The Cardinals went a ghastly 2 for 27 with runners in scoring over the weekend in Toronto, scoring only seven runs in three games while getting swept by the Blue Jays.
This team's failure with runners in scoring position has been a chronic problem all season, and no one seems to know how to make it better. And now, of course, it's too late to matter. Manager Oli Marmol attributes it to a lack of execution, but I would argue -- as I do in this video -- that the real issue a collection of hitters that have an awful plate approach when hitting with RISP. And yes, as I explain, it does come down to intelligence -- a glaring and frustrating shortage of intelligence. Looking at called strikes. Swinging at pitches out of the zone. Having no clue what to do in these pressure situations. And doing the wrong thing over and over and over again.
If the manager and coaches are making recommendations on how hitters can improve, and the situation keeps getting worse, it tells us two things: (1) the messaging is wrong; (2) the messaging is being tuned out by the hitters. Either way, it's an embarrassment that reflects poorly on everyone involved.
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