BenFred: Next Cardinals manager could wind up thanking Shildt | Subscriber only

But the lack of information has increased speculation, and Cardinals fans are still owed a better explanation of why Shildt was fired. Mozeliak’s “philosophical differences” label did not stick. Shildt’s chance to clear up things Monday came and went with nothing more than bread crumbs offered as explanation. He was calm, cool and collected. To say he always was would be incorrect. Those both for and against the divorce are only letting little examples of the differences slip out. Combined together, they continue to paint a picture of a manager and Mozeliak’s front office at odds, with confusion about where others on Shildt’s coaching staff wound up in the end.

Monday’s most telling moment could have been when Shildt thanked members of the organization, past and present, for the talks that shaped him as a baseball professional over the years.

“The conversations were full of wisdom, encouragement, accountability and, at times, some hard truths and tough love,” Shildt said. “At every turn, regardless of how challenging the conversations were, it was always about what is best for the Cardinals and the St. Louis Cardinals organization and maintaining the very high standards of the organization on and off the field.”

I am not so sure hard truths and tough love are very welcome in the Cardinals organization these days.

It is frowned upon by the brand to want more out of the Cardinals, to suggest they are slipping from a championship standard toward one that hovers beneath it, to point out that in the past decade there has been a replica of the Commissioner’s Trophy erected at Ballpark Village but not a real one lifted by the team.