It took one question at the beginning of the second inning for Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz to turn part of Saturday鈥檚 broadcast on Fox鈥檚 鈥淏aseball Night in America鈥 into a stump speech for Yadier Molina鈥檚 candidacy to join him in Cooperstown, New York.
鈥淭here (is) hyperbole around a lot of different people when you say, 鈥極h man, he鈥檚 the best this or this guy is the best defensive catcher,鈥欌 Smoltz said on the telecast. 鈥淚 got a chance to throw to him and I got the answer really quick. He鈥檚 the best. 鈥 Everyone kept saying for the longest time, 鈥榃ell, you can鈥檛 make the Hall of Fame as just a defensive catcher.鈥
鈥淲ell,鈥 Smoltz continued. 鈥淚鈥檓 here to tell you he鈥檚 going to be in the Hall of Fame, and he wasn鈥檛 just a defensive catcher.鈥
The Fox Sports broadcast returned to the Cardinals-Cubs game for the top of the second inning with video of Molina working before the game with catchers Pedro Pages and Yohel Pozo in the bullpen. Molina, who played 19 years and won nine Gold Glove awards as the Cardinals catcher, spent two days with the club in uniform and in the dugout as a guest coach. Manager Oliver Marmol invited Molina while he was in 果酱视频 to spend time with the team and contribute during games. It was Molina鈥檚 first appearance at Busch Stadium since 2023, his first time in Cardinals uniform since the final game of 2022.
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Over video of Molina interacting with current Cardinals, broadcaster Jason Benetti explained Molina鈥檚 re-appearance with the team and then asked Smoltz to give insight on Molina鈥檚 influence, especially for fans of other teams.

Cardinals guest coach Yadier Molina high fives outfielder Jordan Walker before a game against the Cubs at Busch Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025.
鈥淲hat I saw with my own eyes was what he was able to do,鈥 Smoltz told Benetti.
Molina called the final pitch of Smoltz鈥檚 career in the 2009 National League Division Series against the Dodgers. An all-time great for Atlanta, Smoltz finished his career with seven games and the playoff appearance with the Cardinals. It was a reassuring finish for the Hall of Famer after a rocky turn with the Boston Red Sox. Smoltz had a 6.35 ERA overall that season in 78 innings.
With Molina behind the plate in six games and 34 innings, Smoltz鈥檚 ERA was 3.18, and it was 8.80 with every other catcher.
鈥淗e got more out of the pitcher than the pitcher could even know after the game was done: 鈥榃ow, I can鈥檛 believe I went seven innings with the stuff I had,鈥欌 Smoltz said on Fox.
He joked that he had no 鈥減ower brakes鈥 or 鈥減ower steering鈥 as a Cardinal.
鈥淭he presentation (framing) at the plate, I would argue that he was the best all time,鈥 Smoltz said. 鈥淭he one thing you knew, first of all, he could watch film forever. He was totally prepared. Every pitch was pretty much called with a purpose. He understood the game and watched hitters, understood hitting, and he exposed it. He was the threat. You talk about a (defensive back) in football where he takes away the left side of the field for a quarterback. Quarterback won鈥檛 even look over there.
鈥淗e took away the running game,鈥 Smoltz said. 鈥淗e sat behind the plate with a presence that affected the other team and their strategy. There were things that other teams knew they couldn鈥檛 do when they came to play the 果酱视频 Cardinals.鈥
Smoltz detailed and lengthy advocacy of Molina as a Hall of Famer shared the broadcast time as the Cardinals fell increasingly behind in the game.
The Cubs scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning that gave Smoltz time to detail what it was like throwing to Molina and what he learned by being a brief teammate. That inning would also give the Cubs a 6-0 lead that would grow into a 9-1 loss for the Cardinals in Molina鈥檚 final day of his two-game tenure.
Molina said Friday that he hopes the two days this weekend turn into other appearances as a guest coach. He mentioned joining the team on the road at some point, and the Cardinals have a standing invitation to Molina to visit spring training and work with the young catchers.
Marmol said it would be 鈥渇oolish鈥 not to have Molina around as often as possible.
Smoltz spent a half inning detailing why to the folks at home.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not hard to say a lot of great things about Yadier Molina and what he means,鈥 Smoltz concluded during the broadcast. 鈥淗is presence in the clubhouse is unmatched. 鈥 There was a presence when Yadi walked into a room. When he stood behind the plate, even if you weren鈥檛 at your best he was going to get the best out of you.鈥
Giving Donovan another day
The Cardinals hope that Brendan Donovan will return to the lineup Monday when they open a home series against Colorado after taking a second day to rest soreness in his left groin. Donovan was a late scratch Saturday due to the injury, and while he felt better Sunday the Cardinals remained cautious with their plan to have him play against the Rockies, Monday at the earliest.
Donovan has had a dip in production and power since returning from the All-Star Game, batting .188 and slugging only slightly better than his on-base percentage, .261 to .260, over the past 18 games.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said some recent struggles are likely tied to trying to play through the groin inning. Overall, the team believes committing to Donovan at one primary position 鈥 and all over the field 鈥 has reduced the wear on their leadoff hitter.
鈥淚 think what has helped is not having to bop around too much,鈥 Marmol said. 鈥淲hen you have a routine and you don鈥檛 have to say super-ready at multiple positions, at third, at second, in left and right, then the work prior to the game becomes a little bit more condensed.鈥
Alcala in, Graceffo to Memphis
As advertised, the Cardinals placed newcomer Jorge Alcala on the active roster Sunday and will use the right-hander in short-burst and low-leverage assignments, if possible. The Cardinals want to give Alcala, 30, innings to continue working on limiting his walks and refining the curveball that he鈥檚 started using this season.
Alcala explained that he always had a curveball but in the majors it blended with his slider. In Boston, the curve regained distinction and that contributed to the drop from an 8.88 ERA in 24 1/3 innings for Minnesota this season and a 3.31 ERA in 16 1/3 innings for the Red Sox.
Alcala gave a succinct reason for the improvement: 鈥淐onfidence.鈥
To make room on the active roster for Alcala, the Cardinals optioned Gordon Graceffo to Class AAA Memphis. Graceffo allowed two runs on four hits in 2 1/3 innings of relief Sunday, and several of the outs he collected were on hard hit pitches. That contributed to the reasons the Cardinals gave for returning him to the Triple-A Redbirds with specific ways to improve.
鈥淲e felt like from what he needed to work on standpoint it made the most sense for him to go down and get a couple of things right,鈥 Marmol said. 鈥淭here are some things with usage, predictability, tipping, you name it, that we feel like we can address in a Triple-A environment and then he鈥檒l see his way back up here.鈥
Piggyback possibilities?
As the Cardinals consider the late-season workload for starters Andre Pallante and Matthew Liberatore, one possibility is to pair them with another pitcher and split starts in a practice called piggybacking. The pitcher is poised to join the rotation if the Cardinals consider that practice is right-hander Kyle Leahy.
With his mix of at least six pitches and effectiveness in multiple innings, Leahy is set to prepare this offseason to be a starter entering spring training.
鈥淗e has a lot of qualities that you would want in a starter,鈥 Marmol said.
Pallante had his shortest start of the season Saturday night when he allowed six runs in 1 2/3 innings. Liberatore recently had an extended stretch between starts to govern in his innings, and he said his body responded well to the rest. Marmol said the Cardinals have no plans right now to start a piggyback or discuss alternatives for Pallante or Liberatore in the rotation but that the consideration for their health and workload is start to start.
Post-Dispatch baseball writer Derrick Goold joined columnist Jeff Gordon to discuss Yadier Molina's visit to the Cardinals and how the team's revamped bullpen is shaping up.
Photos: 果酱视频 Cardinals win 3-2 against Chicago Cubs

果酱视频 Cardinals catcher Pedro Pag茅s (43) celebrates a two-run home run in the third inning of a game between the Chicago Cubs and the 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频, on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025.

果酱视频 Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray (54) reacts as Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw (6) scores a two-run home run in the fifth inning of a game between the Chicago Cubs and the 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频, on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025.

果酱视频 Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker (18) steals second base in the seventh inning of a game between the Chicago Cubs and the 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频, on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025.

果酱视频 Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras (40) forces out Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) in the seventh inning of a game between the Chicago Cubs and the 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频, on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025.

Fans take a photo in the stands in the second inning of a game between the Chicago Cubs and the 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频, on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025.

果酱视频 Cardinals second baseman Thomas Saggese (25) celebrates a run in the third inning of a game between the Chicago Cubs and the 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频, on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025.

果酱视频 Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras (40) reacts on striking out in the third inning of a game between the Chicago Cubs and the 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频, on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025.

From left, Ryan Minor, Liam Minor and Robin Wodicker, of 果酱视频, sit in their seats and wait during a rain delay before a game between the Chicago Cubs and the 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频, on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025.

果酱视频 Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray (54) pitches in the fourth inning of a game between the Chicago Cubs and the 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频, on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025.

果酱视频 Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras (40) looks up for a flyballin the first inning of a game between the Chicago Cubs and the 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频, on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025.

Kevin Schlemeier, field usher, holds an umbrella and watches as the grounds crew removes a tarp from the field during a rain delay before a game between the Chicago Cubs and the 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频, on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025.

Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras throws to first base to force out Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong in the first inning at Busch Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025.

Cardinals starter Sonny Gray pitches in the first inning against the Cubs at Busch Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025.

果酱视频 Cardinals catcher Pedro Pag茅s (43) reacts to striking out by Chicago Cubs pitcher Brad Keller (40) in the eighth inning of a game between the Chicago Cubs and the 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频, on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025.

果酱视频 Cardinals pitcher Riley O'Brien (55) reacts to a pitch in the eighth inning of a game between the Chicago Cubs and the 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频, on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025.

果酱视频 Cardinals catcher Pedro Pag茅s (43) and 果酱视频 Cardinals pitcher JoJo Romero (59) talk on the mound in the eighth inning of a game between the Chicago Cubs and the 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频, on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025.

果酱视频 Cardinals pitcher JoJo Romero (59) delivers the final pitch in the ninth inning of a game between the Chicago Cubs and the 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频, on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025.

果酱视频 Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn (0) reacts to winning at the bottom of the ninth inning in a game between the Chicago Cubs and the 果酱视频 Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 果酱视频, on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025.