Yadier Molina as a coach? The good, bad, and ugly

A few words about a recently retired catcher joining his team again. Timing is everything.

One of the things about legends retiring is that you miss them and want them to truly depart at the same time. There’s a push/pull lever that gets toyed with while your heart begins to understand the game without their presence. Yadier Molina retired from baseball last year, and is being discussed for a coaching job next season with the St. Louis Cardinals.

If this seems too fast, it is a touch soon to bring Molina-who just departed the organization, right back into the fabric of a team in need of an identity shift. Like any matter or topic, there are good and bad parts to this potential new marriage of sorts between a soon-to-be Hall of Fame catcher and the only team he played for. Maybe some ugly points as well.

Let’s get into. First, please consider signing up to be a PAID or FREE subscriber. It’s a mood boost. A cheap gift for a bald man.

Now, let’s descend into Cards madness. The MLB playoffs seem about as fun as watching paint dry unless you’re a Philly fan, so let’s dig into what’s happening next season for St. Louis. Since trades and signings are a little ahead on the calendar, coaching is a big area. The importance is debatable, but a person that can stir the coffee of St. Louis by simply showing up at a Blues game like Molina brings a new bag of tricks.

THE GOOD

He’s a pitching Buddha. The man could be the guy who comes out in a crisis, assisting pitching coach, Dusty Blake, or just be a calming presence for a young pitcher. The Cardinals could soak that up like brunch at Russell’s on Macklind, essentially carrying two pitching coaches.

Molina is a guy that manager Oliver Marmol loves and trusts 1000%. Maybe he applies some unwanted yet needed pressure on the young manager, helping mold a potential sound big league leader… or a bad idea that comes into fruition like the old one-and-down flash cameras. Or Yadi just observes, bringing into focus his own managerial future.

Oh, one more thing: Bringing in Molina means a ticket sale boost. It’s the same reason that the front office brought back Albert Pujols for a true swan song, overpaid Adam Wainwright this past season, and handed the revered catcher charity cash for his last two seasons. That’s the real play here, even for a team that featured many empty seats in August and September, while ranking once again in the top five in baseball for average attendance. MONEY! It talks.

THE BAD

It’ll bring attention and notoriety for all the wrong reasons, leading to a media frenzy. Don’t doubt it for a second. St. Louis will eat it up. The Cardinals will too.

Molina will soak up attention for merely sitting in the dugout. Existing. He’ll be a bro to the team, and that will have a sweet/bitter effect. After all, he was their teammate a little over a year ago. Then again, he was essentially a player/coach there for a bit. It’s murky without being messy.

Will he commit to an entire season? He can’t be a coach who runs off for a basketball tournament in Puerto Rico, even if he was building Noah’s second arc with Manny Pacquiao and David Beckham. He has to be here, present and dedicated. Does he want to sign up for full-time? According to Martin Kilcoyne, that answer is yes.

That’s what it’ll have to be. This isn’t a television announcer role. It’s all the time. A trait that reverberates throughout the Molina family like the sport they all worship will hit the youngest son sooner or later.

Is now a good time? Yes and no, with a lean towards the latter. I love what he can bring, in 2025 or 2026. Let the team, and front office, feel the shock wave of a year without Molina, Wainwright, and Pujols on their team, or in uniform.

It’s not easy watching franchise legends leave. The urge to see if they want one more drink is tempting and always present. Letting them get in the car and drive off is bittersweet, but also necessary. A required element of moving on and rebuilding.

THE UGLY

Chip Caray: Look at Yadi in the dugout, shifting and rotating his body like he was playing. The man is in it, partner!

Jim Edmonds: No, he just farted. Patented Yadier wind break. Twist, aim, and release. I taught him how to fart.

I think the Cardinals make the move, bringing him in. It’ll be cool and good for press. Molina actually has more professional experience as a coach or manager as Mike Matheny did when he was hired, but then again so does everybody. Without being strong towards one side, there’s understandable consideration from both sides. Let’s see how serious it gets in the next couple weeks.

Photo Credit: Jeff Roberson/AP