John Mozeliak Earning Every Penny In 2017

John Mozeliak makes a lot of money.

Hard to find his exact salary, but I’m confident that he’s a 1%er.

In 2017, the team of his making is determined to make him earn every last penny.

The answer here was 6. John Mozeliak claims he gets 6 hours of sleep per night. Strong vodka helps him wake up in morning. https://t.co/UOgKzfDfh1

— Rodney Knuppel (@KnuppelRodney) June 14, 2017

I’m sure that was a joke.

But the fact that I searched Twitter for ‘John Mozeliak’ and a vodka in the AM Tweet surfaced? Tells us everything we need to know about 2017 so far.

Here are some good things about the Cardinals:

• Took 2/3 on the road from one of the best teams in MLB (and were close to 3/3)
• A winning record (6-4) in last 10 games (Pirates only other NL Central team with that claim)
• Sending Randal Grichuk to the minors for a ‘swing re-calibration’ has paid big dividends
• Only 3.5 games out of 1st place in a winnable division

I mean, this is fun! Remember fun?

Randal Grichuk slugs a clutch three-run home run down the left-field line. #STLCards https://t.co/2dBAXMSfJn

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) June 30, 2017

Here are some bad things about the Cardinals:

• They are 4 games under .500 for the season
• They do not have a winning record at home or on the road
• The halfway point of the season is approaching and the manager wants to ‘slow down‘
• Somehow 3.5 games out of 1st place in a winnable division

So what do you do?

What does John Mozeliak do?

If the Cardinals were in the NL West, they would be in full sell mode, working every angle to get the best returns for Rosenthal, Oh and Lynn. They’d be giving as many young guys as much time as possible to see what they’re working with for 2018. And they’d be spending all their energy on a rebuilding plan.

But they’re in the NL Central. A division in which the two biggest stories this week (in order) were:

1. A backup catcher going in on his teammate and immediately getting fired
2. A visit to the White House where a player may or may not have flipped off the president

So.

Choices will have to be made. And made soon.

Do the Cardinals decide that 3.5 games out as the season rolls into July warrants some moves to try and improve? And, maybe more interestingly, if so, what moves do the team feel will get them into postseason play?

Or do they assume (like many do) that the Cubs are having a very, very bad first half of 2017 and when they finally get going, the rest of the division will be dusted?

Tough.

And getting tougher by the day.

If you’re reading this looking for answers, Mr. Mozeliak, I have none. Apologies.

But I do wish you the best of luck.

Photo: Rant Sports