CHICAGO • After several days of discussions over the break, the Cardinals and interim manager Mike Shildt decided to stick with the traditional bench coach role, and to fill it they turned to someone with as much tradition in the organization as anyone.
Ron “Pop” Warner joined Shildt’s staff officially Thursday as the bench coach, and with hitting coaches Mark Budaska and George Greer also present at Wrigley Field, Shildt has his complete staff together for the first time. Warner, who has been with the Cardinals’ organization since 1991 as a player, coach and minor-league manager, will have many of the same responsibilities that Shildt had in the role before his promotion this past Saturday.