I know I haven't posted in a while...just testing the text feature.

Opening Thoughts

Baseball is officially back! While it may have begun a week ago, it doesn't really being in St. Louis until the opener. When those ponies with the giant feel and braided tails make their entrance then you know it's baseball season. So, no matter how lax I have been at updating this space, I can't let Cardinals Opening Day go by without a comment, or a few.

Opening Day is special. It is special in baseball, it is more special in St. Louis, where else do 100,000 people (or more) take the day off work to hang out and celebrate? Oh, and only about half of them actually have tickets to the game.

Opening Day is special to me, because it was special to my dad, and special for us. I have written numerous times here about the role of baseball, Cardinal baseball, to my dad and I. We went to countless openers together. I think of him every time the Clydesdales come galloping onto the field and the players take a spin around the warning track in the Ford trucks. I miss him everyday and especially on days like today. So here they are (my thoughts):

-I love hanging out at the Gateway Grizzlies booth as we have done for the past nine years now. People know that is the first place you can get a Grizzlies schedule every year and they search us out to get one. Pretty cool. This is a baseball town, not just a Cardinal town.

-I usually stop by the Hacienda tent for an obligatory (and complimentary) margarita. My aunt's family owns the place, and my cousin Katie always hooks me up. They were swamped today and I couldn't get there. Sorry Katie!

-I have been to plenty, but today was the 8th consecutive home opener that I have attended. My good friend Gina at the Cardinals has made sure that I have been able to see the last two. I haven't missed an opener at the "new" Busch.

-I sat by myself. Well my ticket was a single ticket, but you are never by yourself at a Cardinals game. I sat next to a group of older women who all have 10-game packages. I don't even know the lady's name (although I know her husband is Bob!). Anyway we chatted most of the game. Our seats were in foul territory down the left field line just before the pole. Second deck. In the third Albert Pujols comes to bat with two on. She said, "This one's going right there, right in the (visitor's)bullpen." I replied, "I'll take that." and laughed. First pitch...Pujols hit it in the bullpen!

-Two friends of mine got engaged today about an hour before the game, on the bridge that overlooks the ballpark, and used to connect the parking garage with the old stadium. I bought them each their first beers (in the park).

The weather was perfect, the beer was cold (I had one too), Albert went deep, Wainwright was outstanding, and the Cards won on Opening Day.

Ahhh, welcome back baseball in St. Louis.

Guess Who's back

I am, and Matt Holliday is. And I am thrilled.


Maybe I am not being a realist, but foremost I am a fan. A Cardinals fan. I make no apologies, I am, always have been, and I always will be a Cardinals fan. And as a fan I am thrilled at the re-signing of Holliday. The Cardinals opened up the wallet and spent some money on THE best free agent available. Period.


You can tell me all you want about how they spent too much, about how the contract is too long, and about how now they won’t be able to sign Pujols. I will have none of it. NONE.


My colleague (I guess I can call him that) Randy Karraker made a perfect point last night prior to the SIUE basketball game, just hours after the Holliday announcement: If the Cardinals say they can afford it, then they can afford it. Bill Dewitt is a business man and if he believes this is good business then it is. It was what it took to get him locked up and the Birds should be applauded for doing what was necessary to get it done. To the injury possibility I say so what. In six years in the Majors he has proven to be durable and healthy and there is nothing to suggest he won’t stay that way. Yes I get it there is always the possibility of an injury, so be it. That possibility exists with every player that steps on the field. If we were so worried about POSSIBLE injury then no one would be signing anything but one-year deals. And if you think this means that now that may not sign Pujols I will disagree with you there too. It goes back to the business thing again. Now the Cardinals have proven that they WILL do what it takes to sign the best free agent available. When the time comes there won’t be a better free agent out there. Bill Dewitt understands that Pujols should be a Cardinal for life. Now we have the precedent set that the Cardinals will pull the trigger on a deal. The fact that Holliday signed for a 17 Million and change a year, which is a little less than everyone originally thought the per-year deal would be is another good sign. Maybe it means it will bring the average value of the Pujols deal down. Maybe not, but as I said that shouldn’t make a difference. I have more confidence than ever that there should be no issues inking him when the time comes.


You may as well hand the NL Central Division title to the Cardinals now. Barring some unforeseen circumstances the Cards should be the prohibitive favorite for the foreseeable future. Two of the best starters in the league, two of the best hitters in the game. Case closed. Now what it means for the post-season is a little less clear. Certainly nothing is guaranteed in October, but you have to get to the “tournament” if you want to win, and the Cardinals certainly appear to have punched their dance card.


I am a Cardinals fan, and I am thrilled.