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Cardinals News Conference: Part 1

Cardinals News Conference: Part 2

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Walt Jocketty

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Walt Jocketty is out after 13 seasons as general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, one year after the team won the World Series for the first time since 1982.

Team president Mark Lamping said Jocketty's departure with a year remaining on his contract was a mutual decision, and that he'd be paid. Team CEO Bill DeWitt Jr. said Jocketty and the Cardinals had "cordially and respectfully parted ways."

"We were in agreement our arrangement had likely run its course," DeWitt said.

It's unclear how Jocketty's departure affects the status of manager Tony La Russa, whose contract expired after the season. Jocketty hired La Russa in 1996.

DeWitt spoke with La Russa on Wednesday, reaffirming the franchise's commitment to building a competitor after injuries and ill-advised moves led to a 78-win team that collapsed in the final month.

"I think he'll make a decision in the reasonably near future," DeWitt said.

Jocketty oversaw the team make seven postseason appearances, one of the best stretches in franchise history. But he's been unhappy since Jeff Luhnow was promoted to vice president of amateur scouting and player development late last season, placing him in charge of the draft and supervision of the farm system.

Previously, Jocketty had authority over those areas. DeWitt said the rift began on philosophical terms, growing into personality conflicts.

"I think we had a little different philosophy and vision with respect to some baseball issues," DeWitt said. "There was clearly tension. We couldn't achieve our goals given what was going on."

DeWitt said he didn't believe Jocketty and La Russa were a "package deal." DeWitt noted that La Russa asked him to seek a candidate with Jocketty's qualities when hiring a new general manager.

La Russa said on Monday that he wants to continue managing, but wasn't certain if he wanted to remain in St. Louis.

"It was a good conversation," DeWitt said. "We didn't get into his opinion, who we should hire or if we should have kept (Jocketty)."

Neither Jocketty nor La Russa immediately returned telephone messages from the AP.

John Mozeliak, assistant general manager the last five years, was appointed interim GM. DeWitt said Mozeliak, who has interviewed for GM openings in Cincinnati and Houston, could be a candidate for the permanent position.

A team spokesman said Mozeliak wasn't ready to discuss his situation.

Jocketty was hired in 1994 and took over a team that hadn't reached the playoffs since 1987. He hired La Russa before the 1996 season, and the Cardinals reached the NL championship series, where they lost to Atlanta in seven games.

St. Louis won six NL Central titles, one wild card and two NL pennants under Jocketty. After failing to spend much on free agents last winter, the Cardinals faded to a 78-84 record this year and a third-place finish behind Chicago and Milwaukee.

As GM, Jocketty has had many successes. He traded three marginal players for Mark McGwire in 1997. A year later, McGwire hit a then-record 70 home runs.

Jocketty acquired Will Clark for the 2000 stretch run after McGwire was injured, and Clark helped lead the Cardinals to the NLCS. His trade with the Phillies brought Scott Rolen to St. Louis, and he dealt J.D. Drew to Atlanta for Adam Wainwright, now one of the team's best pitchers, and he acquired Jim Edmonds from Anaheim in 2000 for pitcher Kent Bottenfield and infielder Adam Kennedy.

Jocketty also acquired Larry Walker in a 2004 move that helped get St. Louis to the World Series, where they lost in a four-game sweep to Boston. And last season's trade-deadline pickup of pitcher Jeff Weaver proved valuable when Weaver won a game in each round of the postseason, including the decisive Game 5 of the World Series.

But he failed to make any major additions the last two seasons. The offseason following the World Series championship was a disappointment almost from the beginning.

Three starting pitchers -- Weaver, Jason Marquis and Jeff Suppan -- left through free agency. The only replacement starter was 17-game loser Kip Wells, signed to a one-year, $4 million contract.

Ace Chris Carpenter made only one start before a season-ending elbow injury, forcing the Cardinals to use a collection of pitchers who were mostly relievers in starting roles.

The only regular signed was Kennedy, also a disappointment. Kennedy was demoted to a platoon role before a season-ending knee injury in August.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

The Cardinals sucess last year was because of the efforts of the players, coaches and MANAGER. Walt picked up cast-offs and older players and got lucky with a few of them. If Tony goes, Dave Duncan goes and the Cardinal chances also go. The team won't spend money to compete so it all falls on the shoulders of our players and manager/coaches. Wanting to lynch the manager is like shooting the messenger. He can't go out and play the game and I think he has done a remarkable job with what he has been given to work with.

After loosing so many talented players after the world series it just seemed that the Cardinal Organization was not willing to loosen the purse strings and get the better talented players (especially pitchers) that were so badly needed.
I am very much afraid that along with Jockety, LaRussa will follow.

Worst mistake in recent Cardinal history.

I am an expatriated lifelong Cardinal fan. I am sure that at least in years past Mr Jocketty was a definite asset to the Cardinals and to baseball in general. However, in the past several years,there has been a lack of trades and acquisitions. Glaringly pitching, and lack of production by the current center fielder. I do not know if that was because of the General manager or ownership. Perhaps both. Clearly the Cardinals need to become financially more aggressive. They need to trade players that have apexed their careers while they still retain value. It is a mystery why the Cardinal organization resigned Jim Edmonds. But then i realize I am only a fan living in Indiana. But I have been a fan since the middle 1940's so my heart is always with the club. Thank you for permitting me to express my thoughts. Regards: David J. Folk

Depends on what else happens with the team

The way I see it until you start paying the big money for players the team will stay the same. The Cardinals most always have excellent turn outs as far as fans attending, so why pay the big monies for the players??? The orgainization is making their money without paying the price.

On a scale of 1 to 10 this is a big fat zero. And I am sick and tired of hearing about it. Get a life and move on to something that is really important.
Enough NOW!

I'd say that is the starting point. The next to be looked at is Dave Duncan as he just doesn't seem to be able to get the pitching where it needs to be depending on Jeff Lunhow's involvement with the pitching staff, he may need to be held accountable.

I'm hopeful that the Cards will replace him with a baseball man. Afraid that we will see a retread or a non baseball man who does not know anything more than dollars and cents

Pujols said he would not play for anyone but LaRusa and Jocketty. I feel the next move will be Tony, and then Albert will ask to leave. There was only 1 more year to Walt contract, why couldn't they just play it out? My answer: Rotten Executives running the show.

Change is inevitable, but a premature parting always must be questioned, especially since Walt had such a solid track record.

i was a little shocked to see him fired. but i trust bill dewitt and his decision. lets just hope that we get a good gm and tony will stay till hes ready to retire.

Let me get this right, I'm supposed to be sad, mad, happy, glad about this???? I don't think so, this is just______, who cares. This is big business, if the man is not putting out then so sad to bad. I don't care this decision is not putting money in my pocket, I don't go to the games.

it was time for a change

Next Larussa will leave. The cuts should have started at the top with Mark Lamping first. You can only make a team with what they give you. We have needed pitchers for years.

I thought he had done a very good job to date and everyone seemed to echo those sentiments. There must be something else going on. Hope we get to find out what that might be. I wonder if this will enter into Tony's decision to return or if it has already entered into it. Time will tell.

What do you think?