One day after being called out by manager Oliver Marmol for a perceived lack of hustle on the basepaths, St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Tyler O'Neill is riding the pine on Wednesday.
“There is going to be a style of play we are going to be known for. And we are going to keep guys to it. … You stay on the field by playing hard.”
— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) April 5, 2023
— Oliver Marmol, moments ago, about last night’s comments and Tyler O’Neill not being in lineup today. #stlcards
Oli Marmol on the lineup today: “There is a standard here. You meet it, you play. You don’t, you don’t.” #STLCards https://t.co/cr1Gq9vsCB
— Katie Woo (@katiejwoo) April 5, 2023
O'Neill also took issue with how the situation was handled publicly:
— Katie Woo (@katiejwoo) April 5, 2023
"I don’t think it should’ve been handled that way. I think if there’s internal issues they should be handled internally. We should have each others backs out there."
With the Cardinals trailing the Atlanta Braves 4-1 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning on Tuesday, O'Neill took his secondary lead off of second as the pitch was delivered. As the line drive made its way into right field, the two-time Gold Glove award winner approached third base, rounded the bag and was waved home, but was easily thrown out.
Don't run on Ronnie!@ronaldacunajr24 | #ForTheA pic.twitter.com/MOU5ZvityO
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 5, 2023
The Braves ended up winning 4-1 and after the contest, Marmol said "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."
"I'm trying to score that run, of course. I'm not out there to dog it at all," O'Neill told reporters. "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."
When asked Wednesday morning if O'Neill was on the bench for the series finale due to Tuesday's baserunning, Marmol dodged the question. The second-year manager also declined to reveal if O'Neill would be back in the lineup for the team's next game on Friday.
MLB.com's John Denton broke down the play in question with Statcast metrics.
More Statcast metrics from Tuesday's baserunning play in question for the #STLCards :
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) April 5, 2023
* O’Neill went from second to third in 3.67 seconds and from second to home in 7.31 seconds.
* Ronald Acuna Jr.’s throw from right field to easily retire O’Neill at home hit 92.7 mph.
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