If the Cardinals see Miami manager Skip Schumaker as an ideal candidate to take over as manager for the St. Louis franchise that he played and coached for, they can't afford to wait. I'm not saying that he's the only candidate the Cardinals should pursue. It's just a matter of timing. If Schumaker checks all of the boxes for the Cardinals -- and I believe he does -- they have to get him before he takes a managing job elsewhere.

There will be several openings, at least. And other jobs may come available if one or two of the wealthy, high-powered franchises (Yankees, Dodgers) flop in the postseason. The division-rival Reds reportedly have Schumaker at the top of their list to succeed the deposed David Bell.

The Cardinals' decision-makers may like Oli Marmol ... they may believe he deserves at least one more season ... they may want to give Marmol some time. But do the Cardinals want to give Marmol another year on the job, even if it means losing their chance to hire Schumaker?