(Image source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

BY SAM KOROTKIN

ANCHOR ANA COMPAIN-ROMERO

You're watching multisource sports news analysis from Newsy.

Out with the old- in with the new.

The St. Louis Cardinals now have the youngest manager in Major League Baseball- 41-year-old Mike Matheny. Some are surprised with the hire, as the former MLB catcher has no experience as a coach or manager at any professional level.

But ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick says it’s not a shock, but the new coach does have a lot of work ahead of him.

“After Robin Ventura got the White Sox job, we shouldn’t be surprised that a charismatic former player with no experience landing a job like that, but he’s walking into a pretty tough spot, I mean he’s replacing a guy, Tony La Russa who’s third all time on the managerial win list.”

Matheny spent 13 years in the MLB as a player with four different teams, including the Cardinals. His nickname as a player- the toughest man alive. Andy Strickland of KFNS radio appeared on KSDK in St. Louis with the message-- the tough man will face some early challenges.

“He’s got a veteran ballclub with proven all stars coming off a World Series championship so the challenge will be, for Mike Matheny, is that coming into this season assuming Pujols comes back if he does come back, then its World Series or nothing less, and that’s where the big challenge is for Mike Matheny.”

Matheny won four Gold Gloves for his defensive efforts as a catcher, and has served as a special advisor and minor league instructor for the Cardinals. Why’d he land the gig? Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post Dispatch explains.

“Matheny represented the least-experienced candidate within the field but won the job largely because of a reputation for presence and leadership cultivated during and after his time with the franchise.”

With the coaching question answered-- another mystery remains unsolved in St. Louis. Will Albert Pujols be a Cardinal next season? Jon Morosi explains how giving Matheny the job will effect Pujols’ big decision.

“Pujols has a good relationship with Matheny… they were teammates for four seasons and have similarly strong Christian beliefs. But the hiring of [Cardinals’ third-base coach Jose] Oquendo would have been symbolic, in suggesting the Cardinals will do whatever they can to keep Pujols happy.”

The last manager without previous managerial experience to make a World Series- Alvin Dark for the San Francisco Giants- in 1962. But Aaron Schafer of the Riverfront Times says it’s too early to judge the decision to hire Matheny.

“I don't really like what Matheny brings, mostly because I have absolutely no idea what that is. We won't really know much of anything about Mike Matheny the major league manager for at least a year or two from now, so to go on and on about his skillset and philosophy would be, at best, disingenuous.”