Episode Details

When Jason Motte went down with Tommy John surgery in 2013, the Cardinals' championship aspirations were in jeopardy. Enter Edward "The Chief" Mujica—a journeyman reliever who went from a mid-season acquisition to an All-Star closer almost overnight.

This week on Random Cardinal of the Week, Jim Plaza breaks down the dominant, high-stakes, and occasionally sleepy tenure of one of the most efficient closers in St. Louis history.

Inside this episode:

The 2013 SOS: How Mujica stabilized a bullpen reeling from injuries and early-season struggles.

The Yadi Factor: The mechanical tweak suggested by Yadier Molina that turned Mujica into a strike-throwing machine.

Elite Company: Why Mujica’s 37-save campaign puts him alongside legends like Bruce Suter and Lee Smith.

"The Chief": The hilarious story of how manager Jack McKeon gave Mujica one of baseball’s most unique nicknames.

The Legacy: How Mujica bridged the gap to the Trevor Rosenthal era and helped secure the 2013 NL Pennant.

Join us as we revisit the "magical season" of a pitcher who proved that sometimes, the best solution is the one you never saw coming.

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