Mike Shildt led the St. Louis Cardinals to a surprising 90-72 record this season only to see the team lose to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League wild-card game.
To many, it was a successful season for St. Louis after it finished the truncated 2020 campaign with a 30-28 record.
Apparently, that does not extend to the Cardinals brass. In what has to be seen as a shocking decision the team fired Shildt after three-plus seasons as its manager.
Cardinals president John Mozeliak attempted to explain the decision, indicating that it was due to a “philosophical difference” and that the team “decided internally it would be best to separate now.” Shildt, 53, was under contract through the 2022 season.
Since becoming the Cardinals’ manager in the second half of the 2018 season, he posted a 252-199 record. That included a 91-win 2019 campaign in which St. Louis was swept by the eventual World Series champion Washington Nationals in the National League Championship Series.
John Mozeliak says Mike Shildt was “very shocked” when he was informed this morning.
— Katie Woo (@katiejwoo) October 14, 2021
If I'm the Padres, first call goes to Mike Shildt.
— Jon Alba (@JonAlba) October 14, 2021
Is this when we find out Jon Gruden emailed Mike Shildt? #Cardinals
— Ryan Beck (@iamryanbeck) October 14, 2021
Mike Shildt has been dismissed as #STLCards manager. John Mozeliak call it philosophical differences. Pretty bizarre news out of the blue. Mozeliak is refusing to explain what those philosophical differences are at this time.
— Ben Frederickson (@Ben_Fred) October 14, 2021
My first observation? The San Diego Padres should interview Mike Shildt.
— Ben Frederickson (@Ben_Fred) October 14, 2021
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