Why Yadier Molina Plans to Manage in Venezuela After Retirement

“We’d love for it to be multiyear,” Blasini said in a phone interview. “But it’s his first experience. And we’re all sure Yadi will in the near future be a manager in the big leagues. We don’t know Yadi’s future in the majors. He may have a position with an organization, not just as a manager but in another role.”

But for now, Molina faces the upcoming pressure of the Cardinals’ playoff push (they lead the National League Central race by four games through Friday) and then the Venezuelan winter league. (The Navegantes’ first game is scheduled for Oct. 22, the same day as Game 4 of the N.L. Championship Series.)

“In Venezuela, as well as other winter league countries, you don’t play to develop a player,” Blasini said. “You play to win today. And if you win, you have to win tomorrow.”

Carlos Mendoza, the Yankees bench coach and the manager of the Cardenales de Lara last winter, said every game in the league felt like Game 7 of the World Series. In the baseball-mad country afflicted by ongoing turmoil, a few playoff games attracted nearly 10,000 fans.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/19/sports/baseball/yadier-molina-retire-manager.html