West Newsmagazine 3-21-18

WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
MOLINA, from page 26
want, but we never know what’s going to
happen until it actually happens.
“I think this offseason and simplifying
my game and my workouts and putting
myself in this city has opened up a lot of
doors for me.”
The organization also has talented catcher
Andrew Knizner waiting in the wings.
Molina is an eight-time National League
All-Star who won seven consecutive Gold
Glove Awards between 2008 and 2015. He
joined the Cardinals in time for its 2004
National League pennant run and replaced
current manager Mike Matheny as the
team’s everyday catcher.
“I realize I’m playing for one of the best
More than just defense, Molina also has been
strong at bat.
[Lou Countryman photo]
COACHING STAFF, from page 28
Washington Nationals, where he held the
same position for the past two seasons.
Over the past 15 seasons, he also served
as pitching coach of the Texas Rangers and
Milwaukee Brewers.
Prior to moving into a coaching role,
Maddux, the older brother of Hall of Fame
pitcher Greg Maddux, pitched 15 years in
the majors with nine organizations.
With the Nationals, Maddux guided the
pitching staff to a 3.69 ERA during his
two seasons – fourth-best in the majors
over that span – while the starters’ ERA
was 3.61, which ranked second only to the
Cubs. With 2016 Cy Young Award winner
and Parkway Central graduate Max Scherzer,
Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez
in the rotation, the Nationals averaged 9.08
strikeouts per nine innings under Maddux’s
watch.
Mozeliak said hiring Maddux was an
easy choice. “He always seems to get
the most out of his pitchers. It was a nobrainer,”
Mozeliak said.
Maddux replaced Derek Lilliquist,
whose contract with the Cardinals was
MARCH 21, 2018
CARDINALS SALUTE 2018 45
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
catchers in baseball history,” Cardinals
starting pitcher Adam Wainwright said at
the 60th annual Baseball Writers of America
St. Louis dinner. “I truly believe I throw
every day to the best catcher the game has
ever seen.”
Molina was the first National League
player to win the Rawlings Platinum Glove,
awarded to the best defensive player at
any position in each league. He is one of
just two players to win it more than once,
having claimed the honor in 2011, 2012,
2014 and 2015.
He’s a contributor on offense as well. His
best season arguably was in 2013, when he
hit a career-best .319 with 12 home runs and
80 RBIs. He hit 22 home runs the year prior.
When retirement comes, Molina said
he’ll enjoy his family. He also managed
the Puerto Rico team in last year’s World
Baseball Classic and said he enjoyed that
experience.
“It was fun. It was hard, too, to please 20,
22 guys,” Molina said. “It was hard but at
the same time, it was fun. I learned a lot.
You have to do different stuff from when
you are a player.”
Would he like to manage in the major
leagues?
“I don’t know,” Molina said.
Reminded that managers must meet with
the media daily, Molina laughed.
“Now in that case, well, no. I’m sorry,”
Molina said while laughing. Then, conceded,
“It’s still too early to decide that
now.”
not renewed after St. Louis failed to make
the postseason for the second consecutive
season – the first time that has happened
since 2007-08.
Maddux said he is glad to be with the
organization.
“I was flattered when they reached out,”
Maddux said. “I’ve always looked at the
Cardinals as the Yankees of the National
League. They were always the team everyone
wanted to beat because they were
always beating everybody else.”
Shildt, 48, who has been a member of the
Cardinals organization since 2004, spent
last season serving as the team’s quality
control coach and third base coach.
Shildt, who managed for eight seasons
in the Cardinals farm system at Memphis
[2015-16], Springfield [2012-14] and
Johnson City [2009-2011], was voted
the recipient of the highly distinguished
George Kissell Award in 2010, which
honors excellence in player development.
Eversgerd, 48, spent the past five seasons
as pitching coach for Triple-A Memphis
following stints with Double-A Springfield
[2008-09 and 2011-12] and several Class
A affiliates.
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