A few words about the Tyler O’Neill and Oliver Marmol situation

A little early in the season for clubhouse friction.

Back in the day, Jim Edmonds would round second base and do the most annoying thing. He’d turn around and look out towards the outfielder, as if his eyes were being pulled by the baseball he had just hit. This would be fine if two base coaches weren’t paid to direct the players on the bases.

Tuesday night during the loss to Atlanta, Tyler O’Neill pulled an Edmonds while he was turning and burning around the bases. The ball was hit to the outfield and O’Neill had a chance to score on the play, but he was too busy staring at the play to think about his eventual landing spot. Third base coach Pop Warner sent him, and the centerfielder was thrown out at home.

First off, I don’t have a problem with Warner sending him. Ronald Acuna Jr. has a cannon, but O’Neill has wheels so it’s a good risk. The problem is O’Neill wasn’t running at fast as he can, and it’s not due to a lack of hustle. His whole body balance and speed were altered by his glance towards the outfield.

Secondly, I don’t have a problem with manager Oliver Marmol benching O’Neill the following day. That’s a message sent to a player that is deserved and required. Basically, don’t look at the outfield when rounding second base. If O’Neill does that again, take all his muscle shirts away immediately. That’s not how you do it. Don’t be like Edmonds on the bases. Use your coaches.

Out or safe, O’Neill is without fault if he keeps his eyes on Warner. That’s a base runner’s job. That’s cut and dry, installed in the game long ago. Use your base coaches.

Thirdly, Marmol didn’t do things right when he made it a big deal with the media. While I love his unconventional bluntness and ability to thoroughly explain moves and decisions, Marmol should have kept this in house and just benched O’Neill the following day.

Instead of simply being a lack of hustle/fundamental baseball sense, it’s now a very public thing. That’s about as useful for a team firing up a new season and retooled roster (lot of rookies moving into set roles) as a political discussion is on Twitter. It’s not good for business.

The grenade goes off when O’Neill tells the media that he thought the hustle and know-how was there, going against the words of his manager. Now, you have a back and forth drama battle that feeds laptops and cellphones, pouring canola oil all over Cardinal Nation with a season officially one week old today.

Marmol handles this inside behind closed doors, and the smoke clears in hours. He lets it fly with the media, and this is what happens. No matter who is right and wrong, it’s bad for the ballclub. O’Neill isn’t the type to back down from a charge like this, and his manager is equally outspoken. Add in the contract impasse that O’Neill and the Cardinals currently sit at, and it’s a messy situation.

How does it get better? Stop pitching like shit, and maybe win 2-3 games in a row. Until then, all the fanbase can discuss is a play and aftermath that could have been avoided if… O’Neill keeps his head straight while running, and Marmol tells the media that it’s being handled in house.

Young managers make mistakes just like young players do. That’s all I got. Be well, and don’t let the early season misfortunes of professional athletes get you down. If you want truly riveting action in real time, watch me unload a cast iron tub this week.

Photo Credit: Jeff Curry/USA Today Sports