Yesterday, before their game against the Diamondbacks, the Cardinals made a curious roster move: they put catcher Yadier Molina on the Restricted List, which is for players who are away from the team for non-baseball reasons.
Why was Molina going to be away from the team in the middle of the season as they try to hold onto their division lead? He told the team he needed to attend to some “business” in Puerto Rico, as noted by Derrick Goold … who also noted something else:
The pro basketball team that Molina owns was to be playing this weekend for the Baloncesto Superior Nacional championship, and it wouldn’t be crazy to speculate that Molina wanted to be there for it. The title would be Bayamon’s second since Molina took ownership.
Thing is, Bayamon indeed did win it all last night, but Molina wasn’t in the arena for the win:
So I don’t know if this means that the speculation about Molina leaving because of the basketball championship was unfounded – if it was just a coincidence? – or if Molina had some things to do in PR around that championship, but couldn’t attend?
It’s weird. The whole thing is weird. The Cardinals’ long-time catcher and pseudo-captain, leaving the team in August of his farewell season for a weekend so he can do other stuff. I’m trying to imagine a parallel like this in the Cubs’ world, and how I might feel as a fan. I’m not saying it isn’t understandable that people have lives outside of the sport and have to attend to things, but it’s also late August and you’re trying to clinch a division. I guess I would just hope it was a really, really, really good reason that the player had to be away.