In his postgame press conference after the Cardinals heartbreaking loss to the Brewers on Saturday, Jeff Jones asked Mike Shildt why he had opted for John Gant in the 9th inning.
“Have you seen his body of work this year?” Shildt replied, more curt than usual.
It was a small moment, in the heat of a pennant race and after a tough loss. I wouldn’t put much importance on the remark itself. Nor do I think that, in a vacuum, the ill-fated decision to go to Gant on Sunday is any kind of grand failure to manage the bullpen.