By Rob Rains
Standing in the back of the room as John Mozeliak conducted his final press conference with the Cardinals on Monday was Chaim Bloom.
On Tuesday, it will be Bloom sitting down in front of the microphone at Busch Stadium as he officially takes over running the team’s baseball operations, the job Mozeliak has occupied for the past 18 years.
As Mozeliak said his thank you’s and goodbye’s, he acknowledged that it was time for a change, and a new voice, to lead the organization.
“Eighteen years in this seat is a long time,” Mozeliak said.
During Mozeliak’s tenure the Cardinals won the 2011 World Championship, the NL pennant in 2013 and made 10 trips to the postseason, but none since losing in the Wild Card Series in 2022.
The team had a losing record in two of the last three seasons and will spend October at home for the third consecutive year. It’s now been 12 years since their last appearance in the World Series with only one postseason victory in the last decade, that coming in the 2020 Wild Card Series.
“Trying to reinvent yourself every year can be challenging,” Mozeliak said. “The drum beat was getting louder, candidly real loud, for a new voice and I heard it.
“Speaking of change, I do believe it can be a good thing. Having a fresh voice, a different perspective, new ideas, will be healthy for the St. Louis Cardinals.”
Mozeliak, who took over as the Cardinals’ general manager after Walt Jocketty was fired following the 2007 season, admitted that the job has changed over time because of the economic changes in the game.
“How you build rosters looks completely different based on your market size,” Mozeliak said. “The ability for a small market team to be successful will require the following traits – innovation, never lose sight of your core principles and remain nimble and flexible in the ever fluid environment.”
Mozeliak acknowledged that the Cardinals fell short of their desired goals in recent years because of “headwinds” they encountered, primarily lost revenue because of declining attendance totals.
“I took a lot of pride in us being successful, took a lot of pride in us trying to be innovative and creative throughout the years,” he said. “Were we 100 percent perfect? No. We made mistakes, we recognize that, but there’s something to be said that if you are not making mistakes you might not be trying.
“Overall when I look back at these 18 years, and 30 years (with the team) I do it with great pride … As I put my fan hat on, I’m excited about the future.”
The future for Mozeliak begins on Tuesday, and it took one word for him to answer a question about what he has planned for the day. “Nothing,” he said.
“I do think for the next couple of months I’d really just like to catch my breath and step away,” Mozeliak said.
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To listen to the complete press conference, click the audio player below:
