St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Tyler O'Neill. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals manager calls out outfielder for baserunning effort

By Michael Carpenter | Last updated 4/5/23

After Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol voiced some displeasure with a member of the team and the effort he gave on a crucial play in the game.

With the Cardinals trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning, outfielder Tyler O'Neill was thrown out at home trying to score on a single.

O'Neill, one of the fastest players in the MLB, appeared to not be running his hardest and Marmol took notice.

Don't run on Ronnie!@ronaldacunajr24 | #ForTheA pic.twitter.com/MOU5ZvityO
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 5, 2023

"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," was quoted after the game, via the team website.

Oli Marmol after Tyler O'Neill ended up in an inning-ending out at home plate: "That's not our style of play as far as the effort, rounding the bag there. It's unacceptable. ... It's been addressed already." #STLCards pic.twitter.com/IC3u4ewHLG
— Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) April 5, 2023

In response to the idea that O'Neill thought he would have been held at third, Marmol replied "That's not his judgment and that's why we have a coach standing over there."

O'Neill saw things differently and felt as if he gave an honest effort on the play.

"I'm trying to score that run, of course. I'm not out there to dog it at all," O'Neill 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."

Tyler O'Neill discusses being thrown out at the plate and his manager's dissatisfaction with his level of effort #stlcards pic.twitter.com/ixFrkSn82t
— VHS (@VanHicklestein) April 5, 2023

The Cardinals have experienced plenty of early season woes, from the starting pitching struggling to the bullpen not being able to keep the opponents off the scoreboard.

With the season just getting started, there will be plenty of time for O'Neill to redeem himself from what appeared to be a base-running blunder.

The Cardinals wrap up their three-game series with the Braves on Wednesday before heading out on their first road trip of the 2023 season.

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