’t remember where. Thank you for doing the dirty work. There goes another poster on here with an inside “source”.
PETE LIKES THIS!
And that exactly why I didnt feel the need to explain myself to you guys… Comments removed everywhere.
And that exactly why I didnt feel the need to explain myself to you guys… Comments removed everywhere.
Pujols just became that much more expensive if the Cardinals want to resign him.
Pujols is going to cost the same no matter who the manager is.
Care to explain?
It was rumored that he wanted Oquendo to get the job.
Key word there is rumored.
are you calling eckstein a liar?
Eckstein knows as much you and I know. He’s not a guy who is around the Cardinals everyday.
i feel like it was supposed to be a joke..
It was rumored that he wanted money.. Cardinals have the largest offer at the moment.. it was rumored he wanted to win.. Cardinals was the World Series in a fashion that will never happen again.
How do you know what the Marlins offered him…? Unless you moonlight in a club in Miami.
It’s the largest offer because nobody else is bidding on him at the moment. How much farther can they actually increase their offer if it comes down to that?
Because earlier it said that the Marlins offer was a joke
Quote your source saying ” a joke “.
Because earlier it said that the Marlins offer was a joke
No, he would prefer to throw out dumb comments without explaining.
There was speculation that Pujols would lean towards resigning if Oquendo came back. David Eckstein also speculated the same thing after the WS.
Like you said speculation. Just like it’s speculation that Pujols would cost more because Oquendo wasn’t named manager. We can throw speculation out all day long. It doesn’t mean it’s true.
mlbtradeFACTS?
This is a speculation-based website. If the site’s comment were to only have cold hard facts and no room for opinion and speculation, there wouldn’t be much going on.
Pujols might not be a Cardinal next season. Get over it.
I’m just saying that hiring MM will not make it less likely that Pujols returns. If he wants to return he will. If he doesn’t then we won’t. It has nothing to do with Oquendo or MM.
Pujols has a lot of respect for Matheny.
Pujols likes Matheny.. Im sure the club took that into consideration. Apparently they go to church together .. if anything this should help the Pujols Decision 2011.
Pujols’s ministry is in Miami…maybe Loria is a member..therefore they go to “church” together too… ???
Pujols’s ministry is in Miami…maybe Loria is a member..therefore they go to “church” together too… ???
He played with Matheny… maybe he prefers him.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Gravitas . Great baseball man
Catchers just love being managers.
and tv guys.
I admire catchers. They have to analyze batters, set up a defense and survive against collisions and foul tips, among other things. They have to work with pitchers in calling games, calming them down in a jam and framing pitches. Many catchers have gone on to manage, like Yogi Berra, Joe Torre, Mike Scioscia, Joe Maddon and others.
joe girardi as well, o but hes a yankee so who gives a sh** haha #cardinalnation #worldchamps
Francona would have costed more money, but they could have picked Ocquendo, Sandberg, or Maloney for about the same price. The reports are that they just liked his leadership ability the best.
Cardinals hire a guy who’s never managed and retired because he had suffered too much head trauma, and I bet he still knows not to run a guy in front of Pujols.
Bet he don’t win like the guy who had guys running in front of Albert.
Well, yes, you take the guy near the top of the all-time win leaderboard over the field. Not a bold prediction. But Matheny also won’t be handed McGwire and Canseco or a 20-year old Albert Pujols.
He has inherited the World Series Champions…. Does not get any better than that.
World Series champions with a best player in his 30s who might leave, an aging best pitcher whose arm could fall off at any time, and a second best pitcher who just missed a whole year due to an injury. Plus the expectations of a decade of winning. I’d rather be handed a 20-year old Pujols than be handed an aging team that just won.
you have already made excuses for a failure …
Reasons, not excuses. Pujols leaving. Holliday and Carpenter declining. Wainwright not returning to form. These are all very realistic things that could happen in the next couple of years that would torpedo that team and in no way be the manager’s fault. Of course, I don’t think it helps the team’s cause to hire someone who’s never managed at any level.
Cardinals will be good for years to come…. Nice balance of young talent & seasoned veterans. I don’t understand hiring Matheny. Does not mean I am right.
I guess I’m not as optimistic as you are. That team leans very heavily on elite talent that’s on the wrong side of 30. Their relief arms are nice, and their top three or four prospects are exciting, but if Pujols leaves, it could get ugly.
You just put more weight on Albert than I do. They will win the division even if Albert leaves. Probably not much after that.
I guess I’m not as optimistic as you are. That team leans very heavily on elite talent that’s on the wrong side of 30. Their relief arms are nice, and their top three or four prospects are exciting, but if Pujols leaves, it could get ugly.
Cardinals will be good for years to come…. Nice balance of young talent & seasoned veterans. I don’t understand hiring Matheny. Does not mean I am right.
Reasons, not excuses. Pujols leaving. Holliday and Carpenter declining. Wainwright not returning to form. These are all very realistic things that could happen in the next couple of years that would torpedo that team and in no way be the manager’s fault. Of course, I don’t think it helps the team’s cause to hire someone who’s never managed at any level.
aging? yadi 29, craig-27, freese-28, salas-26, sanchez-22, waino-29, motte-28, scrabble-26, lynn-24, jamie-25 miller-21. pujols cant put up pujols numbers in his 30’s so hes not worth 30 mill +
How many of those guys are contender-caliber core players? Craig and Freese are nice role players. Nice bullpen arms are only that. Garcia and Wainwright are exceptions, but one just missed a full season with an injury. I love Miller, but let’s see him actually establish himself in the majors before we anoint him. And there’s a ton of money tied up in Holliday and, if he signs, Pujols. And very few hitters play as well in their 30s as they do in their mid to late 20s.
they are gonna suck because this is brewers house not some squaky birds
The Brewers only won the central when they had Fielder and St. Louis didn’t have Wainwright. I don’t root for either team. I’m just saying.
Wasn’t 2011 supposed to be the Brewers year? The World Champion Cardinals kind of ruined that for you, didn’t they?
Nyjer, is that you?
Nyger Tweet
“Hope the crying birds enjoy watching us in the playoffs”
ohhhhh.. that never gets old.
(remembers the Gaby Sanchez clothesline on Morgan and smiles) =)
Who’s Nyjer. I’m pretty sure that’s Tony.
Pretty sure you have no room to talk after last season, IN FACT, why are you saying this knowing the Cardinals are the World Champions…
double post
double post
Although I’m a little surprised by the move, none of us were sitting in on the interviews, so although we can nitpick the move, we don’t know what happened. The Cards had repeatedly said they wanted a “good leader,” and that managerial experience was not a requirement. I personally think that the Red Sox organization’s character assassination attempt on Francona has been overblown, but it’s definitely possible that it played into our decision not to hire Francona.
It’s also interesting that people think that Pujols would only stay if Oquendo was promoted. Although there have been quotes saying he would “definitely” stay if Oquendo was the manager, none of them said he wouldn’t return if he wasn’t hired. We’ll just have to see how the rest of things play out, although it’s very good that Duncan likes the hiring. Dave Duncan has been an important part of recent Cardinals success, and we’ll want to keep him around for as long as he’s willing to stay around.
Ya Eckstein should have never said anything.. I would think his comment would have gone against Oquendos chances
So much for your ‘source’.
now you know why they said that the guy didn’t need managerial experience… because Mo wanted Matheny before the interviews ever occurred. It was pretty much set in stone who he wanted, and the only way he doesn’t hire Matheny is if ownership blocks him.
The reason they like him is that he is solid as a rock as a man/leader, he knows our minor league system, and he will follow the company line (as far as building a team with home-grown guys and complimenting with vets). The entire front office wanted this guy, it would seem, and looks like Duncan was very much on board as well. ……………….also, saying Pujols staying or going has anything to do with Oquendo is absolutely ridiculous. He will stay here as long as we are “right there” with the other offers. No question.
This is the 1st time the new owners had to hire a manager…. Different philosophy. They want total control.
I like it. If he does well.. great! He will be cheap, if he is a flop they can go after Maddon next year.
Tony knew that, too. Matheny needs to know to not allow Pujols to make his own hit and run calls, which Tony DID NOT know to do.
I couldn’t agree more. It’s not like Pujols and Matheny don’t know each other. They played together for a few years, and they are even doing a baseball camp in the Dominican together. Not to mention they are both devout Christians, which I think we all agree is big to Albert.
I’m not saying he is a slam dunk to stay, but why would anyone think that he would for sure be leaving now?
people are desperate for an excuse to hate Pujols for leaving.
He’s probably not going anywhere, the only thing that remains is to see how much the Cardinals have to over pay to keep him around, which they almost definitely will do.
Looks like Terry is searching for another job..Maybe as a broadcaster?
I hope so. He was very good at it while McCarver was out. Wouldn’t be shocked if Francona could use a year or two off. Maybe Davey Johnson will want to move upstairs again and the Nationals can entice Francona to guide a team with Harper, Strasburg, Zimmerman, Zimmermann, and Rendon.
funny how you left out werth
Funny but understandable, I reckon.
maybe he could replace ron darling …. please ,please ,please
Even if Albert walks, it wont be because they hired Mike Matheny over Oquendo. This would also set up a fresh start for the Cardinals.. New manager and if they dont try to replace Pujols with someone like Fielder then maybe they will make a huge trade halfway through the season. Either way Im happy to see change in STL. Tony was great but he is done… 16 years is a long time in one city. Matheny have some fun baby!
Given that his only other offer is to play for Ozzie Guillen…. I think anyone would rather have Matheny.
Not an ounce of managerial or coaching experience. I don’t get it.
They invited him down to spring training to coach for a bit… so Id say about 3.2 ounces of mid-grade coaching.
When I was younger, Mike Matheny was the catcher on my official team of MLB Showdown 2001. I batted him ninth, he was terrible….. looks like he’s moving up in the world.
On a related note, I’m getting old.
I am sure the cards took your 10 year old video game stats into account.
Pshh, it was a card game… shows how much you know.
I will admit I was wrong. I thought for sure it was Oquendo or Francona. I’m behind this 100% though. I like it, it’s bold.
I’m really interested to see how it works out and even more curious to see the relationship he’s going to have with Dave Duncan going forward.
I was expecting Tito, but, I hope this guy works out for the Cardinals.
He has always had a great relationship with Duncan. I would guess Duncan was one of his biggest supporters during interviews. I would assume the great relationship continues. In fact, I would almost say this keeps Duncan around until he is ready to retire.
Congrats Mike, hope you do well.
Pretty risky move…..I think this was motivated by keeping payroll as low as possible — Francona would have been an expensive hire, and right now they need to save every dollar to pass on to Pujols.
I thought oquendo was the “man”?. Guess the cards didnt like him being skipper
I thought oquendo was the “man”?. Guess the cards didnt like him being skipper
francona will be a cub. knows how to manage free swingers in a small ballpark. can handle crazy bullpens and knows the front office. seems like a lock to me
Boston has free swingers? I find that pretty hard since they were 2nd in baseball in team batting avg, and 1st in baseball for OBP.
Matheny was in the Dominican Republic with Albert Pujols last week. The Sporting News reported that “This year he has been working with a youth league team in St. Louis that includes one of his sons and the sons of Albert Pujols and St. Louis native Ryan Howard. Matheny and his youth team, in fact, played in the Dominican Republic over the weekend as part of a goodwill trip led by Pujols and his foundation” (Stan McNeal). I don’t know why anybody would think that the Matheny signing would hurt the Cardinals’ chances of re-signing Pujols. They seem pretty tight to me.
Well there goes Pujols!…. or not. Who knows!
Matheny was probably chosen as manager by the Cardinals because:
A) He’s a former catcher — gold glove at that — that both LaRussa and Duncan obviously endorsed based on playing under them as a player
B) It has been mentioned his leadership qualities are respected by management and teammates
C) Being a catcher, they often are much more involved in strategy that regular positional players
D) Level of comfort as a manager based on coaching within the organization — even as a player