Saturday night at Wrigley Field turned into chaos both on and off the diamond, and it wasn’t because of the final score—it was because of a single, controversial decision. In the 8th inning of the heated Cubs–Cardinals rivalry game, infielder Michael Busch stood at the plate, just one single shy of completing the cycle. Instead of giving him a chance to swing, St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol ordered an intentional walk, igniting outrage across Chicago and sparking an online debate that has baseball fans split down the middle.
Busch had been tearing apart St. Louis pitching all game long—hitting for power, flashing discipline, and becoming the nightmare every Cardinals pitcher wanted to avoid. As he stepped into the box, fans were buzzing for history. A cycle, especially in a Cubs-Cardinals clash, would’ve been the stuff of legends.
But Marmol had other plans. With Busch one swing away, Marmol threw up four fingers. Intentional walk. Boos rained down from the stands, Cubs fans lost their minds, and social media exploded with accusations that the Cardinals skipper had “trolled” the Cubs to deny Busch his shot at glory.
The very next batter grounded out, ending the inning.
While many labeled it disrespectful or petty, others saw Marmol’s move as pure strategy. Why pitch to a hitter who had torched you all game when you could shift the matchup in your favor? Busch wasn’t just hot—he was unstoppable. And baseball, after all, is about winning, not handing out milestones to the opponent.
Marmol’s choice nearly paid off, too. By the 9th inning, St. Louis brought the tying run to the plate, suddenly turning the game into a nail-biter. Cubs fans may call it trolling, but Marmol’s defenders call it smart baseball.
Twitter (or X) became a warzone after the walk. Cubs fans accused Marmol of being “scared” and “salty,” arguing that Busch deserved his moment. Cardinals fans pushed back, applauding Marmol for prioritizing the scoreboard over showmanship. Some neutrals admitted it was both—the ultimate troll move wrapped in cold-blooded strategy.
In a Cubs–Cardinals matchup, drama is nothing new. But this moment poured gasoline on an already fiery rivalry. If Busch continues to dominate against St. Louis, you can bet Marmol’s decision will be remembered—and relived—every time these two clubs meet.
For now, the intentional walk lives on as one of the most talked-about decisions of the season. Was it a petty denial of history, or a brilliant tactical call?
One thing is certain: in the battle of Cubs vs. Cardinals, even a single walk can turn into a firestorm.
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