DeWitt Jr. said he has concerns about today's game that he believes needs some changeGETTY IMAGES
MLB Cardinals Owner Bill DeWitt Jr. sits at the top of a franchise that "often finds itself in the middle, straddling that line between their plans for the future and the impatience of the present," according to a Q&A with Derrick Goold of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. There is an "unease" around the ballclub presently -- one "heightened by the longest stretch without a playoff berth in more than 20 years." The front office has "acknowledged ownership’s urgency to return to the postseason." Below are excerpts from the Q&A, some of which have been edited for clarity and brevity.
Q: How does not being in the playoffs the past three seasons play into decisions made at the trade deadline?
DeWitt: We all feel like we have a playoff-caliber team, as is.
Q: Do you empathize with any frustrations or understand the criticism about there not being a move?
DeWitt: I would hope that we would have improved, but I wasn’t disappointed that we didn’t go crazy, stripping out our farm system to try and get a short-term fix. I don’t ever (want that). I don’t believe in that. I don’t think that’s a prudent way to run a baseball team.
Q: As a fan and an owner with influence, do you have concerns about the current game’s style?
DeWitt: I do have concerns. I think the game needs some change. I personally am anti-shift. I think that’s hurt the game. I think the emphasis on home runs -- which generates strikeouts and a lack of the action baseball has historically always had -- is now creating longer games. Many more pitches have been thrown. I think it can change without changing the fabric of the game. When I say change I mean move it back closer to what it was -- which I think is more appealing. I’m not talking about dramatic change. I know the commissioner is interested in that. There are a lot of ideas out there. The Atlantic League is experimenting with certain things, and I think it’s all good to experiment and see what works, see what’s appealing and what’s not appealing.
Q: What are your thoughts on all these formulas leading to a formulaic game?
DeWitt: I would prefer change that would enable more balls in play.
Q: You invested aggressively in the analytics approach, especially with the draft, so where do you think you are now?
DeWitt: From an evaluation standpoint, we’re very strong. We don’t have the biggest staff in baseball compared to some. But we will be re-engaging our staff. We’re doing some things to make sure that we access data quicker, as an example. It’s a priority for us to be at the top or cutting-edge on analytics. We’re good. But I think we have an opportunity to push the envelope a little bit more.
Q: You don’t see tanking in your plans, right?
DeWitt: I just don’t see us trading top players in their prime to go younger or anything like that. We’ve never done that. We’ve never been a team looking to do that.
Q: Are you aware of the agitation in the fan base? Do you think it’s fair?
DeWitt: We’re drawing extremely well. The fans are engaged. There is an element (of agitation out there). I don’t know how big it is.
Q: What about the perception that you will use the cost-effective move over the big move when, for example, one fair interpretation of the trade deadline is that you cut payroll?
DeWitt: The reality is this year we’re seventh in payroll. And (we’re) 11th in local revenue. The commentary that this is a wildly profitable business is misguided and wrong. Its value has clearly gone up -- of franchises -- since we bought the team (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 8/26).
