Mike Matheny Playing Hardball

When I was in high school, I overheard a coach saying, “The best players start but more important, the right ones do as well.” I always thought about that. What did he mean? The best play but then again, so do the right ones. Cerebellum scrabble ensues when I attach that thought to the Matheny way of not just managing but leading as well. Leadership is supposed to be his strong suit. Matheny shouldn’t have any problems leading. Then again, this is the Major Leagues and you don’t see the true test of a leader until adversity strikes.  Mike Matheny hasn’t had to deal with an Oscar Taveras type prospect until this summer. He hasn’t has to deal with a severely struggling offense. Matheny’s first two seasons were solid and dominant at times. He had little to zero issues to handle. That’s what managers do right. Handle things.

Matheny has a problem with Oscar Taveras in 2014. He can’t figure out if he wants to play the kid, encourage the kid or bench him due to a lack of grit or short stature. Matheny is toying with the kid’s head in my opinion. There is a double standard building in St. Louis.

Confession: Oscar looks a little out of sorts on the bases and fields baseballs in right field like a gorilla. He swings mad to the point of his helmet falling off. He isn’t polished and is still very raw.

Reality Check: He isn’t going to look right. He has several critics, the biggest of whom works as a part time color analyst for Fox Sports Midwest. I doubt Oscar is on Tim McCarver‘s fantasy baseball team. So, yes, I admit Taveras looks rough out there. Then again, isn’t that the way all rookies look? The most gifted athletes hit the field and sometimes trip up a bit. They need time to find their way.

I can’t sit here and tell you Oscar Taveras will be a great player. There is no way to know because I can’t tell the future. I can tell you Matheny isn’t doing it right. Matheny told the Post Dispatch that “Oscar has a lot to learn” and that he didn’t like his lack of hustle on a few plays. Keep in mind you won’t hear Matheny question Jhonny Peralta‘s lack of hustle on the base paths or the fact that Matt Holliday has lofted towards a double in the field defensively more than twice this season. If Matheny is going to complain about a lack of hustle with Taveras, then it should apply to every player on the team. Right? Once they reach the 25 man roster, the unwritten rule of unity takes precedence. All are equal no matter what. Matheny seems to differ.

As Corey Rudd (find him @CoreyRudd on twitter, good follow for Cards fans) said on twitter as simple and blunt as a man could, “Matheny’s job is to put guys in position to succeed. Hasn’t happened with OT.” With those words spoken to the local paper, how is that supposed to hit Oscar and make him do better? Should Oscar think to himself…if I become established like Peralta, I can then dog it to first and act like a blank alien when I am on the field?” What message should be given to Oscar Taveras when he is sat on the bench for the .128 hitting Shane Robinson? 

Look, if there was a better option on this roster to take starts in right field, I wouldn’t be as critical of Matheny. This has little to do with competition and everything to do with favorites. If Alfonso Soriano or Marlon Byrd were here playing tug of war with Oscar for ownership of right field, I wouldn’t complain…as much. That isn’t the case. Instead of putting Jon Jay in right and Peter Bourjos in center, Matheny puts Robinson out there. The only thing Robinson has done lately is make a halfway decent throw to home plate and draw a walk to start a rally two weeks ago. Why start him over Oscar? Makes little sense.

I have tried to tamper my criticism of Matheny this season since it flows so easily from other baseball bloggers and fans. He is still growing as a manager. I get that.  This is his third year and easily his toughest. While that may not be easy for some fans to grasp, it’s the truth. Few managers in baseball have the reins of a franchise expected to compete for a championship every season and are given such ambitious talent to put to use.

Michael Wacha was easy to deal with in 2013. He came up in June and struggled. He came back in late August and was a completely different pitcher. Taveras has taken more time. Position players sometimes do take a bigger gamble at the beginning. I would make an Albert Pujols reference but several other writers have beaten that to death. It hasn’t been easy to watch Taveras play at times. At all. A Cards fan or Taveras advocate like myself wants to see him punch the ball to all fields, drive in a bunch and start swinging his way into the lineup.  I am sure my readers have gotten tired of me writing about this kid. It’s warranted. However, until Matheny gives Taveras the same respect he gives others, I will come here and fire away. Let the kid play. For weeks. How is he supposed to get comfortable if he doesn’t get the reins?

Sure, starting 7 to 10 days in a row is nice. Benched for Shane Robinson? Wrong answer. Matheny has a limited bench to work with but that one is an easy one to solve. Play the kid unless you want to get really creative and start Bourjos(a guy expected to start in March) or Jay(a smooth hitting machine) out there or call up another hopeful Matheny prodigy in Tommy Pham or Stephen Piscotty.

I know this sounded like a rant so I apologize. I need at least one of these a week watching this team play and this manager fail to grow.

Find more of me on Twitter, @buffa82.