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It is a complete shit-show down in St. Louis with the Cardinals and outfielder Dexter Fowler.
Earlier this week Cardinals’ GM John Mozeliak publicly questioned Fowler’s effort on a podcast and was immediately met with some backlash for calling out a specific player.
Here’s what he said about Fowler.
I’ve had a lot of people come up to me and question his effort and his energy level and those are things that I can’t defend. What I can defend is trying to create opportunities for him, but not if it’s at the expense of someone that’s out there hustling and playing hard. I think everybody just needs to take a hard look in the mirror and decide what they want that next chapter to look like. In Dexter’s case, maybe taking a brief timeout, trying to reassess himself and then give him a chance for a strong second half is probably what’s best for everybody. I’m hopeful to touch base with him in the near future to really just decide what makes the most sense, but clearly he’s not playing at the level we had hoped.
Mozeliak tried to clarify his comments soon after.
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Via MLB.com.
In clarifying his comments afterward, Mozeliak dismissed any perception that Fowler is not trying hard to correct things, noting that while “he has a different approach with how he deals with stuff … I know Dex is working.”
Those comments were made while Fowler was with his wife, who was preparing to give birth to their second child.
Fowler and Mozeliak spoke over the phone, but Fowler talked about the comments more on Thursday, when he returned to the team.
Let’s just say Fowler isn’t having the best time in St. Louis.
Dexter Fowler was quite open in his comments. Said he spoke with Mo and Bill DeWitt. He wants to play. Paused for a long time when asked if he enjoys being a St. Louis Cardinal and admitted it has been up and down.
— Mark Saxon (@markasaxon) July 5, 2018
“My effort has always been there,” says Dexter Fowler, reacting to John Mozeliak’s comments publicly for the first time. “That’s out of the question. These guys in here know. They’re the ones texting me, saying it’s bull****. I’m playing as hard as I can.” #STLCards
— Joe Trezza (@JoeTrezz) July 5, 2018
At least his teammates have his back through a brutal year, but everyone else seems to have a terrible working relationship with one of the most out going players in the game.
The hope for Fowler is that he eventually gets traded away because his situation with the Cardinals has gone from bad to worse.
Via Mark Saxon of The Athletic.
In his first public comments since president of baseball operations John Mozeliak questioned his effort and energy level in a series of interviews earlier this week, I asked Fowler, “This is a blunt question, but do you enjoy being a St. Louis Cardinal? Have you enjoyed this last year-and-a-half?”
After a three-second pause, Fowler responded, “Um, like you said, I’ve had my ups, I’ve had my downs, to say the least.”
The relationship between Fowler and Cardinals management is more fraught even than Mozeliak’s comments hinted at. According to multiple sources on and around the team, Fowler and Matheny barely talk and haven’t for months. Mozeliak, in fact, had been Fowler’s strongest supporter, at least until recently. Fowler seems popular among his teammates.
Fowler has been terrible in 2018, but the lack of support by the organization and the fan base has been atrocious as well.
Just like Joe Maddon said earlier this week, this is an unfortunate situation for one of the most beloved players on the 2016 World Series Cubs.
