ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - While Cardinals pitching was certainly the main point of concern by many Cardinals fans in 2023, there's no denying that a regression in defense was just as concerning.
After two straight years of elite defense, the Cardinals 2023 defense surprisingly regressed massively, posting a -7 in Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and a -6 in Outs Above Average.
So far in 2024, while it's too early to start posting defensive metrics, the Cardinals defense has seemed to improved with players who had struggles defensively in 2023 like Jordan Walker and Willson Contreras looking good to begin 2024.
Cardinals Manager Oli Marmol has been impressed by the defense so far to begin 2024, particularly by Contreras.
"Behind the plate (Contreras) has done a really nice job," said Marmol on Total Information A.M. Wednesday for his weekly segment. "He put in a ton of work behind the plate. When you think about doing the same thing your whole entire life, then going to an offseason and switching it completely, from his setup, how he's setting up his glove, the mechanics of how's he's catching is completely different."
Overall, Marmol says he likes what he's seeing defensively from not only Contreras but overall from a team standpoint.
"Our group is playing good defense, and it was a point of emphasis leading into spring," said Marmol. "Watching (Michael) Siani make a diving play first play of the game (Tuesday night). They're doing really well all sides of the baseball."