Bernie: Jim Edmonds Brought Some Noise To A Quiet Cardinals’ Offseason. Let’s Talk About It. Let’s Review.

One of the greatest Cardinals of them all, Jim Edmonds, unburdened himself Monday morning in a fascinating but meandering interview that left the town buzzing.

In a slow and boring and numbing St. Louis offseason, Jimmy Edmonds made some noise, and woke us up from the tedium of nothingness. He made news in an offseason that had no news.

Jimmy being Jimmy. He always knew how to entertain us. He always knew how to get attention, so here he was, going off on 101 ESPN, stepping up to blast the Cardinals for their flaws and faults and assorted offenses.

Then again, did Edmonds really do something bold here? Did he go all the way in telling the truth, or was this more like a ground-rule double than a home run?

Why did Jimmy hold up? Why was his candor so selective, self-serving, and full of contradictions? Edmonds hit the ball hard, but he pulled too many shots into foul territory.

Using a popular radio platform, Edmonds filled the airwaves with one grievance after another. He didn’t seem happy about a lot of stuff … including some areas that had nothing to do with the Cardinals. This was like listening/watching a reality TV show. Lots of drama, lots of angst and anger, lots of nasty plot twists, and some really poor acting.

1. Edmonds was clearly ticked off by losing his easy, well-paying gig at Bally Sports, or Fanduel Network, or the DeWitt streaming service, or whatever we’re calling the Cardinals’ TV network these days. But after getting sacked, Edmonds said that was fine with him because he didn’t want the job, anyway. It was one of those classic “you can’t fire me, because I quit!” skits. If Jimmy didn’t want the job, then why was he so angry about being removed from the job and placed on waivers? Edmonds could have been an outstanding analyst if he’d just put more effort into it. But he didn’t. And that’s on him.

2. Edmonds was brazen in his contradictions on the Cardinals. He vented his frustration about how the organization hasn’t cared about anything since the Covid season, using it as a reason to stop trying or caring about winning … or whatever. Except that the Cardinals (A) made the playoffs in the Covid season; (B) acquired Nolan Arenado in a big trade before the 2021 season, and made the playoffs again, and (C) won the division in 2022 and made aggressive deadline moves for outstanding pitchers Jose Quintana and Jordan Montgomery.

Maybe ownership-management didn’t care enough, and the decision to not rehire or replace minor-league coaches and instructors was shameful. But the the went through a stretch of acquiring Paul Goldschmidt (and later Arenado) and qualified for the postseason in four consecutive seasons. But yeah, we pretty much all agree that the Cardinals need to get it together and dedicate themselves to winning again. Winning division titles and postseason rounds again. I think we know that already.

3. In his stream-of–consciousness free flow,  Edmonds vented about the decline of the Cardinal Way, and bemoaned the weakened Cardinal culture, and mentioned the “inner circle” group that apparently ruined everything … but then Jimmy pivoted and praised the DeWitts, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak, and manager Oli Marmol … making sure that we knew , and they knew, that he liked them. No, correct that. Jim actually used the word “love.”

4. Hold on a minute, Jimmy! You just got done ripping the downfall of the St. Louis Cardinals, but you made sure to kiss up to the men that have been running the franchise and creating the very issues that you are now growling about? How can that be? They’re directly responsible for the deterioration of Cardinals baseball.

I think many, many many of us have identified this, and have addressed it many times over. And I know I’ve blistered the Cardinals’ ownership-management on the radio, in columns, and in my videos. But some of us go all the way. We name names. We specifically identify those who deserve blame. Or, for that matter, the credit.

5. And what did you do, Jim? You stepped into the box, got ready to take a hard swing, a big cut, and stepped back and proclaimed your admiration for the people that own the team, run the team, assemble the roster, and manage the players. You didn’t cite the names of those who wrecked the Cardinals. You walked away from that. Swing and a miss.

So what is it, Jim? Are the DeWitts and Mozeliak and Marmol the bad guys … or the good guys? And if they shouldn’t be singled out … Well, who should we blame? An assistant equipment manager? The clubhouse caterer? Maybe the bullpen catcher? Or should we go after Fredbird?

6. Predictably, the rage farmers on “X” were highly aroused by this. They reacted as if Edmonds had done something truly brave and heroic, displaying the courage that most of us can only imagine. No. He did not do that. He could have mustered the valor and conviction to call out the DeWitts, Mozeliak and Marmol with direct-hit accuracy. But Jimmy kept the bat on his shoulder. And the rage farmers on “X” ignored this; I saw one tool refer to Edmonds as a “true patriot.”

7. This was Cosplay … really bad Cosplay. Absolutely hysterical. An unintentional comedy. Jimmy’s fellow superpatriots were super charged because Edmonds went after the Cardinals … even if he didn’t go after the Cardinals with sufficient vigor and fearlessness and flinched at the moment of truth.

Jimmy was an epic home-run hitter who ranks fourth in franchise history in career homers. He has some of the most memorable home runs in team history. So what’s up with all of the checked swings? This supposedly bad-ass interview really wasn’t bad-ass at all. Much of it was a gusting of self-serving protests, with Jimmy casting himself in the role of the victim.

8. Edmonds said something about how it wasn’t fun to go to spring training anymore. He told a story about a security guard stopping him from entering the Cardinal clubhouse one day, supposedly telling Edmonds that it wasn’t a good time to go in there. This apparent transgression still bothers Edmonds, and we know this because he’s still carrying it around. But in Jimmy’s retelling of this dramatic scene – here we go again! – he pivoted, telling the interviewers that he didn’t care because he didn’t want to be in that clubhouse anyway. If he didn’t care, then why is he still mewling about it? Again: which one is it Jim? You’re acting like Mozeliak, dude. As I like to say about Mozeliak this offseason: pick a lane!

9. If Edmonds saw so many things falling apart with the Cardinals, then why didn’t he bring these flaws into the public square as a broadcaster? Why did he avoid criticizing the owners and baseball executives for allowing the Redbirds to become an also-ran and postseason nonfactor? Why did Edmonds remain largely silent on all of this? He loses the broadcast job, and now it’s time to unload on the Cardinals? How convenient.

10. Edmonds wanted us to know that former players don’t feel welcome in spring training. He’s exaggerating, of course, but that’s what Jimmy does. Ozzie Smith always seems happy in his annual visit to Jupiter, and the Cardinals players are happy to have him there. And as the STLtoday reported, a cast of former Cardinals are scheduled to be on the ground in Jupiter this spring including Ozzie, Jose Oquendo, Willie McGee, Jason Isringhausen, Bernard Gilkey, Ryan Ludwick – and for the first time, 2011 World Series MVP David Freese. Except for Freese, who is a newbie, they all have roles with the club and get in the dirt and work.

The major-league staff still includes respected bench coach Daniel Descalso, and he’s been joined by his former Cardinal teammate, Jon Jay. Both were born and raised Cardinals. Both contributed to the 2011 World Series championship team. They earned those World Series rings by delivering some game-altering hits, and they’re devoted to the Cardinals.

McGee was a major-league coach from 2017 through 2024, and will be a roving instructor in 2025. He very much loves being a Cardinal. The Cardinals have an open invitation to Yadier Molina to visit and stay awhile. The door is always open to Molina, and he could use the opportunity to reestablish a regular presence, and move forward in his dream job of becoming the Cardinals manager. But why would the Cardinals consider him as their next manager if he continues to stay away? Pick a lane, Yadi.

11. Maybe this isn’t about excluding former Cardinals from camp? Maybe this is more about the Cardinals not feeling all that giddy and excited about Jim Edmonds dropping in, and having the run of the place on his terms, and offering advice to young players, even if they didn’t necessarily ask for it? Oh and what if this advice goes against what they’re being taught by a newer cast of coaches? Hey, I like the rebellious streak in Edmonds but there are boundaries. He could have been an actual coach, but it’s a job that requires a full-time commitment and enormously hard work, and long absences away from family – and so many other sacrifices. It isn’t as easy as doing these drive-by coaching sessions.

12. With that in mind, you’ll have to excuse me, but I care about the Cardinals working really hard this spring to make themselves a better baseball team. I don’t care so much about Jimmy not having fun in his past visits to camp. This isn’t Jimmy’s feelings. This is about the team.

13. Before you say … Well, Jimmy’s right and the coaches are wrong. Even if that was true, and I don’t think it is, why would a logical person think it’s a good idea for Edmonds to make his drive byes that can create a ruckus internally and put hitters in a confused state?

14. In case you didn’t know it, the Cardinals are in a major transition … a new regime is moving in … changes have been made to the coaching staff … one of the top goals in spring training is to get everyone on the same page, getting the newer voices speaking about establishing a shared philosophy and a consistent approach. This is exactly what they need to do.

15. The Cardinals have a new batting coach, Brant Brown, who was recommended by beloved former Cardinal Skip Schumaker … and also recommended by Albert Pujols. Pujols credits Brown for giving him the sage advice that revived Pujols’ offense when Pujols joined the Dodgers in May of 2021. Brown was a batting coach for LA, spending five years with an extremely intelligent baseball operation.

After Pujols worked with Brown and went all-in on Brown’s proposed solutions, this is what Pujols did over his final 496 major-league at bats as a Dodger and a Cardinal in 2021-2011: 36 home runs, 106 RBIs, .516 slugging percentage, and an OPS+ that was 31 percent above league average offensively. Pujols hadn’t been 30 percent above league average offensively since 2012, his first season as an Angel. I think Brown has some credentials.

16. Two young hitters that are essential to the team’s offense in 2025 and beyond – Nolan Gorman and Jordan Walker – have responded to their early sessions with Brown with considerable enthusiasm. Again, to those who are capable of being objective and aren’t just mindless Jimmy fanboys – do you want Edmonds going down there to disturb the peace? Do you want Jimmy to tell the young hitters to forget what they’re being told by others, and go with his advice instead? Do you also gulp down crazy pills in the morning?

This is an important spring training for the Cardinals. All Cardinals, yes – but especially Walker and Gorman. They need to get locked in, establish a strong connection with the new batting coach (and Jon Jay) and this is a positive development. These people don’t need any disruptions. I’d prefer to see Gorman and Walker and their new coach happy than giving Jimmy what Jimmy wants to make Jimmy happy. Or something like that.

17. Jim Edmonds was, and is, an intelligent hitter. He doesn’t like analytics and has always been clear about that. He’s now one of the past-generation ballplayers that believe analytics and metrics are destroying the game. The analytics are nothing more than tools, information and resources. And they’re nothing new. They’re just more advanced. They just have official titles now. But the younger generation of players – some who are 30 years younger than Edmonds – are hip on using analytics as a tool to get an edge. They like this stiff, and they like it a lot. And it requires some hard work to get the brain comfortable.

In Jimmy’s day, sluggers who were in a slump could get help in the form of what Sammy Sosa referred to as “special Flintstones vitamins.” There are no shortcuts now, because pitchers throw harder than ever and get more swings and misses than ever and there are more of them than ever.

You better have a plan to counter that, and information can help a hitter cultivate a plan and refine that plan. Let these people do their work. This is no time for the interference of an aging ex-ballplayer, yelling at the clouds … you know, the clouds that store baseball data.

18. I’ll say this for Jimmy: he’s sharp because he knows his disdain for the analytics is shared by a seemingly large percentage of Cardinals fans who would like it to be 1967 all over again. As I mentioned earlier … Jimmy – then and now – knows how to please an audience. And Jimmy knows that the old-school gatekeepers love it when he does his “these kids today … Hey, let me tell you how it was back in my day,” routine.

I liked it last summer when Edmonds got all worked up by a home-run celebration pageant performed by the Cubs’ Christopher Morel. It was elaborate and ridiculous and a disgusted Edmonds condemned it. And then some of us remembered that the younger Jim Edmonds did the same stuff … he was the peacock of all peacocks. Admiring homers. Flipping bats. Showboating. Making catches look more difficult than they were. Rolling around on the ground — was he hurt, would he live? Jimmy would get up and jog off their field, soaking in the cheers. He had style. He all but performed a Broadway musical – a one-man show – as he toured the bases. But the old-timers forgot all about this. GIVE THESE KIDS HELL, JIMMY!

19. Edmonds’ protestations are indicative of something else: the pain and even sadness that comes with the ending of an era. It’s hard to move on. It’s hard to accept the reality that the days of Pujols, Molina, Wainwright, Chris Carpenter, Edmonds, Matt Holliday and so many others are more in the past than the present. Sadly, so many great Cardinals who were mainstays at spring training are no longer with us: Musial, Gibson, Brock, Schoendienst, Kissell, Shannon and so many others. It’s impossible to fill that void; these men are giants and icons.

20. This is no time for bitterness. There’s a lot of important work to be done in this transitional 2025. Chaim Bloom and Rob Cerfolio have recruited a lot of smart baseball minds to make the Cardinals more equipped to have a better future.

The Cardinals were taken down by hubris. And now it’s time for new leadership to build them back up. Or do we want to keep whining about the past? The Cardinals shouldn’t be sentenced to their history. And that includes former players who aren’t on board with the critical work that must be done because of the neglect that slowly rotted out this team.

As one of the Founding Fathers – Thomas Jefferson – once said: “I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.”

Or was that George Jefferson?

Jim Edmonds was one of my favorite ballplayers. Ever. He was a constant source of action, adventure, drama. He specialized in big moments on the biggest baseball stages. He’s a restless soul. He doesn’t seem happy, and that’s regrettable. I sincerely hope that Edmonds can find what he’s been looking for.

And Edmonds better show up for the 2025 home opener at Busch Stadium, wearing that Hall of Fame red jacket and smiling at the embrace given by the fans who adore him. Families have their battles, their feuds. But the Cardinals will always be a family. The challenge in front of everyone who loves this team? It’s  time to become a successful family again, and that won’t be easy. And there’s no good reason for Edmonds to make it harder than it should be.

Thanks for reading …

–Bernie

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