Q: Why did you decide to write about the Cardinals, and how
would you define the Cardinals Way?
A: So my curiosity over the success the Cardinals had
sustained for the previous decade-plus led me to come out to St. Louis in the
summer of 2013. I spent several days with decision-makers, and came away with
the what, but not the how or the why of the Cardinals.
And I understood I'd need to spend far more time and have
far more space to write to accurately capture it all. Hence, I'd say the best
way to define that term is contained within the book.
Q: You write that the Cardinals’ success unites tradition
and “Moneyball” analytics. Do you see that success continuing, and have other
teams embraced the same philosophy?
A: I do, though the gap between the innovations utilized by
the Cardinals and the rest of baseball have narrowed considerably. The
Cardinals are really the blueprint now.
Q: What is the status of the investigation into a hacking
scandal involving the Cardinals?
A: The sentencing for Chris Correa, former scouting director
who pleaded guilty, is April 18. We await MLB's decision on any discipline
against the team.
A: I think it is always a fool's errand to pick against the
Cardinals.
Q: You’ve also written about the Mets, and you’re a longtime
Mets fan. How does their approach compare to that of the Cardinals, and how do
you see them doing this year?
A: The Mets, under Sandy Alderson, have embraced analytics,
while their ownership's financial limitations more than evened the market
playing field. So there are similarities.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I am the Contributing Editor for Excelle Sports, a new
site devoted to women's sports, and it is tremendously exciting. I continue to
write at POLITICO New York, USA Today and VICE Sports. You can follow me
on Twitter @howardmegdal.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: My wife and daughters are fantastic.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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