The St. Louis Cardinals were hoping that the 2024 campaign would be different from their disappointment of a season in 2023. Yet with 37 games already in the books, this season is beginning to feel eerily reminiscent of the team's struggles from the prior season, and the pressure is beginning to mount on Oliver Marmol and his team.

Marmol was given a shot to turn things around for St. Louis after they finished in last place in the National League Central in 2023. The problem is that, with a 15-22 record, they currently find themselves in the exact same spot heading into Friday's action. After the team's latest loss, a 7-1 defeat at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers, Marmol kept it real when discussing the Cardinals early season struggles.

Via Katie Woo:

“Oli Marmol on being down three in the first: ‘You get punched in the face, punch back. It's the first inning. You got eight more chances. You have to be able to and we just haven't been able to, not just tonight but in general.'”

Oliver Marmol, Cardinals need to start turning things around

St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) watches from the dugout in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports

Marmol was given a lifeline of sorts to figure things out this season, but so far, he hasn't been able to galvanize his team to get their act together. Their pitching staff remains filled with holes, and their lineup is not producing at the rate expected of them. It's safe to say that's not exactly a recipe for success in the MLB.

Whether or not this team can figure things out could determine whether or not Marmol keeps his job. He was on the hot seat last year when they were struggling, and you can bet the rumors are only going to intensify with each passing loss. The players aren't producing on the field, but at some point, changes need to be made in an effort to produce more wins.

The Cardinals are certainly in a tough spot, and there isn't one clear thing they need to fix in their game that will immediately lead to them picking up more wins. They need to play better as a group collectively, and Marmol has to be the one to figure out how to get them to do that. If he can't, his time in St. Louis could be over before you know it.

The 2024 MLB season is still early, but Marmol's leash is becoming shorter and shorter, and there's only so much more losing this team can endure before changes will need to be made. There's still time to turn things around, but that time is running out, and if Marmol doesn't act quickly, he could find himself out of a job in the near future.