Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol benches Tyler O'Neill after 'unacceptable' baserunning effort
St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol didn’t mince words when discussing outfielder Tyler O’Neill’s effort against the Atlanta Braves Tuesday night.
In the seventh inning, O’Neill was thrown out by Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. as he attempted to score from second base. It was a critical mistake that ended a potential rally. The Cardinals couldn’t overcome a three-run deficit en route to a 4-1 loss at Busch Stadium.
"We’ve got a lot of guys playing really hard and that’s not our style of play as far as the effort rounding the bag there," Marmol said, via MLB.com. "It’s unacceptable."
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O'Neill is was not in Wednesday's starting lineup, replaced by Dylan Carson in center field. Marmol made it clear that players will sit if they don't meet the team standard of play.
"There's a standard and it's here (hand raised high)," Marmol told reporters ahead of the series finale. "You meet it, you play; you don't meet it, you don't play."
After Tuesday night's game, O’Neill insisted he was giving a strong effort.
"I’m out here every day grinding my (expletive) off and giving it my all and trying to stay on the field for (162) games," O’Neill said. "Like I’ve said, I’ve got to get a better jump next time and get around the base a little quicker and be in there (safe) next time."
Marmol wasn’t happy with the team performance and noted to O’Neill that each opportunity on the basepaths count.
"Bottom line, that’s not his judgment and that’s why we have a coach standing over there," Marmol said. "Your effort’s 100 percent until you’re told not to (run)."
Marmol declined to answer if O'Neill will start on Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers.
"There's going to be a style of play we are known for and it's going to involve effort and it's gonna involve being relentless," Marmol said. "It's gonna involve being smart and we're going to keep guys to that because that's how you sustain being good for a long time."