When the Cardinals' decision-makers knew it was time to fire former manager Mike Matheny, three internal candidates for interim manager seemed obvious.
We learned later that Shildt's promotion, and his new contract, were advocated for by potential internal option and third base coach Jose Oquendo, with whom president of baseball operations John Mozeliak discussed the opportunity.
On the same day the Cardinals pulled Shildt's interim tag, second-year Class AAA Memphis manager Stubby Clapp claimed his second Pacific Coast League manager of the year award, becoming one of three managers in the league's 115-year history to win the honor in back-to-back seasons.