Kickstart your morning with Randy Karraker, Brooke Grimsley, and Dan McLaughlin weekdays from 7a-10a! ‘The Opening Drive’ will be your home for all sports talk in the morning on 101 ESPN!
[Applause]
good morning everyone and welcome to the
opening drive on a Friday Eve in St
Louis it is 7 o’clock your time check
brought to you by Clarks and Jewelers
and officially licensed Rolex Jeweler
Brook Grimley is here Danny Mack is here
Matthew Rocko is here I’m Randy carer
it’s great to have you with us on the
heels of another Blues Victory how we
doing kids I’m doing great the blues we
just can’t give up on them can we well
there still alive and they won’t go away
and they just won’t go away uh yeah
still makes it fun oh it does the blues
are alive they need three wins in their
final three games and they need the
Vegas golden knights to go one and three
in their remaining four if that happens
then your St Louis Blues will be the a
seed in the NHL’s Western Conference
playoffs for 2024 they have totally
exceeded my expectations by the way I I
didn’t see them doing this I thought
they could make a playoff off series and
if they got to a second round that was
the ceiling but uh to have three games
to go and still be mathematically alive
I give them credit for that I just look
back at the the games near Christmas I
look back at the games against San Jose
and if you win those games you’re in the
playoffs San Jose was a big one the
games right before buuy got fired were
huge the Columbus and Chicago games
there and they lost to Vegas then too
and you could have played with them so
yeah there’s a lot there but the blues
did win last night so we’re going to
talk talk about that Greg aminger is
going to join us at the bottom of this
hour to talk some baseball Bernie federo
the Hockey Hall of Famer at
815 uh Robert Thomas will join us at
8:45 to celebrate this Blues Victory and
the Cardinals have a travel day to
Arizona wish I had a travel Daye Arizona
today to get away to the warmer weather
you had one uh what about a month ago
you were on vacation I can go back there
that’s your place that’s where you go
although it is supposed to be 80° in St
Louis over the weekend is it really yeah
yes so can take it it’s like Master’s uh
weather here in St Louis it kind of is
at the moment but they have delayed to
the Masters this morning because of bad
weather I’m happy that means when we get
off the air we can go home and get ready
to watch the Masters hopeful hopefully
that’ll be the case last night over at
Enterprise Center hope you got to your
seats on time if you had tickets for
that game because the blues scored early
and often Blues get it ahead Kyu moves
it in shoot
score long outlift stretch patch
connects to kyou kyou puts it in 204
into the opening period one- nothing
Blues goes loose behind the blues go
Tyler Tuckers there moves it ahead but
navage out of the Zone side to kyou kyou
in shoot
score kyu’s got two the blues are up to
nothing 1714 to go period number one
Sammy bla off the end boards held to the
wall by Jones alexandr gets into to
strip the puck on the line with Walker
to Kastle Far Point Krug straight away
now
score Tory Krug with a wrist shot from
the Blue Line blues will bring it in as
Braden Shen takes a hip check there from
Jared tenori Blues get it to the far
Wing
score bulldo tight angle behind the post
and it’s 4 nothing Blues as tardi starts
to PW at brayen Shen in the corner that
came at 659 of the first period the
Blues fourth goal kyou with a couple of
first from Ley and Hofer second one from
sad and buich and then Krug scores from
kessle and alexandrov buluk from Thomas
and Shanner Thomas also scored a goal in
the third period from Shen and buluk and
the blues roll over the Blackhawks by a
score of 5 to2 overall a very impressive
night Joel hoer between the pipes for
the blues and they needed this one
obviously they need every game the rest
of the way but I’m intrigued by Jordan
kyou because throughout the season we
have talked about would they trade him
would they consider trading him and I
think there’s just too much talent there
it’s too much of a gamble to move that
guy it really is and right now he has 29
goals that I believe right now on the
season now of course you look at last
season he had 37 goals but don’t you
think it’s safe to say that he could
surpass 29 goals maybe get to
33 goals is that fair enough about a
goal of game 32 29 33 1 how about a goal
of game for the rest of the season
you’re saying he’s not going to score
two goals like he did for 42 seconds
apart like last night maybe he will the
guy that I love is Robert Thomas now
Robert Thomas with another goal last
night I I look at him as being a 30 35
goal scorer before it’s all said and
done he became the first blue to record
83 or more points since pav demitra
going back all the way to the 0203
season so congratulations to Robert as
Randy mentioned we’re going to visit
with him the thing I was disappointed
with last night if there was anything I
wanted a good oldfashioned brawl me too
and scor four goals on four shots which
is what the blues did it was a historic
start to the game it’s the blues and the
Hawks and it’s like eh nothing really
there was a little dust up with Braden
shin and that’s it I thought okay this
is it we’re going to get back to oldtime
hockey we’re going to get back to the
Rivalry of the Blues and the Hawks four
goals at quickly someone see need to
send a message and then it’s going to be
an allout brawl and we got nothing do
you feel like it’s still a rivalry at
this point of course it’s a very
historic rivalry but with the Blackhawks
they haven’t been that great I know that
this season you have Conor Bard and he
is the star of the NHL right now the
young star that is but other than that
they really don’t have any other Talent
surrounding him now you did have a big
moment with Tyler Tucker with that hit
on Conor Bard and that was talked about
a lot so I liked that aspect but I would
like to see some oldfashioned hockey
there I thought when Tori and bla got
into it at the end with 30 seconds left
I thought we were going to get the old
school gles
flying I like the uh it was it it was
the uh was it
s St Valentine’s Day yeah Stevens and
Manson right yes that was awesome that
was good as hockey guy that’s it that’s
what it used to be and it’s just not I I
couldn’t believe that we didn’t see more
of a physical game after that fighting
not just physical but fighting after
that it’s just like you lay down and you
go well they scored four goals and you
know that’s just the way it’s played in
this day and age make it fun for the
fans Bob pler used to say that uh the
blues and the Hawks would be standing
before a off at one of the dots looking
up into the stands to watch the fights
because the fights in the stands were
better than the fights on the ice that’s
old time hockey that old smoke above the
arena and people coming in ready to
watch a fight maybe get into one you had
the Hawks jerseys in the crowd loved it
that’s the way it was so the blues beat
Chicago they take on the Hurricanes
tomorrow night and that’s a pregame at 6
action at 7 for you here on 101 ESPN
meanwhile yesterday at the Ballpark the
Cardinals fell to to the Philadelphia
Phillies although the Cardinals had a
chance uh throughout the the course of
this game they missed some opportunities
they gave Philadelphia a run early
unfortunately for the rookie Victor
Scott II but uh the the Cardinals fall
in the finale of the three- game series
to the Phillies by a score of four to3
okay you’re six and seven without Sunny
gray making multiple starts you’re
missing edman and Newar missing two key
Bullpen arms and Middleton O’Brien would
you take the start of six and seven even
if you don’t have have those injuries I
would have taken six and seven to start
the season just because of the schedule
yeah yeah really I would have as well
because I think that that’s something
that at least I didn’t expect I don’t
think many others expect it as well now
yesterday to me in my opinion that was
possibly a winnable game for the
Cardinals and it was just a lot of
mistakes not a great day as you
mentioned for Victor Scott II you hate
to see that happen I mean he had that
first ending inning Fielding error which
led to those two unearned runs for Lance
Lyn and he also had his eighth inning
base running Gaff that proved to be
really costly there but he’s staying
with the club even with Lars Newar
coming back yeah I think he could stay
for a while I mean I don’t know who
would take his position at this point
but where is the offense where is Nolan
arado right now he hasn’t homered in 38
games and guys I just went and looked
this up because his swings are just
there’s something going on with him he
hasn’t barreled a ball this year not one
wow he has not barreled a ball gold
Schmid’s hitting 182 with 16 strikeouts
and the other guy you got to look at
right now who’s kind of getting
overshadowed because the corners aren’t
doing it is Jordan Walker yeah Jordan
Walker has 27 balls in play and I was
curious about this remember why he was
sent down last year well they wanted to
get more balls in the Air Drive the ball
he’s too big of a guy not to have balls
that are going Gap to Gap in home runs
27 balls he’s hit in play he’s got 16 on
the ground so that’s nearly 60% he has
to get the ball in the air that’s just
the way the game is played whether you
like it or not and those three that Trio
they have not hit if they hit I think
they win some of these games but you
know would it could have should have you
got to hit and here’s the thing the
Braves are averaging 6.9 runs a game
early small sample size right the
Cardinals are averaging only 3.85
there’s only four teams in the National
League that are averaging fewer runs per
game than the Cardinals and for those
three names right there that you
mentioned Daniel that’s inexcusable
because you you have a guy who was the
top or one of the top two prospects in
baseball before last year and you have
these two guys that you’re paying one of
them getting 35 million the other guy’s
getting 26 million those are the guys
that you’re counting on and not only are
the numbers bad but the look is bad
you’re right the metrics are bad for
those guys too so they’ve had three runs
in five consecutive games for the first
time in franchise history and three or
fewer in eight of the 13 it’s just not
going to cut it you know the middle of
your lineup’s got to be very good the
other thing that should not be
overlooked is Andre Palante and when I
watch Andre Palante it looks like he’s
pitching for his major life like he
doesn’t look relaxed out there and
something’s going on with Zack Thompson
now he he was able to get through it did
a good job not taking that away from him
but his velocity is we down the
sharpness of the breaking ball at times
is there other times it’s not but
something’s kind of going on with him
with this team right now which one
concerns you the most we talked about
Victor Scott II and his I his batting
average is what right now it has to be
extremely low but I think it’s like 075
they didn’t give him a hit by the way
when he turned left at first base
yesterday that was counted as a put out
yep for Alec B and that broke in it
snapped what an o0 for 24 streak I
believe that he had going on so which
one concerns you right now the most
Victor Scott II Jordan Walker Paul gmid
or Nolan arnado well you can send here’s
the way I look at
it Scott is not ready and you can send
him down and hopefully get him ready the
big one for me because we we’ve seen
Paul gold Schmid have bad starts before
Jordan Walker theoretically should be
able if you coach him properly uh and
you’ve got to work with that’s why you
have a hitting coach for young hitters
to get have them get better but Dan the
the one you mentioned and it goes back
to last year is Nolan arnado who had to
end the season remember he ended the
season on the iil because of an injury
and you wonder what’s going on with that
body and like you said DN with that
swing yeah he just does not look
comfortable now to his credit is
uncomfortable he as he is looked he’s
still getting hits I think he leads the
club in hits but the one to answer your
question Brooke for me is gold Schmid
182 16
strikeouts historically a slow starter
and if you if you’re the Cardinals you
hold your your hat on that and say well
he’s going to get better but he has to
be if this team’s going to go anywhere
and let me point something out Dan you
know this better than I having been
around the team for so many years when
you get to the stage of ronado and gold
Schmid hitting coaches have nothing to
do with you now if you go to the hitting
coaches they will help you out but in
terms of The Hitting coaches coming to
you veteran hitters and and a guy like
Turner ward he he was a veteran hitter
the the hitting coach doesn’t go to
hitters and say hey let’s work on this
those hitters they kind of handle it
themselves they’ve got their swing they
they’ve got the reason that they’ stayed
in the majors and that they’re making
all that money so those two specifically
I would not blame the hitting coaches I
know we’ll get text saying blame the
hitting coach but I don’t think it
applies here yeah and when they go to
the hitting coach more times than not
it’s it’s looking at video trying to
break that down and then going to the
ballpark early before anybody arrives
and sit there and take BP and say this
is what we need to do what are you
laughing at I’m laughing because I
remember going so many times when we
were at camx and I would get to the
ballpark at 1:30 to do my sports cast i’
from 2:00 to 6:00 in the
afternoon completely empty Ballpark and
you’d hear the f
word yell and then you walk up the seep
there’s Edmonds yeah every single time
you need a popup and just he’d be
cursing and it would Echo throughout the
entire Ballpark and to his credit he put
in the work he sure did and there are
guys I’m sure that Goldie and arnado are
putting in the work I I never doubt that
it’s just it’s got to get better it’s
got to get over the hump to where now
you feel comfortable when you’re in the
batter’s box and I just don’t see them
looking comfortable at the plate
especially ronado yeah especially with
him and the Cardinals maybe for those
guys just a good mental health day as
they travel to Arizona take on the
defending national league Champion
Diamondbacks tomorrow in the first game
of a three- game series and and after
the Diamond Backs they get Oakland at
Oakland that’s when you get on track
yeah that’s when you get your wins
hopefully the Masters is supposed to
start this morning and that has been
delayed already so uh no Masters updates
for you this morning and that’s okay
because it’s going to be all day it be
it’ll be perfect yeah the rain’s
supposed to go away and then we’ll have
beautiful weather and sit my butt down
and watch the Masters all weekend it’s a
beautiful thing and it looks like uh sh
otani’s interpreter is maybe in some
trouble going to be charged federally
for stealing money from sh Otani now by
the way and we talked about the access
of he had to show otani’s accounts
apparently changed the notifications so
when he would take the money out it
never showed up in an email or a
notification to show I saw that report
coming out and so then it makes you
wonder maybe it’s not that crazy that
shotani didn’t know to the full extent
and the other thing is if you’re Major
League Baseball what else do you need to
do I mean the federal authorities are
involved you when the federal
authorities are involved you just take
the the lead from them and say that’s
that is our investigation they they’ve
already done it for us if you’re Major
League Baseball you go yeah we don’t
have to do this and this guy’s still the
face of everything and don’t look it
reminds me of Lesley neelon with the
dumpster fire behind don’t there’s
nothing going on here yeah exactly it
still feels like though we need some
more clarity cuz the stories are all
over the place I just feel like we need
a full report and maybe that’s what’s
going to happen here towards the end a
full report a full breakdown of how this
all went out yeah at some point it’s up
to shoh right to reveal how his he’s not
an ignorant ignorant person but how he
was ignorant of the situation and how he
needs to be more careful and maybe this
can be a teaching moment for every
player in Major League Baseball that
makes a lot of money you know I also
think he needs to come out and talk
about it just come out talk about it
make sure that when he does that he
addresses the situation and then puts it
to bed and moves on and becomes the face
of and is the face of Major League
Baseball and you did briefly and it was
just a very short written statement but
I get to your point of actually
answering questions from reporters ex
exactly and Rob Manfred did last night
had a late press conference uh to talk
about the
situation that’s Rob Manford the
commissioner of Major League
Baseball that really is that’s really
how they feel right now they’re like
please please stop stop looking at this
he’s going to play this season does it
surprise you guys that he is still able
to play the season even with an active
investigation going on right now it
shows you how good he is and how focused
he is yeah I’m not surprised at all you
just let him go and wait for the the
authorities to do their research and
investigation and until that comes out
then he keeps playing yep he’s he’s
really good no I’m I I had a comment I’m
not even going to use it uh so probably
a good thing yeah we’re what were you
going to say now
no you usually put a stop to this okay
I’ll wait till we’re off the air I’ll
wait till the commercial break I’ll do
it when we come back for sick of it here
I’m 101
ESPN
e
e
e
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[Music]
it’s time for sick of it here on 101
ESPN get your text into the Air Comfort
Service text line that line is 314 399
9646 3 314 399 yo ho yo ho oh Dan is on
board you know what I’m sick of I’m sick
of the other shows on this station which
include the balloon party be careful and
BK and ferrario and the fast lane not
buying in to the ease and the Simplicity
of Yoho I’m going to leave that I think
the whole station oh I’m definitely
leaving that whole station should be on
board with Y ho on your phone well they
need to come up with their own dance
though so that we can really have some
separ here yeah we are action-packed
here in the opening drive I’m going to
leave that Randy um different segment
but go ahead I think oh yeah well I’m um
yeah whatever SI of it and you’re
leaving that yes I am let’s go right
ahead well it’s moments like the Masters
this weekend where you have all of the
world’s best golfers back together again
all the big names back together and it
reminds you just how ridiculous it is
that we have this conflict still going
on with the PGA Tour and live golf so
it’s such a distraction it’s so
disenchanting to the fans we’re talking
about every single sport is trying to
figure out how to get new fans re-engage
fans and golf is losing fans because
they are so tired of everything going on
behind the scenes with the PGA Tour and
live golf so I am just sick of it I want
to see a merger I want to just see this
come to an end so that we can enjoy
moments like this weekend where you have
the big names the world’s best golfers
all back together again I I’m in total
agreement I think this is the most
important Masters that we’ve ever had
and I I know that’s kind of a bold
statement when you say well you’ve had
the return of Tiger Woods you had his
first ever Masters you had Jack Nicholas
in 1986 he had Bubba Watson shot uh that
he had I mean there’s been great moments
but getting the best in the world to see
how they come together it’s just a great
reminder that these guys need to be
together every single weekend so that
you have the name brand of some of these
individuals at top the leaderboard every
single weekend the real tournaments are
being won by people that shouldn’t be
winning them and the real players are
playing in tournaments that don’t matter
so that’s the problem that you have
right now with exibitions yeah they they
are the 54 hole the team golf the you
know what I know this sounds stupid
because I never wear long pants unless
it’s really cold when I play golf but I
just think it looks unprofessional when
those guys wear shorts on a pro golf
event I I’m with you I I guess I don’t
mind it all that much if that’s the
least of my worries I still don’t like I
don’t either and so I’m with you I think
we need to get back to the the class of
the the PGA Tour and that includes all
of the best golfers in the world being
together every week all right I’m sick
of the lack of the Cardinals offense
third lowest average at 219 third fewest
home runs at 11 third lowest batting
average with runners in scoring position
eighth lowest Ops currently right now in
baseball it’s got to get better if this
team’s going to win I think that Dan
you’re saying that to a lot of fans and
how they feel right now because you want
to see that and we do understand if you
want to do the Tony Rus a drop right
here Randy it is still early on in the
season I know he say it’s the first week
and I do get that it’s very early on
here but there’s some concerning
patterns that are carrying over from
last season we talked about noan arado
earlier where he hit the injured list
and just seems like he just looks off
still you have Paul gmid still off to a
slow start now some of the younger
players like ion Herrera has been great
and so it’s great to see some of the
younger players taking I guess I
wouldn’t say the most of the load of
what’s happening right now but it also
shouldn’t be all on them to do this
right now offensively for this team back
in 1986 the Cardinals lost to Jack Clark
and right after Clark got hurt so white
he said boys it’s just not going to
happen this year and the Cardinals wound
up with the fewest runs in the league in
1986 3.8 which is right about what
they’re averaging right now
and ultimately what Whitey decided to do
is have the batting averages taken off
the scoreboard so the player go up and
have his position and his name so we he
didn’t have to look up and see that he
was hitting 190 well there’s a bunch of
those yeah I know so maybe when the
Cardinals come home if this is still the
case what they need to do is just take
the numbers down okay you got a lot of
numbers just take them down if they’re
bad uh Matthew what do we got on the
text line I’m sick of how the higher ups
at Target have been steadily increasing
their prices on stuff over the years no
you don’t get 30 bucks for a plain white
T-shirt I want a three pack for for 13
bucks sick of it oh that’s very specific
there it was it is I like it it’s it’s
an interesting thought I never really
thought of I I didn’t realize that you
used to buy one t-shirt at a time what
would Uncle Randy say Uncle Randy would
say get over it you you’re going to need
three t-shirts ultimately so deal with
it everything want to buy theive yeah
everything is getting more expensive
right now though yeah because the higher
ups at Target want want want toine want
to line their pockets Target’s really
really taking it to everybody right now
I do understand the frustration grocery
shocking grocery shopping is the thing
that shocks me the most no matter where
you go it feels like for just two people
walking away if I want to create a
healthy meal I’m like what in the world
is going on now it’s like $200 a week
think you need to avoid healthy is that
what it is I just go have McDonald’s
every day yeah there you go even that’s
increase I’m really sick of people
yelling get in the hole every time a
professional golfer hits a shot I’m with
you there I kind of like it
not every shot not a not a on a 394 yard
Par Four yeah but even those guys might
get a hole in one wor he’s done it yeah
you if you watched the rder cup there
was a hole that was like that and guys
were going for the green isn’t that
amazing yeah um they they talked about
it yesterday as their kind of State of
the Union Address with the Masters they
think that that’s going to go over 8,000
yards at some point 8,000 unreal uh I’m
sick of how the Blackhawks swarm every
player who lays a big hit on Bard I
wouldn’t be sick of that if I were a
Blackhawks fan I think you have to do
thate is just cringed I’ll bet you bman
likes it absolutely you need to keep
your stars that’s why you have fighting
that’s why you have enforcers which you
don’t have anymore but that’s why you do
have fighting is to protect the best
players on the ice yeah I by the way
Tucker might be an enforcer you think so
it seems like he has that demeanor in
that skill set maybe
so sick of Ky carving up the B
bad The Bad teams where are you when we
play good teams somebody’s got to carve
up the bad
teams you go oh come on 29 goals this
season guys you want to beat them too
and fairness he wasn’t really scoring
them many against the Sharks was he no
not not enough but he wasn’t the only
one sadly that’s the other part of that
right yeah I I just wish he would score
86 and just score against everybody kind
of like uh number 16 yeah that’s where
you’re going with this that’s totally
where I’m going even if kyou would give
me 70 which during the early 90s that
was a bad year for hly do you see Alex
oetkin had his 18th 30 goal season crazy
it’s it’s unbelievable and he’s had
quite a stretch run here too thank you
Matthew thank you and thank you very
much for your texts we do appreciate it
coming up Greg aminger MLB Network
joining us as he does every Thursday
here on 101
ESPN
e
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this is Rocky with your sports center
update driven by Johnny LOL Chevrolet
and Johnny lond autolex a big game last
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came to play early and often ripping off
four straight goals in a 455 span as
they win the game 5 to2 over the
Blackhawks they get a Little Help From a
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Blues in action tonight but you can stay
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technically in the way of the blues will
face off against the calary flames in a
late game if you you are doing some
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other hand also on a travel day today
they beat they lost to the Phillies
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start a series against the Diamondbacks
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me
Brook Dan Randy the opening drive on 101
ESPN and when Jackson holiday got the
word that he was being called up the
other night Matt holiday started looking
for flights couldn’t find any from
Stillwater uh so that he could make his
way to his son Matthew or Jackson’s MLB
debut in Boston it was hard to get there
so Matt holiday had to call in a favor
and get a friend who owns a plane to fly
him to Boston and Greg aminger is on the
line right now how did it feel to get
that phone call from Matt
[Music]
holiday I’m telling you when I hear all
these baseball players travel stories
which throughout the years of their
careers they sound awful once again I’m
reminded how lucky I am that I was never
good enough to play in the Major
League pretty lucky h huh oh my goodness
it sounds grueling I mean those long
chartered flights when they’re playing
cards and eating and drinking whatever
they want no thank you not for me hey
Greg before we get to the Cardinals
let’s talk about the the Jackson holiday
debut even though he went 0 for four I
know that you have high hopes for him
how good do you think Jackson holiday
can be well look how good do they think
he is they they called him up before
April 13th which which means they’re
counting on him finishing in the top
three for Al Rookie of the Year and
every step along the way he’s passed
with flying colors he should have made
the team out of spring training after
hitting over 300 a few home runs playing
sparkling defense and and for anyone to
watch him try to catch that popup last
night in Shallow right field the Bermuda
Triangle as they call it and drop it
windy last night in Boston second Bas is
not his natural position so we see all
of these kids get moved over to second
base Bryce terang last year with the
Brewers who off to a terrific start in
the South for season to me it it takes a
while for those guys so let him kind of
ease into that I was a bit surprised
that gunar Henderson’s holding on that
spot at short because I think Jackson
holiday can play over there he moves
around to me like Francisco Lindor and
he’s gonna be a very similar type of
player I think he’s gonna hit for more
average than Francisco Lor he’s faster
than Francisco londor he’s a star in the
making and uh good for for Matt holiday
and his family and from everything I’m
hearing his other son who’s still in
high school who’s sitting next to him is
like the truth he he’s the LeBron of
baseball on his way he’s a right-handed
hitting taller version faster version of
Bryce Harper and by the way that that’s
coming the holiday family is going to
take over baseball I I want to mention
this Greg because people last year when
Matt holiday
abruptly turned down the the Cardinal
bench coach job after accepting it last
night is the reason that he turned down
that job there was nothing nefarious
here he wanted us to be able to
celebrate these sorts of things with his
family he could afford to do so and
there was nothing with the Cardinals
there was nothing with the team that
caused Matt holiday to not be the
Cardinal bench coach it’s all about
having the opportunity to see Jackson’s
Major League debut to work with Ethan as
he approaches being the number one pick
in next year’s draft that’s why Matt
holiday isn’t a cardinal bench coach you
do not get these games back you don’t
and and good for Matt I do the same
thing I’ll tell you a personal story as
broadcasters we have agents we’re we’re
similar in a way of of athletes except
where just not athletic and and we
negotiate contracts I in my contract my
last three contracts my daughter started
to become a very good basketball player
in high school I submitted her
basketball schedule every year it was
actually language in my contract that
they would do everything in their power
to let me have that day off to go watch
her play and that has remained the same
throughout her college basketball career
she’s a division three player at swore
College in Philadelphia and this stuff
matters to me there if you have the
means to do it you’re not missing a game
I I’ve been able to sit at and watch
some of the greatest sporting events of
all time I’m a blessed man but I would
pass up any ticket to sit Courtside and
watch my daughter or my son play
basketball my son’s also a competitive
golfer watching golf to watch your kids
compete is a dream come true it’s better
than actually playing yourself it’s
matter of fact 10 times more
nerve-wracking so I I completely
understand why he did it every fan
should understand why he did it Matt
holiday is a family man if you know him
he is obsessed with his family great
dude I was so happy to watch him have
that Dad moment last night Greg taking a
look at the Cardinal Sunny Gray’s debut
might have been limited but he didn’t
look Limited in his capabilities on the
mound the other day what did you see
from his first start as a cardinal you
know it’s weird Brooke every time he got
a strike out every time he stranded
runners and he walked off the mound with
zeros on the board you know what I saw I
saw Randy carer’s face all I saw was an
image of Randy carer who was saying to
to all of us that I don’t think this
guy’s a number one I just kept thinking
about our dear friend and as I kept
watching go out there I know he only
pitched five innings but I hope everyone
saw a snapshot of what’s to come he’s
going to be a great starter for the
saint Cardinals gamer of a guy when you
meet him he fits the culture of what
Cardinal baseball’s about his Tails
wagging when he shows up to the yard
even though he probably got the last big
contract of his career the Cardinals do
their homework I think the way the
starting rotation is performing right
now is as expected and it’s a a dramatic
improvement over what we saw last year
it’s going to be headlined by many more
starts from Sunny gray that’s just one
this is this is good this is being
executed the way the front office dreamt
it would be and it’s going to end up
okay St Louis I know you’re going to
wake up this morning and you’re going to
see the Cardinal logo at the bottom of
the NL Central standings they’re only
three and a half games out they’re
getting their bearings there’s still
some young guys on this opening day
roster they’re trying to figure it out
this team’s talented they’re going to
win the central now go ahead Randy I
just want to find out if Greg is
surprised that Sylvio Martinez hasn’t
been voted to a red jacket status yet by
oh my goodness I swear Randy I swear I
mean this is just I mean you have so
many weapons in your
that you come out and use on the radio
my goodness man I I love I love what
Sunny gray did I people think that I
don’t think he’s good because I don’t
think he’s ma Sherer or Justin Verlander
or Garrick Cole or Clayton Kershaw I I
don’t think that he is a number one
number one I don’t think he’s one of the
top four or five aces in the league that
doesn’t mean I think he’s a bad pitcher
I just think that the Cardinals need a
legitimate number one if they’re going
to win a World Series I I I I agree with
that win a World Series yeah and they
need more than just a legitimate number
one I I I think you have to win the
marathon before you can talk about the
Sprint and if they can get to the trade
deadline a top the standings and now we
start to reimagine a few spots in the
roster to to to compete in October and
maybe win a World Series then you
reassess you got to get there and this
was the smartest way to get there now on
the flip side you got to look at the
offense and the lack of production in
particular ronado Goldie Walker what do
you and the guys on the set seeing with
that Trio you know I’ll tell you this
Dan I if the weak links are the three
names you just named I think you’re
feeling much much better about it I mean
ion Herrera is a special player a 23y
old catcher he’s got a play and there
aren’t many catchers that age that get
thrown into the middle of the order and
then you see why they’re thrown into the
middle of the order uh there’s a lot to
Dream On he look is vior Scott going to
eventually get it going yeah it was so
hard to see him you know what happened
at first base yesterday the infield
single it’s eventually going to happen I
don’t know if he’s running out of time
with new bar Edmond on the men maybe
with Dylan Carlson at some point will be
back in the mix this is a lineup that we
haven’t seen click yet top to bottom uh
Donovan’s also a terrific start but
we’re still waiting on guys and I I I
think that’s a good sign the fact that
they’re as competitive as they are right
now uh the biggest Bugaboo is what we’re
going to get from the starting pitching
it looked good early on in my estimation
I think Ryan Helly looked better than
he’s ever thrown uh lately he looks
terrific great man I’m I’m good I like
what I’ve seen from the pen I like what
I’m seen from the starting rotation
overall and if if the worry is Goldie
and ronado that’s going to definitely
figure itself out so wait till it’s all
going in the right direction Cardinal
baseball is going to be a dominant force
in the central I keep saying it I’m
bullish about it but I’m really
believing in this roster CG last year
the Pittsburgh Pirates got off to a
start similar to the one they’re off to
this year and then after June they wound
up tanking and and buying wound up 76
and 86 are this year’s Pirates better
than last year’s yeah I think they are
because of the experience they had last
year uh Derrik Shelton’s a great
baseball man he is a terrific manager uh
he has a lot of similarities to Tori
lella in my eyes and when the
Diamondbacks lost over a 100 games and
Mike ha was going through all those
horrible offseason issues his wife dying
it was a terrible uh Vibe right there
with the Arizona Diamondbacks I kept
saying there’s no way to lell gets let
go you can’t fire a manager for a a
roster that is not ready to compete yet
lell was a great baseball man leader of
men I truly believe that he’s one of the
best in the business even when they lost
over 100 games I put DK Shelton in that
same category I think he’s that great of
a communicator and to me when players
know that your manager’s got your back
and this guy’s on the top step on every
pitch and he’s ready to go fight for his
guys I I I think he’s he’s leading them
in a in a very slow drip Direction last
year was disappointing after the way
they started but because they have that
experience and there’s so many faces
back from last year’s team and O’Neal
Cruz looks like the real deal by the way
like real deal and Ellie deor Cruz by
the way in Cincinnati another gigantic
short St getting it going again another
home run yesterday these two guys are
changing the game of what we see and
what we trft about at short but Cruz
looks like he’s here to stay uh Brian
Reynolds was a smart Steady Eddy sign to
have him locked up for a while I don’t
know if Henry Davis is the long-term
Patcher that’s a question mark But for
them it comes down to the starting
pitching when Paul sk’s deuts the former
number one overall pick if you’re
excited about Jackson holiday and you’re
a baseball fan you got to tune in to
watch Paul sches and easy easy oneon-one
come out of his hand I mean it looks
like he’s playing long toss when he’s on
the mound it is fun to watch this kid
pitch he’s on the way the Pirates are
going to be in the mix I had them over
500 when the season started finishing
third in central they’re going to have a
winning season this is a team that
they’re going to everyone in the central
is going to have to deal with Greg I
know it’s something that you’ve seen and
it’s hard for Cardinals fans to see as
well other players going on after they
leave the organization doing well Jordan
Hicks is rolling as a starter for the
Giants and Tyler O’Neal is just
absolutely mashing for the Red Sox who
do you predict is going to have the most
successful season this year oh that’s a
really good question I would not be
surprised if both of them were an
Arlington for the All-Star game uh I I
think overall Jordan Hicks is just a
really unique unque Talent uh the Boston
Red Soxs have a ton of Outfield depth
young outfielders so to me the second
Tyler O’Neal goes into a bit of a skid
who knows if they’re going to be so
loyal to him and they’re not going to
play one of their many outfielders they
have at the Triple A level and even at
the big league level I I I just think
Jordan Hicks needed the commitment as a
starter and he got it from a team he
never played for which is mindboggling
to me but the San Francisco Giants had
to think outside the
to Rebrand themselves and they’re
getting back to what worked when they
won three World Championships even
though it’s a completely different
regime if you go back and look at those
teams that were led by Bruce Pochi yeah
they had Buster Posey that was a you
know from the farm system kind of star
they Struck it big with him there was a
bunch of guys that weren’t offensive
juggernauts there were no offensive
superstars on that team and they didn’t
hit many home runs matter of fact one
year they won the World Series they had
the fewest home runs in the National
League but they were built on starting
pitching and both then and what you’re
looking at now while the Rogers twins
are up to a bit of a slow start they’re
the setup guys for the San Francisco
Giants you got to believe in the track
record of their pen and I love what
they’ve done in the starting rotation
Robbie Ray’s gonna come back at some
point you’re GNA get cob back and with
Jordan Hicks with this Reclamation
project of you know what we’re going to
give you a multi-year contract we
believe in you as a starter the way he’s
thrown so far through three starts that
contract looks like the bargain of the
off season uh you can’t Overlook stuff
he always had it had maybe the best
stuff naturally of any pitcher in the
game and the Giants were willing to take
a risk and unfortunately there’s so many
front officers including the Cardinals I
hate to say it that are are are risk
avoidant they do not want to roll the
dice with anybody because they have so
many other options but I love watching
an organization kind of hitch their
wagon to somebody’s future and go and
have the accountability to syn with him
if it doesn’t work and that’s what the
Giants St with Jen Hicks worst case
scenario you got a flamethrower coming
out of the bullpen I thought it was a
brilliant move he’s enjoying it and I
think to answer your question Jordan
Hicks is here to say and the Cardinals
are gonna have to watch this guy compete
like this for for a few years what’s the
theory going around on Major League
Baseball as to why there’s so many
injuries with these starting pitching uh
really good guys that are out there hard
throwers less than hard throwers just in
general the starting pitching and the
the epidemic that’s going on with these
guys getting hurt so I I know you know
this this guy and he’s one of my best
friends I love John Smoltz Hall of Famer
I call him former Cardinal John Smoltz
and I was on the phone with him
yesterday for quite a long time
apparently he was interviewed by the
athletic and they’re gonna do have a
major write up but John went off on this
topic and he cares a lot about this
topic look you’re right there are a lot
of guys hitting 100 miles an hour
hitting 101 hitting 102 but there are
probably one to five% of those guys that
were literally built that have the DNA
to do that their body shouldn’t be doing
that so we’ve got all of this incredible
technology off the field to get kids
that were never meant to throw 100 miles
an hour that don’t have the the actual
tissue the muscle mass to do it we’re
getting them ramped up to do this to do
something they were never meant to do
and they were shocked and their bodies
break down so I call the regular season
of baseball Marathon for a reason
there’s no sport like it to have guys
compete in a marathon even if you’re
pitching every fifth day or you’re a
bullpen guy and you’re now throwing
multiple Innings to do it for the span
of seven months to get your body ready
to do it at a high level for seven
months you’re doing something thring a
baseball unnaturally in a way that you
were never meant to throw that hard uh
inevitably you’re gonna break down and
that’s the way John schz looks at this
he’s not over focusing on the pitch
clock he’s not over focusing on the new
baseballs he’s not over focusing on the
height of the mound he’s not focused on
anything but the fact that there’s an
obsession with velocity and spin and
every front office is
overflowing with humans that never
played humans that never played the game
and this is where we’ve gotten this is
the result of of a of a sport that has
people that have never played that are
valuing people that play monetarily
giving them contracts of what they think
is valuable and pretty much letting the
world know what they value what they
think is important and when it comes to
pitching it’s not it’s not length it’s
not pitchability it’s not Jordan
Montgomery we want a flamethrower
reliever who can go four to five innings
and that is going to get you paid and
that doesn’t that’s not sustainable it’s
not going to work long term and if there
is a guy that you say is working long
term he’s probably already had Tommy
John or he’s about to have his second so
to me I’m with John Smoltz on this I
think
over fixation on velocity and spin and
we’ve got to get back to the day
where the irony of it someone like Tommy
John could walk onto the mound and
compete at a big league level and right
now if a guy like that walked onto a big
league mou you would think it’s timer’s
day at the Ballpark that’s real thing so
we’ve got to get back to a day where
someone who can manipulate a baseball
through an 80 to 85 miles an hour has a
place in our sport finally Greg before
we let you go I brought up Sylvio
Martinez earlier his Cardinal debut May
30th of 1978 at New York six no hit
Innings he only allowed one hit over
nine against the Mets and I believe
because of that he should be fitted for
a red jacket just like Sunny gray should
oh my goodness time out there’s a
commitment to Sunny gray a multi-million
dollar commitment so there was a bit of
pressure on his shoulders when he
finally made his first start in cardinal
red so for him to come out and pitch
like that we should not be joking Randy
we should be recognizing that the
Cardinal made a good decision so far
we’ll see how it plays out but I’m
feeling very good about the sunny gray
of 2024 I think it’s going to be a
banner season for him and I think the
Cardinals are going to enjoy their Ace
their number one Sunny gray I love your
positivity and he was great let’s give
credit where credit is due Greg we’ll be
tuned in as always when you’re on MLB
tonight thanks so much for the time we
appreciate and have a great day all
right guys take care see you see you man
that is the great Greg am singer of MLB
Network a native of St Louis and a
product of the Lindenwood University
here on 101 ESPN we’ve got a quick toi
coming up get your text in 314 399 9646
314 399 yo take it or leave it next time
101
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it’s time for take it or leave it want
to say something put it out there if you
like it you can take it if you don’t set
it right back get your text into 314 399
9646 and give us your take it or leave
it ront You by Gloria Lou realy visit
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or leave
[Music]
it Brooke Dan Matthew and Randy take it
or leave it okay kids the Masters will
start today and so far statistically
this year and actually for the last
couple of years Scotty shuffler has been
the most dominant statistical golfer as
dominant as Tiger Woods was in his
Heyday take it or leave it if you were
hopping on the FanDuel today and betting
the Masters you would bet Scotty
shuffler and give everybody else the
field I’m going to leave that I don’t
have him winning my Master’s cool so
that’s why although I do have him in
contention how could you not I would be
stunned if he’s not there on Sunday
afternoon do you want to R R who you
have I’ve got Bry and dambo oh that be F
yeah I got Bry and dambo so to ry’s
point Sheffer and just hear me out here
Strokes gained T to Green per round he
is number one and to put it in
perspective it is Tiger esque because
the difference between one and two which
is Xander Schley is larger than between
number 20 and number 109 in the world
amazing I mean that’s how well he is
ball striking right now if he can putt
he wins the master there’s no doubt yep
and you you really have to putt well to
win The Masters absolutely we just
talked with Greg am singer about how
painful it is to see Jordan Hicks doing
so well as a starter for the Giants he
has a one ER right now guys and my big
question take it or leave it he will
remain a starter for the rest of the
season for the Giants take it yeah they
signed him as a starter he’s doing well
as a starter I think he continues as a
starter yeah so and they’re they’re
going to get some guys back they’ll get
Robbie Ray back they’ll get Alex Cobb
back uh but yeah he’s he’s the best
starter in the national league right now
so yeah he’ll they’ll keep him there
think going back to the Masters we
talked so much about live against the
PGA Tour take it or leave it Phil
Mickelson Liv will finish ahead of Tiger
Woods Patrick Reed will finish ahead of
Justin Thomas and Bryson D Shambo will
finish ahead of Scotty sheffler so I got
live guys doing some damage here I’m
going to leave that last one I I don’t
think that tiger makes the cut I think
there’s a chance that Phil does I I
think Phil does finish ahead of tiger
and uh P Reed and Justin Thomas yeah
JT’s been playing a little bit better
but this course sets up for Patrick Reed
so I’m take it for that yeah just not
the last part makes it fun you got some
villains out there Patrick Reed is
number one on my list Oh Captain America
he bet you yeah all right Matthew what
do we got so you’re saying Phil’s going
to have a better round than tiger all
right just make taking some notes over
here you see Phil’s last nine at the
Masters last year was like a 32 yeah um
but I’m I’m looking on um my Underdog
and right now you can get um tiger at uh
plus or minus or higher or lower 73 and
a half Strokes today and Phil at 74 and
a half Strokes think I’m going to take
the the lower on Phil 74 and a half take
it or leave it Walker and Scott are gone
when Newton Carlson are back you can’t
have two automatic outs in the lineup
leave it leave it leave it they already
made the corresponding move Pedro pz mhm
Pedro PES yep he goes down to minor
leagues it’s going to be interesting
though is what you do with Victor Scott
once not only Newar but when you get
Tommy Edmund back and you get Dylan
Carlson I think that’s when it gets
really interesting with the last two I
just mentioned I’m kind of concerned
about when they get Tommy Edmund back
what are you going to get yeah well and
when yeah you know June 1st I could well
we’re pretty close it’s April 11th now
so that’s you got to figure he’s going
to be game ready maybe in a he hasn’t
even he’s allowed to hit right but or
swing but not hit so when’s he allowed
to hit and then he needs he didn’t have
any spring training he had didn’t have
an offseason at all so when’s he going
to be ready I’d say a two-e rehab
assignment and if he feels good and is
hitting well he gets maybe a jump ahead
of where we’re talking about right now
but I’m with you Randy I think it’s
going to take a while I think the
biggest concern is that it just
continues to be setback after setback
and you keep hearing of the lingering
pain yeah that’s that’s not good right I
think I’m in the minority here I didn’t
think and I’m probably wrong but I
didn’t think Victor Scott should have
been out at first base yesterday when he
went past past the bag you have to make
a commitment going towards second base
now that commitment could be a half step
and kind of a jab step going towards
second yeah you’re in Fair territory
you’re out I I didn’t see that I I
didn’t I didn’t think he should have
been out I agree but I think sometimes
umpires like to make a point with young
players maybe so and I could definitely
see that although the reaction of
everybody everybody there was like yeah
you did it there was no one step but he
did it yeah also In fairness to that
texture he did mention Carlson as like
and I I guess it’s their thought process
is if you get Carlson and Newar and you
have two guys who can play center field
then you may me go back and you
rearrange the roster or Scotts then get
sent down because of that depth there as
soon as Edmond’s up there then it’s yeah
all holes bars uh take it or leave it
kilan mbappe or earling halan one day
wear City red totally take it I’m going
to leave that that that would be like
your sunny gray I mean if you got inba
yeah no that would be like getting uh
it’d be like having Otani on my
team it cost you about a half a bon
it’ll cost you about half a billion too
I’d get a I I would get a kit I would
contribute to the cause you already have
one well but I I would get an mbappe kit
oh for them to sign mbappe that Kit’s
going to cost you
$2,800 that’s fine every everyone that’s
F everyone in the city is gonna have to
buy one I’ll even get socks and boots
shorts and everything do they call them
shorts uh or is it just part of the kit
I can’t imagine what the else they’d
call it jumper that’s a British thing I
don’t know uh I think I might be a shirt
one more uh T leave it cards get to 90
wins if they stay healthy leave it leave
it I’m going to leave it I think this is
who they are yeah even with the lack of
offense I just had them around a 500
team and 500 is going to be fine enough
like or not in the Central Division I’m
with you I think 81 82 wins and you know
what they all they already haven’t
stayed healthy yes so we have to take
that consideration yeah there there are
the way baseball is thanks so much for
your text we do appreciate it coming up
is playing the last two National League
Championship Champions Philly and
Arizona a referendum I don’t know how
good the Cardinals are that’s next time
101
ESPN
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a fresh perspective on the day’s top
stories it’s the opening drives fresh
[Music]
take 808 in St Louis time check brought
to you by Clarkson Jewelers an
officially licensed Rolex Jeweler Bernie
federko coming up in our next segment
the Cardinals just dropped two of three
to the defending uh well the 2022
National League champion Philadelphia
Phillies now they take on the defending
national league Champion Arizona
Diamondbacks Philadelphia a different
looking team than they were two years
ago obviously because they’ve added Trey
Turner and they’ve changed their
starting pitching around also although
we did see the guys that beat the
Cardinals in the playoffs a couple of
years ago and Arizona is going to be
interesting although they don’t have the
guys that they got to enhance their
chances again in 2024 because Eduardo
Rodriguez and Jordan Montgomery have yet
to pitch but that being said you do have
the last two national league champions
is this a referendum on how good the
Cardinals can or should be or is this
just typical April baseball here’s the
thing is that it’s better than what
thought that they were going to do
especially when you looked at that early
portion of the schedule you were able to
take one away from the Dodgers and they
could have actually taken another there
but then with the Padre’s for them to do
that and then you win back-to-back
Series against the Padre’s then the
Marlins and I would have liked to be
able to see them close out that series
finale with the Phillies but there were
some self-inflicted mistakes that they
made there that cost them the game I
think if you’re looking for some
positives and this is what I want to see
is this team better defensively this
season because last season was so unar
characteristic of the Cardinals
defensively that it just added to the
big pile of things that were wrong with
them defensively they look way better
they’re second in the league in double
plays per game and first in the National
League in that category as well and they
look really good the bullpen now scratch
Palante of course as we talked earlier
the bullpen does look better I love the
addition of Andrew kitd we talked about
how adding that veteran presence really
just anchors that Bullpen and another
positive is I’m excited to see what
sunny gry looks like without a pitch C
out now the big concerns are your big
guys Paul gmid we talked about what he’s
not able to do right now and noan arnado
I understand that you need your younger
players to really rise to the occasion
which players like Avon Herrera have
been able to do and I’m talking about
offensively but the brunt of that really
should be coming from your big guys in
Nolan arnado and Paul goldshmid and I
have some concerns there I would say in
the Philly series it’s a better look
than what it was last year and the
Dodgers series as well now you lost both
both of those so let me let me preface
everything by saying you either do or
you don’t yes you know you either win or
you don’t but they battled and so you
had the Extra Innings game uh in game
one of the series with the Phillies you
beat wheeler three to nothing that is
something that is significant in my mind
and he had a tight game yesterday
barring the airs against arinola so they
battled I mean they they shown at least
as opposed to what they had last year a
chance to win these games and again you
didn’t that it comes down did you win or
did you lose and they didn’t um but it’s
it’s better than it was a year ago and
and if you can hang around with some of
these teams and hang around in some of
these games you’re going to win those
last year they did not um but it comes
down to the offense getting going and
we’re only 13 what 13 games into the
season they’re six and seven but there
are some signs that I would say and
they’re not healthy I mean they’re
they’re missing some of their guys that
they’re going to count on every day it’s
better is does it need is it where it
needs to be no but is it better than
what it was a year ago I’d say
yeah and last year they let’s see after
they’d be blown out of some of these
games yeah after 13 games they were five
and eight but to your point Dan they
they were getting blown out or at the
very best allowing a bunch of runs they
allowed 10 runs in their opener last
year they haven’t allowed double digits
in a game yet this year but they they’
lost games 8 to four four to nothing 6
to won 7 to4 they they won a game 9 to6
so they were allowing a ton of runs last
year and I think the biggest change that
the Cardinals had made is the obvious
one in getting Gibson Lynn and gray and
their starting pitching has been better
but the other part of it is is that
their Bullpen has been reasonably solid
so far too
and I I’m one that looks bigger picture
I I I’m not going to judge players that
have been around for a decade on 13
games sure you’re you’re concerned but I
I’m I’m much more of a big picture
viewership guy when I when I talk about
offense and hopefully those guys will
rise to the level that they’ve shown
over it’s old gold Schmid arnado that
they have shown over the course of their
careers and not what they’ve shown over
two weeks Goldie is just five of 40
since he had his three hits on opening
day and I do get that I feel like we’ve
seen statistically especially for him
early on throughout his entire career
that it takes him a little bit to warm
up that’s what you want to see it’s just
hard to watch right now when you know
that offensively the possibility of what
this team can do and they’re not able to
accomplish that right now the thing is
too like in the Philly series the
Phillies on the flip side look at it
from their perspective they found ways
to win those games and they came in and
they’re now hitting 180 with runners in
scoring position so they they’ve got
their issues too the back end of their
Bullpen hasn’t been great at times but
they found ways to win and if you’re a
championship team or a winning team you
find those ways to win those games like
you had at the home stand with the
Phillies and to that point if the
Cardinals can go and win two out of
three against Arizona and you play 500
against the last two national league
champions then I think does say
something about your ball Club it really
does and when to your point Dan it felt
like last year you were waiting for them
to manufacture some runs in any way
possible find some way to win and at
least show some aggressiveness so that
is a positive to see from this group
early on so one start from Sunny gray
missing Edmund Newar missing two key
Bullpen arms Middleton O’Brien and you
are under 500 you’re six and seven
that’s okay I mean it’s early in the
season you’re showing a competitive
nature to this team which is something I
I just wanted to see in a general sense
we can break down all the numbers you
want but in a general sense I want to
see them be competitive but again you
either do or you don’t they’re going to
have to win some of these games that’s
today’s fresh take Bernie fko the Hall
of Famer joins us next year on 101
ESPN
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all right no Blues no Cardinals tonight
but but we do have the Masters starting
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in this first round we’re going to go
higher than Rory’s 71 and then we’re
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all the ways to play again if you want
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RI Grimley D mloa Randy carer great to
have you with us on the opening drive on
101 ESPN the Hall of Famer Bernie
federko joins us of course he’s the
blues analyst on balet Sports good
morning Bernie how are you doing good
morning Randy I’m doing great thanks
good okay you are one of the nicest
people in the world but tell me this in
your heart of hearts do you just love
seeing the blues crush the
Blackhawks I think everybody does I
think that’s just always sweet been has
been it goes back such such a long way I
actually right now I kind of feel sorry
for the Hawks right now it’s hard to say
that but that was a pretty visible
performance by them last night they’ve
got a long way to go they’re rebuilding
I know but uh uh that was pretty ugly
for them and uh hey I guess it looks
good on the Hawks you what they’ve had
their share of good good times Bernie
that that was their 50th loss of the
year that’s just in an 82 game schedule
it’s amazing to think that that was loss
number 50 for them I know 50 they can’t
score goals and I mean uh you know I I
don’t think I don’t know the last time
Randy there where I watched the game
where the first four shots on goal went
in uh I don’t know and that doesn’t
happen very very often but yeah they
there there’s I mean they’ve been shut
out 13 times this year and I guess I
mean they’ve had a lot of injuries as
well they’ve had a lot of guys out of
out of the lineup in out of the lineup
so I mean when you look at the blues
what we’ve lost 42 Man games and they’ve
lost 340 Man games so it makes a big
difference when you’re not a healthy
team but uh uh you know what we we get
to to to laugh unfortunately we don’t
get to laugh enough because uh we going
to be able to you know kind kind of make
something almost impossible that happen
and win the last three games and see La
and and and Vegas lose so that we can
maybe get a playoff spot but hey it is
what it is and we just have to continue
to to Watch What Happens well Bernie as
you mentioned with the win last night
for the blues and the Vegas loss last
night they’re still alive in this thing
are you surprised that they’re still
alive considering it seems like they
were starting to turn the page with some
of the younger players coming in and
you’re dealing with some injuries right
now Jake neighbors day today Justin
Faulk out likely for the rest of the
season are you surprised that they’re
still alive in this well not really
Brooke I mean when you looked at the
schedule I mean they should have I mean
these these last few games I mean they
should have won I mean they ended up
getting a point in in in San Jose but
they they beat San Jose or lost to San
Jose in overtime they didn’t get a point
but they beat Anaheim they beat Chicago
I mean those are the games that I expect
to to win I mean those teams are the
lowliest teams in the league so you
expect that to win but um you know I’m
surprised that what’s been going on with
with with both well especially Vegas I
mean Vegas has really really struggled I
know they get some people out of the
lineup but I mean uh you know they went
into Arizona last week and they gave
what six goals up in the third period
and end up losing that game they had a
4-1 lead you give up six goals and lose
seven to four in Arizona and then they
lost in Vancouver lost at Edmonton last
night no Conor McDavid last night for
Edington they still lost five to one or
what it was so that’s the team that’s
surprising me right now because I mean
they’re the defending stany kep champs
uh but I think the bad news for for
blues fans is that both LA and Vegas
have got four games left each and
they’re all four of them are home for
each team so that’s going to be make it
very difficult for the blues but um you
know the blues I give them a lot of
credit they they continue to fight they
get the young kids are are getting
involved and uh this is still it’s
playoff crunch hockey they’re not in the
playoffs right now but uh I think the
pressure is on and and I think this is a
good learning process what are you
seeing out of the Blues offensively and
I I asked that Bernie because they’ve
scored five goals for the second
straight game fifth time in the last 10
games what are you seeing in the
difference with what they’re doing
offensively well Danny I think it’s the
the competition that they’re against I
mean you’re playing against Anaheim
you’re playing against Chicago both
teams don’t defend very well so I think
that’s part of the reason the offense
there but I mean I think Robert Thomas
went through spell where he he struggled
uh the last couple of caves he’s he’s
kind of come through I mean Kyu the same
way but I think it’s more against the
competition that there that they’re
against that you’re able to score goals
but um you know right now I mean bister
has been kind of mixing up and matching
the lines and trying different
combinations and I mean Shen back on the
left side with Thomas is with B duuk
that that line has played very well I
mean kyu’s come kind of come out alive a
little bit shooting the puck and getting
his opportunities but uh you know
offense is is a crazy thing it’s it’s
it’s kind of confidence you score a goal
early or get involved early and all of a
sudden you get a good scoring chance it
goes in and I think you get more
adrenaline you you keep up to scoring so
uh whatever it is I I can’t can’t really
put my foot on I wish I could put my
finger on and tell tell tell every team
what you have to do to score every night
but it it’s just kind of a funny thing
you go through Peaks and valleys and
right now uh with some of the guys
they’re just on a peak Bernie on the
flip side last night was Joel hofer’s
26th start he’s been great 2.72 goals
against a 914 save percentage are you
sold on Joel hoer now as an NHL
goalie yeah he’s he’s done a great job
you know for a rookie season uh I think
that he’s still probably going to have
to learn some some a few things I mean
he handles the puck very well I think
last night he was a little over
aggressive coming under the de a number
of times uh making the plays up there
and I think that’s something that you
can’t do every each and every night but
uh I I am sold on him I think that the
tanm that the blues have right now with
Bennington maybe the best in the NHL
both guys are are are can be very very
uh steady they don’t allow uh what I
would call goals that that kind of get
everybody on their head on the bench to
they put their heads down because oh
here we go again can’t believe uh that
we we’re seeing a goal like that so I
mean uh but Joel is has been absolutely
outstanding and and I can’t I mean I’ve
been talking about Bennington all season
long so uh the goal on this team is is
is very solid for the future Bernie I
asked my two co-hosts this question
yesterday and I’ll ask it to you because
you’re a Hall of Famer and you know what
a winning team looks like if you could
add one element to this team doesn’t
have to be a player but one element to
this team to get him over the hump what
would it
be oh boy I think that a big uh
defenseman a defenseman that that that
can can kind of control I don’t know
what I what I want to call it like a
Norse a Norse trophy kind of defenseman
a guy like a Yosi or or a mar or
somebody like that I think would be
would would do wonders for this Hockey
Club uh you know what and I and I’d like
to see I’m just G to add something I’d
like to see uh you know some more
physical players a couple of guys that
kind of have have have an edge uh that
can still score but uh you know this is
a team that that that I think that uh is
is now starting to to believe in each
other and and I think it’s pieces that
are interchangeable that that can can
have an effect uh but certainly having a
defenseman that that that really can
light it up and and kind of take control
of the game I think that the teams that
have that type of defenseman are the
teams that really really kind of seem to
shine Bernie three games left tomorrow
the blues take on the Carolina
Hurricanes over at Enterprise Center and
we will be tuned in thank you so much
for the time we appreciate it thanks
guys you have a great weekend and great
Masters weekend it’s always the most fun
it will be great no doubt about it you
enjoy it too take care all right thanks
you guys thank you it is interesting
that we don’t need to mince words the
blues needs need Alex
petrangelo or that type of player yeah
that’ be pretty good kind of a
Difference Maker and just some rugged
guys the physical nature chippy kind of
players the the cliches that you hear
but that’s what they need in my opinion
we were talking about it yesterday and
that’s what I want to see the word
rugged applies perfectly it’s a perfect
word for this right now who is the most
rugged player for the blues it’s Tucker
it’s Tyler Tucker there’s no doubt about
it yeah I think you could put torb
chenko sometimes up there yeah but
Tucker will scrap that’s the difference
you need more of that I think if you’re
the blues too you’re hope even though
it’s going to be a 30- goal season it
looks like for kyou and Thomas is going
to ascend in goal scoring which is great
and I think that that’s what you have to
look at too to supplement some of the
offense that maybe is lacking in other
areas they kind of pick it up again um
but just a rugged backend guy a number
one of now how hard is it to find a
number one it’s really hard yeah it is
so but that’s the kind of player that
I’d love to see them get and I think
Edmonson who’s actually played this year
I I don’t know if Edmonson is the guy
you know we’ve gone back to the future
already with bla and with uh with
sunquist but Edmonson was that guy five
years ago and he’s not old yet I don’t
know if he’s the guy but a player like
he was in 2019 well you had a
combination of players you had Sunny who
you knew was willing to go out there and
put up a fight you also had Robert borzo
who was doing a lot better at that time
he was a threat out there you had a lot
more guys like that on the team oh
maroon yeah yeah so yeah you could use
Edge you could definitely use that I
like rugged yeah it’s a good good word
for it it’s the opening drive on 101
ESPN coming up we’ve got the fight and
we need a fighter 314 399 9646 314 399
Yoo just text into that number with your
name in the word fight and maybe Matthew
will pick you to fight me next on 101
ESPN I guess that’s
fair
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this is Rocky with your sports center
update brought to you by salga Heating
and Cooling last night the blues with a
big win 5 to2 over the Blackhawks that
keeps them alive in the playoff race
they will not be in action today they
will have a game against the Hurricanes
that an Enterprise Center on Friday
night 700 p.m. PK drop if you want to do
some scoreboard watching the Kings do
play the Flames late late tonight on the
NHL slate for the Cardinals they lose
yesterday early to the Phillies 4 to3
they will also have an off day today
before they face off against the
Diamondbacks in Arizona starting
tomorrow in a three- game series
Friday’s first pitch is set for 8:40
that is your sports center update
brought to you by
s Heating and Cooling an independent
American standard heating and air
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dealer to the fight in the Red Corner
Average Joe listner and in the blue
Corner the Undisputed king of morning
drive please welcome Randy
[Applause]
[Music]
carer welcome back to the opening drive
Brook Dan and rock here and it is time
for the fight and our fighter today is
Tom Tom how are you doing I’m doing well
how are you guys today we’re doing good
is this your first time fa uh excuse me
facing Randy in the fight it sure is
I’ve tried a bazillion times this is
first time I’ve been successful all
right how are you feeling going into
it uh
skeptical you’re not the only
one a lot of people say that they have a
lot of skepticism on their own uh
chances to beat Randy so have a lot of
confidence get the puck deep get in the
greasy areas give 110 and you’ll be just
fine I’ll give it a Tyler Tucker try
that’s what I want to hear we go we like
that we like the scrappiness all right
you ready for question number one
Tom let’s do it happy birthday to former
Cardinal Pete cosma in which playoff
series did coso log the game-winning RBI
hit in the ninth inning was it the 2012
nlds versus the Nationals the 2013 NLCS
versus the Dodgers or the 2014 nlds
versus The
Dodgers the Great
TMA um
2014 so you’re going with C the third
option that’s correct okay which NBA
franchise starting in a different city
and with a different name than it has
currently is the oldest continuously
operating franchise in NBA history the
Lakers the Kings or the
Clippers I do not watch the
NBA uh let’s go with
the Lakers Final Answer final answer
question
three there have been 87 Masters
champions 63 representing the United
States which country ranks second with
six wins across four winners is it Spain
South Africa or England South
Africa wow that was quick you feel
confident are you a golf fan I am a golf
fan and I don’t know that for fact but
it sure seems like I’ve heard South
Africa a lot okay here’s the final
question when Cardinals Legend enus
Slaughter was traded to the Yankees
which eventual Rookie of the Year
winning outfielder did the Cardinals
receive was it Wally Moon bake McBride
or Bill
[Music]
Veron these are tough today man I think
Wally Moon was way after you know
Slaughter but I’m not POS with that what
were the other two choices bake McBride
and Bill
verden b bake
McBride all right let me go grab Randy
you a nice conversation with Brooke
you’re stuck with me I’m sorry Tom how
are you feeling not good not good were
you looking for anything in
particular no I like baseball questions
but I sure didn’t feel good about that
one yeah I know he put in an NBA
question and a master’s question it’s
Rock knows this stuff he knows um the
NBA question is an American history
question thank you very much oh my gosh
okay anyways Randy’s back in the room
now Randy say hi to Tom Tom good morning
how you doing doing well sir how are you
doing great thanks for listening thanks
for
playing you ready for question number
one Randy ready happy birthday to former
Cardinal Pete cosma in which playoff
series did coso log the game-winning RBI
hit in the ninth inning game-winning RBI
hit in the ninth playoff series
game-winning
hit I’m going to go with that uh 2012
game against the uh
natinal all right you ready for question
two I am which NBA franchise starting in
a different city and with a different
name that it has currently is the oldest
continuously operating franchise in NBA
history oldest continuing franchise in
NBA history that’s that’s right Dan I
think I’m going to go with the Rochester
Royals uh I’m going to I’m going to go
with them who are now the Sacramento
Kings I’m going to go with that one I
was going to say which turned into the
Sacramento Kings Cincinnati Royals
Kansas City Omaha
Kings uh Sacramento Kings all right I’m
going to go with them Final Answer uh
yeah I was thinking about uh Clippers
Buffalo Braves but I think the Braves
were kind of an expansion team I’m not g
I’m not gonna go with the Clippers I’m
going to go with the uh the Sacramento
Kings on to question three there have
been 87 Masters champions 63
representing the United States which
country ranks second with six wins
across four
winners this is an American history
question huh six yeah they’re both
American history question just a good
point American history uh six wins for a
country
huh um I think I’m going to go with
Spain I’m going to go John ROM you had
sevy you had uh uh there was another
Spaniard that I’m thinking oh uh uh had
three
names yeah olab that’s it that’s ol I’m
going to go with Spain all right
question four when Cardinals Legend enus
Slaughter was traded to the Yankees uh
the Junes uhhuh which eventual Rookie of
the Year winning outfielder did the
Cardinals receive
[Music]
oo okay so this is good I’m going to go
eventual Rookie of the Year winning
outfielder uh Ena Slaughter so I
wonder it’s got to be one of two guys
I’m going to go with Wally Moon I’m
going to go with moon over
verden is that your final answer yeah it
is okay you didn’t seem very confident
in that one I’m not confident in it no
cuz I know I know verden came up through
he was like a local guy came up through
the
organization I kind of thought Moon did
too but maybe they got him in the trade
I don’t know I’m just guessing well
let’s find out huh let’s do that yeah
all right we have a winner in today’s
fight we’re going to find out the
answers after I tell you guys the winner
was it Tom in his first shot ever at
Megamind or does mega mind bounce back
from A Loss earlier in the week with
another win today can I add something
here before you start sure go for it how
stupid not to take the lifeline there
okay go ahead you Lifeline left you did
you’re
right
Bell the winner and still champion of
the fight Randy carer the fight is
presented by Golf Discount of St Louis
with the most experienced Club fitters
in town why shop anywhere
else well Randy because you didn’t take
the options we probably didn’t play uh
didn’t get to hear Mr Buck today cuz I
you got three out of four correct and
Tom and Tommy skunked you he beat you 3
to0
today yeah I figured I laid an egg when
I heard ry’s answer yeah I mean you
could also listen just you go around
everyone and you know say I didn’t lay
Egg Rock laid an egg with the questions
that’s you got that always in your
pocket Rock laad egg with the questions
exactly thank you for admitting it put
that on wax and cut it off and go to
sleep to it make me feel s feel better
Happy Birthday to former Cardinal Pete
cosmet was in fact the ninth inning of
the game of the series clinching game
where P Cosmo logged his uh RBI hit in
the ninth inning for the 2012 win over
the Nationals in the nlds it is in fact
the Kings the longest continuously
operating franchise in NBA history they
started as a semipro team in 1923 in
Rochester and they went through all
those moves that we talked about last
week 87 Masters champions 63
representing the United States America F
yeah which country ranked second with
six wins across four wins so 63 down to
six it is in fact Spain and you got it
exactly right SE BOS has two um aabal
has two and then you have Rah and Sergio
bang bang to get to six total for Spain
okay let me do the lifelines here uh for
the last one uh Wally Moon bake McBride
or Bill verden okay I would have G with
moon you had two you would yeah um in
fact the local guy did not start with
the Cardinals Bill Veron was actually
acquired from the the Yankees in the
trade for Ena Slaughter here’s the crazy
thing about Veron he wins rookie of the
year one year after Wally Moon wins it
and despite the fact that he’s from
Missouri he went to jury University they
ship him off to the Pirates yeah and
then he and and that just breaks my
heart cuz even even moves back I was
reading his bio he even moves back to
like the KC side of the state and passes
away there too like Missouri in his
bones wins the Rookie of the Year with
the Cardinals and then get shipped off
to the pirates for the rest of his
career that’s a rough one for Bill Veron
but a good one for Randy today as he
wins three to go Tom thank you so much
for winning the fight or joining the
fight and joining the show
today thank you Tom he he was already
off other business when Bill Veron was
managing the Houston Astros he was out
with with a liver issue and he was away
from the team and Jack Buck is on the
air with Mike Shannon explaining why
Bill verden his out he said yeah he’s
got problems with his liver and uh we
wish him back soon and Mike says to Jack
how’s your liver and Jack said it’s
pickled and it’s there
forever by the way on him being a local
guy who was playing with the Yankees
they Yankees held an open try out in
Branson Missouri and they signed him for
uh
$2,000 wow there was a Yankee Scout
there he signed him for $2,000 and so he
didn’t get drafted or anything that’s
why he was in the Yankee system though
you know they even did uh open tryouts
like in the 80s for players that’ll
never happen again because there’s just
no room not enough room in the minor
leagues but that used to be how much
teams would comb the the landscape to
try to find a major league player think
about how red shanding yeah arrived in
St Louis bus stop to have a chance to
try out I mean it’s it’s amazing some of
the stories of the older players and the
money you talk about the train stop I
should say the fact that and uh Brook
and I if you have a chance to see the
yogi bar documentary check it out but
the fact that Yogi wanted the same bonus
that Joe gajola got from the Cardinals
Joe got $5,000 they offered Yogi 2500 he
wanted 5,000 from the Cardinals the
Cardinals wouldn’t budge and he goes to
the Yankees where they gave him they did
give him 5,000 think about if Yogi Bear
and Sam muil would have been on the same
team for like 15 years pretty phenomenal
yeah pretty phenomenal really would have
and it’s on Netflix if you want to go
watch that document it’s really good
really well done all right that’s the
fight on 101 ESPN coming up we’re going
to talk to Robert Thomas about the big
Blues win last night Robert Thomas is I
was going to go nickname but I’m not he
just likes Robert Thomas he’s going to
go Robert Thomas when you score as many
points as he has he gets to be called
what he wants that’s next on 101
ESPN
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Brook Grimsley Dan mcclin Randy carer
the opening drive on 101 ESPN and we go
to the celebrity line and blues Center
Robert Thomas joins us as he does every
week on the heels of the Blues 52 went
over the Blackhawks last night at
Enterprise Center Robert good morning
how you doing doing well guys thanks I
would imagine that you’re hoping for
what we’ll we’re calling it here a
miracle but maybe the the Hail Mary but
you got to win your last three to make
the playoffs how do you feel about it
yeah um yeah it’s obviously um you know
we all know it’s a long shot um you know
just looking at the standings and stuff
but um you know you’re never out clear
out and um you know we got a lot of
Pride and and character in our room and
um kind of no matter the circumstances
we we’re going to give it our best and
and try and win all three Robert some of
the younger players getting some more
ice time here recently including bul
Duke getting some Topline minutes with
you and shin last night his first
multi-point Affair of his NFL NHL excuse
me career what have you seen in his
progression yeah um you know I think
he’s obviously got a ton of scale um you
know that’s what got him drafted so high
and uh he can score goals make plays and
the thing I’ve been most impressed with
is he’s skating really well he’s
defending hard he’s you know he’s mature
with the puck he’s making smart plays
and um I think that’s something that
he’s developed um you know down in the
miners and I I like that he’s come up
and brought that with confidence and um
I think he’s doing an excellent job
Robert I know that you love hockey you
always watch it you study the history of
this sport uh you’re the first blue to
record 83 or more points since Pavo
demitra who is such a great player uh
here in St Louis and it has to go all
the way back to 0203 season when I say
that and and you hear that what does
that mean to you yeah it’s a it’s a cool
accomplishment I think uh you know I
feel like I got a lot more to give and
uh I’m excited for the future as
well what else do you have to give what
what would you like to do more
of um I think there’s a bunch of things
um you know I think I can be a strong
200 foot player I think I could still
improve on that um as well as a better
power play player uh I think that’ll be
a big step for me as well um but yeah I
think uh you know this you don’t really
know what your ceiling is and I’m I’m
excited to find out hey Robert when we
when we hear that from you we know that
you work with people during the off
season and you work with the greats and
you work worked with one of the best
that we ever had in the Blues uniform in
Adam OES but how much how much video do
you use when you and you watch people
like uh Gretzky or maybe the best blue
uh passer in Bernie fedko or guys like
oats or contemporaries like Conor
McDavid who’s there for a 100 uh assists
how much do you use video to improve
yeah uh I would say a lot um I’d say use
more more modern players um just is The
Game’s always changing so much but um
yeah I think you watch a guy like paner
and you watch a guy like COV um those
are guys that uh obviously McDavid flies
around at 150 miles an hour um I can’t
do that so I try and stick with you know
things that I I can do and I think those
are two guys that I watch a lot um just
the way they they handle the puck the
way they enter the zone and um you know
set up plays I think uh those are things
I can do you guys really set the tone
early last night four goals on the first
four shots of the game Jordan kyou with
back toback goals 42 seconds apart it
seems like he’s really heating up here
recently what are you seeing from him
yeah it’s exciting um you know this is
the the player we we always know and see
and um you know the last 10 games or so
he’s been he’s been on it and um that’s
uh really promising exciting to see him
back to his old ways Robert you get a
goal uh from the first shot then another
shot and there’s a goal then another
shot there’s a goal and then there’s
another shot and there’s a goal you ever
been in part a part of a game like that
with four shots four goals to start to
start a game no I don’t think I have
actually uh it’s pretty uh it’s pretty
exciting and what’s it like on the bench
what are you guys doing when this is is
happening what’s the
reaction uh I I feel like we thought we
could have got 12 goals that game um
obviously it doesn’t doesn’t work out
like that usually but um you know that’s
the feeling we had hey Robert I
mentioned your buddy uh Conor McDavid
how incredible is he and we we’ve talked
to you about playing against him but the
as a fan do you ever just sit back and
Marvel at what he’s able to do yeah um
even playing against them I mean um that
assist he had when we were up 21 was
ridiculous um the way he picked up the
Pu off the wall and spun around and then
you know cut to the net and slipped it
through two of us like that play was
pretty crazy so um sometimes you just
got to tip your cap and it’s uh it’s
pretty impressive now I know that you
guys are obviously very busy and focused
right now but are you a big fan of the
Masters and are you going to be checking
that out yeah I’m a huge golf fan so uh
I’m pretty excited for for this weekend
I know it got delayed this morning I was
looking forward to watching start but um
I’m I’m really pumped for the Masters
it’s best weekend so who do you have who
do you have
winning uh I got a couple guys
um I I really like Xander Shaw
I think he’s due um I think he might
have a good run at it well we’ll find
out you didn’t mention Scotty Sheffer so
that’s that’s uh out of the box I like
it you’re doing a little out of the box
thinking here yeah I mean Scotty almost
wins every single tournament so uh
that’s that’s the cop out
answer hey Robert one week left in the
season and this season certainly has
been one kind of a roller coaster ride
for you guys has this season gone fast
for you with even with all the stuff
that’s happened during the season yeah
uh Seasons always go pretty quick I
think the more and more you you play and
get as you get later in your career um
you know the seasons just keep going by
quicker and quicker and um yeah I mean
been a been a roller coaster but
um a lot of positive still to take from
this year and hopefully more just put
your head down win the last three
including tomorrow night against the
Hurricanes at Enterprise Center and then
you got the home finale against the
Kraken on Sunday thank you sir we always
appreciate your time and we’ll talk
again soon all right thanks guys see you
Robert take care Robert Thomas Blues
center with us on 101 ESPN he has had a
remarkable season I think a lot of
people around the league would say a
breakout season he’s regarded by a lot
as a top five Center in the league I
think actually he broke up before this
but this is the the season where he
really stamped himself as one of the
best in the league he really has and I
mean thinking about the workload that
he’s taken on you’re talking about him
being their number one center now now
would I like them to get another Center
here that would be great you need a
number two and it feels like that’s
something that’s another part that’s
missing you guys talked about another
big defenseman but Robert Thomas the way
that he continues to progress every
single year I think that’s where you
look at those big contracts you say he’s
worth every single penny of that El lead
passer I still think there’s more in the
tank in terms of scoring goals I you
know he could be a 30 35 goal scorer I
don’t think that’s outlandish
considering the kind of player that he
is and he just gets better and I I love
the fact that he studies the game you
know I mean here’s a guy that really
enjoys the game is always watching the
game and enjoys his role with the St
Louis Blues so good on him and let’s see
what he can do from here on out coming
up next year on 101 ESPN we’ve got the
rush hour reset including the Cardinals
with a travel day and the blues with an
unprecedented team record that’s next on
101
ESPN it’s time for a Draft Kings at Cino
Dino Queen Redbird report on 101 ESPN we
Grimley here for your Redbird report
costly errors leading to the Cardinals
dropping their series finale against the
Phillies falling to them four to3 Lance
Lin allowed two unearned runs in the
first inning but allowed just one hit
over five innings while striking out six
batters it was a tough day for Victor
Scott II who made his first error
dropping a Fly ball in the first that
helped the Phillies get their first two
runs of the game Andre Palante relieved
to start the six and did not retire any
of the four hitters he faced giving up
three singles in a walk that turn into
the other two runs for the Phillies your
red birds will have the day off today
flying to Arizona to open a three-game
weekend Series against the Diamond Backs
the Redbird report is presented by Draft
Kings at Casino Queen play Stay D at
DraftKings at Casino
Queen
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we are recapping the biggest stories of
the day on the opening drive with a rush
hour reset driven by RNR Tires visit RNR
tires.com to lock in your $20 tires
[Applause]
[Music]
deal it is 904 in St Louis your time
check brought to you by Clarks and
Jewelers and officially licensed Rolex
Jeweler hey we’re going to be at
Rawlings tomorrow the new Rawlings
experience at Westport from 7:00 to 10:
they’re opening that Rawlings experience
right here in St Louis at Westport and
visitors can experience the past the
present and the future for everything
baseball and softball the opening drive
Dan and I will be there tomorrow morning
for the grand opening at Westport you
can get all the details at 101 espn.com
Brooke has decided that she does not
want to join us tomorrow oh whoa whoa
whoa whoa let’s rephrase this in a
better way I I really wanted to I didn’t
realize this before planning another
bridal shower so that’s what’s going on
and you don’t really In fairness you
don’t get to plan your
own Bri shower no I I just was told to
date and I need to show up okay so
that’s that’s what happened it just
happened to coincide with this
spectacular event which I’m very jealous
but I’m telling you guys just anything
you might get maybe get me an extra one
please we’ll get you absolutely a
Rawlings item you’ll get it okay great
replica Gold Glove maybe or or a
platinum maybe and Azie will be there at
some point tomorrow right he will he’s
got an appearance at 10 hopefully we’ll
be able to get Osborne Earl Smith on the
show he’s got a few of those brawling
gold gloves he’s got a few yeah 13 13 of
them they were on display at his
restaurant back in the day yeah uh so
last night the blues were winners over
the Chicago Blackhawks 52 scored four
goals in a row on the first four shots
in the first 659 of the game Jordan kyou
had a pair Robert Thomas had one late
and the blues still with a slim chance
of making the playoffs Blues need to win
their last three games and Vegas can
only win one of their last four if that
would occur the blues would sneak into
the playoffs slim right now Slim is the
key thing here but you still want them
competing and that’s what they’re doing
currently right now so it’s all that you
can ask for the Blackhawks are a team
and Bernie mentioned this earlier that’s
not doing great this season but we have
seen at times this season for the blues
where they struggle to beat teams that
they should be beating so at least they
were able to do that last night so four
goals and four shots and then no fights
for a while I I just what’s going on
here man you got to have a a brawl of if
I’m Chicago I got a brawl yeah but it’s
been legislated out of the game I
understand that I don’t care if it’s
like the least likely guy to fight get
going I mean you just had four shots and
four goal you got to get your team going
it’s the blues and the Blackhawks let’s
go I want to get to you guys thought on
this okay and this is something
different than than the brawls but there
is a thought process that the blues
should just go from a retool into a full
rebuild okay the Blackhawks have done
that and in the last seven years they
finished in seventh of seven places in
the division six of seven seven of seven
six of8 seven of eight 8 of eight 8 of
eight man you never know how a rebuild
is going to go Buffalo’s been doing a
rebuild for about 25 years now and I
think that’s a big gamble for example
people suggesting that they trade
Bennington and go into a full rebuild
because you never know when that build
is going to be complete your player
evaluation team better be awesome you
better have the faith in them to grab
players in drafts and then your Player
Development better be awesome too it’s
it’s a crapshoot you’re not sure what
you’re going to get and I’m with you
Randy by the way there is an article
written about trading Bennington that
was floated out there that’s ridiculous
it is I mean that’s Insanity in my mind
he’s got to be here and if you have a
chance to get to the playoffs this year
even he would be reason number one in my
mind as to why you’d get there and that
Elliot fredman that put that out there I
think that that was just him just purely
speculating because if you also read the
rest of his report on it or his idea I
guess is the better way to put it
because it’s not much of a report he
kind of cited that it hasn’t been a
great year for Bennington and I think
that if you watched Bennington it this
season you actually watch him in a game
you realize how important he has been
for the blues this season and Freedman
would do well to go to the athletic
where one of their analytics guys give
them credit here but paid attention to
what Jordan Bennington has done and in
his three VZ candidates now obviously
Conor huk is the guy but he lists
Bennington as his number three VZ in a
candidate because he’s been so dominant
under bad circumstances this year and I
would extend the goal tending to even
what we saw last night with Joel Hofer
you’ve gotten a one-two punch out of
these guys and as you retool rebuild
whatever the case may be if you’re going
to get wins you’re going to have to
steal some along the way because your
talent may not match up with the best
talent in the league but one thing that
can be a steadying force for you
neutralizing that is your goal tender
right your goal tender can steal you
game so I I don’t I couldn’t see a
scenar area where he’d leave St Louis I
could be wrong but I wouldn’t do it not
a chance burn down rather than a reu at
that point let me give you a couple of
paragraphs from this piece by Jesse
Granger at the athletic the blues are
statistically one of the worst defensive
teams in the NHL they’ve given up the
fifth most high danger chances and the
seventh most Matthew expected goals per
60 Minutes despite that Bennington has
managed to save
27.6 goals above expected he’s the
biggest reason St Louis has remained in
the playoff chases as long as it has
it’s been a season full of spectacular
desperation saves for the 30-year-old
outside of having his leg seemingly made
of rubber how does bton do it many times
it starts with his ability to find his
edges from the butterfly like the
athletic save that he made on King’s
defenseman Mikey Anderson on March 13th
then he goes on to uh provide the the
statistics for Jordan Bennington so at
least he is getting recognized by people
that really follow him and the team as
one of the best in the league where
would the blues be without him yeah they
just answer that question he would not
be going into the final three games with
the play it’s that easy have you also
seen the reports reporting or coming
back out to the surface Brady kachuck
possibly a trade going on there do you
guys buy into it or not believe it when
I see it by the way it looks like I’m
watching our television here the patrons
not fans patrons the patrons at the
Masters have gathered and Fred Ridley
the chairman of Augusta National Golf
Club is ready to Signal the ceremony
ceremonial first te that shot and it’s
always a great moment at the Masters and
because of a weather delay the official
start will be happening at at 9:30 the
Cardinals yesterday at the Ballpark fell
to the Phillies 4 to3 Cardinals take two
of or uh take one of three from
Philadelphia they wind up going 500 on
their season opening home stand their
home season opening home stand and now
take off to Arizona well they’ll take on
the Diamond Backs for three this weekend
it was a very rough day for vict Scott
the second and in you know he had his
first inning Fielding error and it led
to two runs for the Phillies which is
why you see the two unearned runs on
Lance lind’s final line and then he had
that eighth inning base running Gaff
that really just proved costly there in
the end what do you think about Victor
Scott the second right now as we know
Lars duvar is coming back but they’re
not sending him down I think he’s
overmatched right now I mean I I just
think he’s overmatched now you don’t
have to send him down because some of
the other guys aren’t quite ready new
Newar and the corresponding move was
Pedro PES but I think even a bigger
issue with this club is their lack of
offense 13 games in third lowest average
at 219 third fewest home runs 11 third
lowest batting average with runners in
scoring position eighth lowest Ops now
you say well where where are you finding
that where are you looking at and the
big names are not coming through that’s
ronado hasn’t homered in 38 games gold
Schmid hitting
182 back to ronado he hasn’t had a ball
barreled this year zero and Jordan
Walker 27 balls in play 16 on the ground
that’s the issue that they had with him
last year if those three don’t hit
that’s why you have a lack of offense
and that’s the thing is that when you’re
talking about Victor Scott II looking
overmatch one through nine some of these
guys look overmatch right now and that’s
a big glaring issue that you have now
some highlights ion Herrera has been
great so far and also Mason wi I think
that those are two your big highlights
now those are your younger players you
shouldn’t completely rely on them for
your offense but at least you’re getting
something from them I was concerned
coming out of spring about Mason win
offensively and just what I saw last
year didn’t have a great spring which I
don’t put a lot of stock into but he he
looks the part man he looks relaxed he
looks like he belongs and when you feel
that way as a player usually you perform
and that’s what we’re seeing out of
Mason win by the way going back to goldm
his career high strikeout percentage was
25.1% in 2018 when he was 30 years old
with Arizona right now Goldie is
striking out 30.8% of the time 36 it
maybe it’s just going to take a little
bit for him to get going and it’s a
small and I mean in the in the look of
baseball it’s 162 games you’re 13 games
in and we have a job to do where we show
up every day and analyze every game or
take a look at the small sample size
that is 13 games but arado Goldie Walker
got to hit and if they don’t hit could
be a long year yep there you have it
that’s today’s Rush Hour reset here on
101 ESPN next up a couple of nights ago
the Masters had their masters dinner and
John ROM had a spectacular menu but
we’ve got better ones and they’re next
on 101
ESPN
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it is the opening drive on 101 ESPN and
every year the defending champion at the
Masters gets to put together a menu of
his favorite food for the Master’s
dinner
and every year the menu is released to
the public and John Rah uh from Spain
had a really Spanish Centric menu no
problem with that I don’t have you guys
have any problem with it with the menu
that he turned out I love p no not at
all I love paa okay yes P do you want to
explain what the menu was on there here
here’s on his menu uh and I can’t tell
you in detail cuz it would take too long
but uh his U appetizers included be
chistor KH Pata uh IAL he had a bunch of
cool stuff that first one is the AO ham
which is the best ham in the world okay
he his main courses were either a basque
ribeye or uh White uh uh turbo fish with
white asparagus and then he had a puff
pastry for dessert that was his mom’s
secret recipe and it was served in honor
of Mr John Ram it looked really good it
looked good so we decided to put
together our
uh Master’s menus and I’m taking care of
you guys I just I want you to be happy
this is our uh I’m sure you put more
thought into this segment than you have
anything else Cardinals offense Blues
four goals four shots yeah there’s no
doubt about that D you I figured as much
so we’re starting with Fenton Bar and
Grill trash wings I love the Signature
Golden sauce and Ranch on the side
Grande nachos it’s a nacho bar by the
way it’s a nacho bar has it ever been
done before
I don’t know if it’s been done at the
Masters but it’s been done at the 703
Club at w stadium and it’s absolutely
delicious yeah I’ve heard a lot about
these trash wings from Fenton bar grill
and that would be at Fenton bar grill
one of your great yeah Chuck Nash is
coming to austa with me to prepare them
though I was wondering about that you
got to have it fresh you got to bring a
team to do this yeah by and by the way
would you guys like to have the uh the
nacho Fon with
guda I’m going to pass on that okay so
we’ll just do the the nacho bar okay uh
shrimp cocktail got to have shrimp
cocktail with a lot of shrimp and then
uh my salad’s going to be just a regular
Caesar salad with really good croutons
okay okay and by the way one other
appetizer uh cheeseburger
sliders it’s been done in the past at
the Masters yeah so that’s going to be
really good so we got the wings we got
the cheeseburger sliders we’ve got the
Grande nachos at on the nacho bar shrimp
cocktail Sal healthy right now yeah big
time and then the Caesar salad there
that’s where we’re going with the
healthy get a little uh Green in there
by uh oh one other note about those
cheeseburger sliders uh from our friends
at High Point okay I like that uh main
course uh Prime ribeye or swordfish you
can or both if you so desire okay we a’t
going to any poultry here prime ribey or
swordfish sides tater
tots salt and smoke mac and cheese yeah
grilled
asparagus Steam
broccoli dessert guess the first
dessert ry’s car there you go that’s on
mine yep oh that’s good uh or so would
you ask them to roll out a trigger Grill
at the at the Masters no doubt about it
yeah uh then uh also you can have the
choice or you can take all of the three
uh the triager carrot cake the chocolate
cherry cheesecake Yum Yum Yum or French
silk pie this is a long menu man you lot
lot to eat right we got a lot of people
to feed and then the Dr Pepper products
for the drinks and we’ll have an open
bar was that even a part of this I
didn’t know that that was something that
they even did oh but well they better I
know that they’ve got the association
with Coca-Cola but I’m demanding as the
defending Champion that I get the Dr
Pepper products there because I love Dr
Pepper products uh and then I’d overeat
and miss my tea time the next
morning well luckily there’s a reason
why they seem to do it a little bit more
ahead so it can settle oh good smart
Randy I I I just want to say that
basically what you just put out there
sounds like what you did the other day
at the 703 Club because you had nachos
and then a salad to balance it out in
between did and you kind of sandwiched
your food groups like that here’s the
thing Brooke not only did I do it there
but I didn’t have the prime riby but I
would do this in the most glorious of
times as I defended my Master’s
Championship and I would do it if I were
on death row as my last meal oh yeah
yeah I was going to say this sounds more
like a death row meal yeah kind of uhhuh
it is I don’t know if he’d get that many
choices though on death row oh get what
you want is that right yeah they find
out oh man they changed that that kind
of sucks yeah they definitely limited
that we need to change that no I I kind
of like that we’re not going to give
them everything they want okay all right
uh so what do you have Brooke as your
menu okay well after that one Randy I’m
going to go ahead and say that mine will
probably not be the fan favorite but
still it’s my favorite it things that I
it’s things that I like so I’m kind of
going Matsuyama with my appetizer here
so we’re going to do ass sorted Sushi
niri sashimi and some guoa the crispy
kind specifically which is what I like
also for the salad options we’re going
to have a Caesar or a miso ginger salad
with fresh greens of course and then for
the main course we have a filet or my
dad Sukiyaki my dad Sukiyaki is one of
my favorite things on earth so basically
it’s a traditional Japanese Hot Pot dish
of like beef vegetables tofu it’s sweet
and savory it’s amazing maybe I’ll bring
some back for you guys I love that yeah
it’ be great because he always sends me
home with lot it’s David’s favorite as
well and then for my sharable sides
we’re going to have rice which goes well
with the Sukiyaki cream spinach or a
good old fashion loaded baked potato
which of course goes well with the
fillet and for my dessert I have ry’s
carrot cake and a giant homemade double
chocolate chip cookie with an ice cream
side yum mine would be an Ode to St
Louis I’d start with a shrimp cocktail
uh provided by Annie guns love that I
would go Lobster ravioli from Paul monos
which is incredible um then Emo’s Pizza
whether you like Emos or not I don’t
care and uh if if my counterparts didn’t
like Emos then you’re out you’re out
figure out the ravioli or figure out the
shrimp and load up but if you don’t like
emo that’s the only course that that for
for the main meal you got to you got to
have Emos and all have various kinds you
want vegetables you want meat whatever
you want but I go ribs maybe no they’re
out dang go emos okay and then for
dessert I would fly in Randy uhhuh uh I
need fly in Randy fly in my buddy and
his trer and it’s Trager I don’t know
how we’re we’re going to have to get a
private plane we be fine we just won the
Masters maybe if I I’d find a guy that
had a private plane and say hey you want
to come to the Masters yeah call Matt
holiday he knows a guy call Matt holiday
he know maybe Matt comes yeah he can
sign some autographs uh and then I’d go
with also Ted Drews great so fantastic
that’s it very simp menu you have your
you got a few options and if you don’t
like it you’re out okay go figure out
something else go get a burger somewhere
else yeah I’m with you I think that’s
great those are all really good I don’t
know if there’s one that maybe I like
more than others I already got a text
that somebody hated mine because of the
sushi I Love Sushi I I love that that’s
great and I gave you the filet option as
well so that you can go another
direction if you don’t like Japanese
food for whatever reason right I I think
it’s delicious I think it’ll be fabulous
314 says Randy knows he has to pay for
all the food at his dinner right I don’t
think that that’s the case the master
takes care and they’ve got plenty of
money well and that’s the other thing we
won the Masters I’m not worried about
how even if I do have to pay not worried
don’t they give the menu that they want
in advance and these chefs like work
really hard to master whatever it is
that they want from that menu I don’t
want that I want my own stuff brought in
well John Ram had his mom’s secret
recipe for that dessert and they
actually had to really work card and
have him test it so that it was perfect
uh because it’s it’s her own secret
recipe okay so the ram
Mom mom how about take it or leave it
the best picture in sports every year is
that of those that have won the Green
Jacket all together for the dinner yeah
that’s really cool it’s an amazing
picture I I’m always so just I I would
love to be a fly on the wall during that
event and that’s happening there so the
other thing I’m going to have is as you
walk out a bowl of Reese’s for you just
to grab as many Reese’s as you want this
is like a unlimited Buffet basically is
the style that you’re going for that’s
where I’m going I I I was thinking that
I think you may have to pay yeah a New
York Times article that broke down rah’s
men and actually got into the story
about how they had to test his mom’s
recipe they actually did break down how
the winner gets to choose and pay for
the dinner that’s fine I’m good I I did
win The Masters so you should be fine
yeah yeah should be fine you’re not
going to have to cut out the nacho bar
might be too extravagant the nacho bar
is not going to be too extravagant R’s
winning R’s winning horse last year was
uh 3.24 million yeah I’m good but he
just got 350 million too yeah he’s going
to be just fine yeah uh so Matthew do
you have any uh what’s your main course
there my main I’m honestly I have to pay
for it but I would use that opportunity
just to get the nicest stuff like from
around the entire planet so I’m I’m I’m
with Brooke I’m getting some Japanese
Sashimi I’m getting some Chilean seab
bass I’m rolling with John R I’m making
one of my appetizer something with a
better coam because it’s insane but my
number one absolute I’m 100% what I’m
going with I’m going to stick maybe a
little bit with the with my opening um
Salvo of the sushimi I want wagu that’s
all I want for my final thing just I
don’t know if I’m gonna I don’t know if
I’m gonna do like the quick like Stone
Fired wag Stone cooking wagu like to do
it like a classic like Japanese uh
steakhouse or if I just want to do just
like a regular wagu steak but something
with wagu would be involved for my
masters dinner 100% oh yes what do you
think the best thing that could happen
at the Masters this year tiger winning
yep or being cont I think being in
contention is well now winning would be
amazing but being in contention is the
biggest thing to me yeah if he is in the
hunt on Sunday afternoon cbs’s ratings
are going to go through the roof even if
he makes the cut I think because they’ll
keep cutting back to him and seeing how
he’s doing but for us on Monday morning
the best thing would be T right yes you
want to have something to talk about
that would be something to talk you’re
going to talk Masters anyway but I think
Philly Mick certainly tiger you know
maybe an older guy that has gotten you
know is in the tournament making a run
that would be awesome to see how about
Rory against not not Ram but Rory
against one of either dambo or uh Kea
that would be great final pairing and
Rory is kind of like the sacrificial
lamb for the PGA Tour if I was him I’d
be irate in how they use me yeah I would
too he was so against Liv came out
talked about it where the PGA Tour is
and then they did the deal behind uh
behind closed doors and all of a sudden
they may have a in conjunction at some
point live in the PGA Tour come together
it has to happen so you got a villain
against the good guy and this is easy I
can negotiate this thing in a blink and
they can fix it in 10 minutes which
would be have it be the old PGA tour
with the new purses and the PF pays the
purses so making a world tour too but
who do you screw in America and do
Americans want to get up at 2:30 in the
morning to watch a golf tournament as
long as I had world golf rankings
from a fans perspective that would be
very important to me too I I think
it where like do you get rid of the
Palmer what do you what what are the
tournaments that you’re getting rid of
you’re talking about B Hill yeah you
yeah obviously you’re getting rid of
John Deere do you get rid of the Hawaii
and California yeah I I think I could
say goodbye to some of those I’d be okay
I wouldn’t like it but I’d be okay with
it if that means I’m getting everybody
together yeah you are getting everybody
together but I think the vast majority
of the that is gleaned for the PGA Tour
comes from American companies and would
the sponsors then hang on because of of
Liv if you’re in conjunction with them
do you really want to sponsor them
there’s going to be some people that
philosophically will not do that yeah
and maybe the thing to do is just have
the PF pay for everything that’s the
other way to look at it then you just
have the uh the Bay Hill Invitational
then you have the Pebble Beach Pro then
all of a sudden you don’t have sponsor
names anymore it’s just all paid for by
the piff I can’t imagine that all the
players would be on board with that
though that would be the big thing and
even with some of the big names over
with Liv golf I have yet to watch one of
their events and I don’t know what their
viewership is even like and and Brooke
the the thing about the players is that
some of the guys that didn’t jump they
have to be made whole yes there are
players that are going to say now wait a
minute Rambo got his money and Phil
michon got his and I decided to stay and
be loyal to the tour and you’re telling
me I don’t get paid whole here’s the
thing after my Master’s dinner everybody
would be
whole they need a bathroom though okay
like it’s it’s completely unreal
realistic and like Tiger’s not going to
win it’s like it’s just not going to
happen like his body’s just he can’t
walk that many holes in that small
there’s a lot of undulation it’s not
gonna happen so realistically is the
best thing for golf shley finally
pushing through is it Rory being a big
name again is it just or is it just a
guy like Scotty sheffler becoming a more
dominant figure what would be the best
for golf that’s a realistic outcome golf
needs a dominant figure that everybody
thinks is better than anybody on live
and that’s Scotty sheffler yeah I I
think having a live guy win though like
a Phil Mickelson would be amazing yeah
if he came out and won that would be
awesome I’m a huge Phil Mickelson fan
and I know he’s got his issues and I
know there’s a lot of I exactly I still
would love to see it I still would it’
be interesting it’ be interesting uh
coming up next year on 101 ESPN with Lis
nbar coming back how will the Cardinal
Outfield be configured as we move
forward that’s next on 101
ESPN
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this is Rocky with your sports center
update driven by Johnny LOL Chevrolet
and Johnny LOL autox the Cardinals
yesterday dropped the series against the
Phillies in game three with a four three
loss Lance Lyn went out there gave five
innings pitched allowed two runs
unearned four walks and struck out six
Cardinals will be back in Action
tomorrow when they start a three- game
series against the Diamondbacks 840 will
be the first pitch blues will also be
back in Action tomorrow off today after
a 5-2 win over the Blackhawks you can
watch the blues fate though tonight as
the flames and the Kings play late on
the NHL slate that is your sports center
update driven by Johnny La find your
roads and Shop 247 at la.com and laof
autoplex.com are you kidding
me
one of the most notable events of our
time is the uh double murders that were
committed in 1994 of OJ Simpson’s
ex-wife and a waiter by the name of Ron
Goldman and we get word within the last
few minutes OJ Simpson’s family tweeting
that he has passed passed away
surrounded by his children and
grandchildren uh he apparently had a
battle with cancer that I was not aware
of and his family says during this time
of transition his family asks that you
please respect their wishes for privacy
and Grace so orthal James Simpson
passing away and that’s the big thing to
note here is that sometimes on X I know
that people can get hacked this seems
like a very serious message and if you
go back and look at some of his other
tweets on X it shows where he is talking
about his battle with cancer and
different things like that so that might
be what’s going on here but we’re still
waiting from an official word where some
others confirm it outside of the family
so that’s breaking news here meanwhile
the Cardinals bringing Lars nbar back
for tomorrow’s game in Arizona and with
nbar back how does that shape the
Cardinal Outfield yesterday they had
Brendan Donovan in left and Alec burles
in right you would have to think that at
some point soon Jordan Walker is going
to get back in the lineup he gets back
toback days off with the off day today
uh and with n barback I would imagine
that he will be the Cardinal left
fielder so how does the Outfield get
comprised now what does new bar play
center well here’s the thing I think
that he’s going to be in left field and
here’s why one down in the miners during
his rehab sent when he was in the
Outfield he was in left field that’s
where they had him now I know at the
beginning of the season the original
plan before everything imploded it seems
like it could have been a different path
for him but right now I just feel like
that oi Ral likes Victor Scott II in
center field and with his speed it makes
a lot of sense and I know that he had
the issue yesterday he’s going to make
mistakes and I think that he held
himself accountable yesterday in his
postgame comments he didn’t sugarcoat it
he brought up the rain that is some a
factor that you can bring up with the
error his first error that he’s had but
he also didn’t make excuses for himself
he’s not going to be a robot he’s human
he will make some mistakes you would
like to see him do better offensively
because that’s my big concern right now
we’ve talked about Nolan arnado we’ve
talked about Paul goldshmid of course
but also this Outfield you need
something more offensively from them
outside of the error that uh he
committed yesterday early in the game
and it was costly he’s played really
well defensively and I think that’s one
of the things the Cardinals look at as
they get back to fundamentally sound
baseball is trying to make sure that
they put the best defensive lineup out
there as well now the Counterpoint to
that is that you have an issue with him
offensively he’s been overwhelmed and at
times overmatched but I would look at
the lineup as that Donovan goes to
second base Gorman be your DH you got
Walker in right you got Scott in Center
at least for the immediate and then
Newar in left and remember too the other
thing is that you’re going to Arizona
that Outfield is enormous in center and
uh you got to cover a lot of ground so
it seems like it would be a likely
choice now to keep him here PES was sent
down to activate Nar it was not Victor
Scott so keep that in mind he’s going to
be here for a little bit until Edmund
and probably Carlson get back now how do
you handle the catchers here moving
forward because obviously Wilson contras
was back in the lineup he’s still
dealing with some soreness in his hand
but Ivon Herrera has also been hitting
well if you look he has three home runs
right now 290 average 875 Ops in the
small sample size of what he’s getting
right now but how do you manage the
catchers moving forward that’s a great
question um and trying to figure out
because if if Donovan moves to second
base then what happens with the spot of
your DH which is Nolan Gorman now do you
want to spot him against right-handed
pitching I want to see him play all the
time and he’s starting to swing the batw
um and and you’re you’re paying contras
a ton of money and he is when he’s in
the lineup for the most part produced
but you have to be excited with Avon
Herrera it’s a good problem to have
exactly what direction you want to go
and that would also by the way just lead
you to maybe Newar going to Center
keeping Donovan and left and then you’re
able to get keep the guys that you have
that are swinging the bat well and Scott
goes to the bench the problem with that
is that if he’s here you don’t want to
sit him exactly that’s the thing if
Victor Scott’s on the team he’s got to
play I think so Herrera is tied for the
team lead in home runs with three he and
Nolan Gorman he’s been one of your most
notable offensive performers so I I
think you and I wouldn’t rush him I I
would try to utilize him much like Tony
utilized yier Molina in 2004 and ease
him in and fortunately for the Cardinals
they have options they can DH contras
maybe contras could if the struggles of
Paul goldmit continue maybe when Goldie
takes a day a week off maybe Contreras
goes over there and plays first base I
think there are options for the
Cardinals to get contrerus his at bats
and utilize Herrera but if if Ivon
Herrera only winds up playing 50 or 60
games for the Cardinals I’m fine with
that this year even though he’s been
really good I think his Bat will be what
keeps him in the lineup though you know
he he’s swinging the bat so well I don’t
want to sit that bad and if that means I
have to sit Victor Scott then or send
him down then I I’m going to have to do
that create space yeah ultimately that’s
what you’re going to have to do so yeah
maybe it winds up being nudar and center
with Donovan in left and Walker in right
and then you’re infield as it’s been and
then you can U have Scott down in the
miners and utilize Contreras more as a
DH and that’s what i’ would rather see
I’d rather see Herrera get some
consistent playing time down the miners
so that he can can get a little bit
better offensively before he comes back
up and he will come back up this season
I think that’s something important to
not yes Victor Scott II um I think
that’s important to note that he will
come back this season but you talk about
the DH position that’s getting crowded
your bench is getting crowded here too
with all these different transactions
and moves and ultimately Matt Carpenter
is going to come back and he’s going to
have a spot on the roster what do you do
with Alec burles that’s another one
right you know he’s he’s got options to
go to the minor leagues too so you got
to play the options game and and those
that have them it’s it’s a great problem
to have if you’re getting healthier
it’ll work itself out but it’s a good
problem to have and if you can keep
everybody healthy by the time you get to
the trade deadline and they aren’t
getting a number one St starter before
the trade deadline but they will have
major league ready hitters available to
move if uh number one starter pops open
and available before the deadline I
think the one that is just the most
polarizing move that you’ll make is
Victor Scott and for some people it’ be
easy to say just send him down I’m one
of them that thinks he’s been
overmatched here and it’s not that hard
to look at it his numbers bear that out
offensive but he gives you so much
defensively give him a little bit of run
here before these guys get healthy and
then at that point you make your
decision on what you want to do it
happened with Keith Hernandez Keith
Hernandez really struggled early in his
career they had to send him down
actually had to send him down a couple
of times before he figured it out so for
a guy that had never played tripa a
before if Victor Scott gets some
experience there I have no problem with
that at all I’m with you offensively uh
next up we’ve got rock and roll as we
head down the stretch of this edition of
the opening drive on 101 ESPN
for
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e
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today
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rock I en
[Music]
roll let’s rock let’s rock
[Music]
today it’s time for Rock and Roll by the
way now on the heels of OJ Simpsons
family tweeting the uh news of his
demise Adam schfer has made it official
it is official I’m just I’m sad that nor
McDonald couldn’t live to see this
day I am too oh no so what do we have in
rock and roll you see I’m taking a page
out of Dan just move it forward I got
two dozen more jokes like that you want
to hear them oh no rock and roll no fine
we’ll talk about other stuff relevant
Sports in in the matter John calari has
taken a new job with can we say this
he’s a bad guy he’s a double murderer
okay he’s a double murderer
allegedly that’s only if he did it Randy
if he did it there is a book if the if
the glove doesn’t fit must have quit if
I did it that was the name of the book I
think it it was yeah I will say Theory
wise that with the glove the blood it
would shrink it anyway so of course the
glove wouldn’t fit I just want to throw
that out there I am a true crime fan
wear he was wearing a another glove
underneath and we now have people in
documentaries saying not allegedly
stating unequivocally they were messing
with his medication so that he was more
um bloated so that his his that he was
so he was bloated his hands were as big
as possible we know that’s what happened
you just needed ry’s Master’s menu and
after all that sodium you would be very
bloated after that right exactly really
good point um John calari has taken the
job with the Razer backs in Arkansas a
little bit of problem though uh does he
know what coach is actually gonna be
what team he’s actually going to be
coaching here was Calipari yesterday at
uh his press conference announcing the
move you know what I’m jacked about
another
opportunity like I’m like let’s go now I
met with the team there is no
team so now I got
to Hunter’s really extremely confident
but we got to get a roster together and
some of it is a little bit of everything
but we will it may take a little longer
because there are kids that put their
name in the NBA draft that are going to
go through so there it is chck Al
stating I met with the team there is no
team and I have the feeling he’s
probably not the first uh new head coach
that has had a sentiment like that in
the last week uh yeah one this feels
like a fever dream just watching that
press conference I laughed out loud when
that quote came out of him because it’s
just a very funny thing to say the whole
press conference I don’t know if you
guys thought was interesting they also
did a round of applause for the Tyson
guy he was there for that of course and
there was a there was a standing ovation
for him which I mean he did bring
Calipari so that is fair but it felt
like a fever dream everything that was
happening yesterday I could have never
seen any of this coming I I would expect
him to leave Kentucky just never thought
that he would end up in Arkansas and
doesn’t he have somebody from Kentucky
in the transfer portal that I think is
going to follow him to Arkansas to get
things started I think he was left with
one walk- on and maybe a couple other
Fringe guys that was left his salary is
7 million signing bonus was 1 million
appearance in the NCAA tournament he
gets 50k round two 100 sweet 16 250
final four 350 national title he gets
half a million so those are some of the
contract details that have come out good
for him pretty lucrative business I’d
say yeah he he also gets what 10 tickets
to each home basketball game five to
each game for every UA sport two cars
and a club membership too at fville
Athletic Club oh that’s why it took so
long to find ize the deal those football
tickets are be worth a lot can’t afford
that club membership make sure you get
that too yeah you mean Sam pitman’s not
moving the needle for the Hogs by way I
do want to say we got a um mic drop a
few uh like late last week that I wasn’t
able to play and it was somebody being
very mad that uh at Randy for making fun
of the Arkansas program um overall as
just an athletic program and he was like
well Arkansas has just so many more
national championships than the Missouri
Tigers and listen he’s not wrong
Missouri has uh one in track and field
and one in baseball and the baseball
ones from the 50s here’s the thing he
said in his thing he said he said the uh
Arkansas Razer backs have so many more
national titles than the Missouri Tigers
Listen technically he’s
correct but Arkansas’s national titles
are one in basketball in 1994 and then
60 in track and field you have one
national title and nobody knows about it
here’s thing okay you have I love their
track and field program great track and
field program I track Andi I was not
comparing Arkansas to Missouri I was
comparing Arkansas to the great athletic
programs and I do believe that with the
money they spend the return on
investment at Arkansas has shown me that
they really aren’t very self-aware they
they think they’re better than they
really are now I applaud them for trying
but I certainly wasn’t trying to compare
them to mizou by any stretch because
they have a basketball national
championship they have a football
National Championship no but they’re
trying to compare themselves to Alabama
in football and obviously Kentucky in
basketball and it just doesn’t work that
way don’t you think that a lot of
Arkansas fans are wishing they would
have gotten Eli drink with in this
situation because remember when because
the hirings were at the same time and
you had Sam Pitman at first things did
go well and now it’s just really gone
off the course Sam Pitman it seems like
there’s a lot of talk about him not
being able to really do a good job of
recruiting with a younger age compare
that to what Eli drink WS is doing
that’s what every single program
including Arkansas wants and he’s from
there I uh I get uncomfortable watching
Pig sooie it’s so pigi it feels like a
calling the Hogs calling the Hogs that’s
what it is is it Pig suoi yeah woo Pig
sooi woo pigui I remember when Dana
Alman was being introduced as the head
coach of Arkansas and now he’s obviously
at Oregon and had a number of years cray
Ron at kraton and he basically said I’m
kind of uncomfortable this is kind of I
don’t know this is in my my cup of tea
kind of thing he kept the job for a day
right yeah Arkansas uh they can claim it
they do not have they they they do not
have a football national championship
1964 Bama finished number one they
finished number two Bama went 8-0 they
went seven and0 okay Bama’s the national
championships in 64 that they claim it
but there’s like there’s like there’s
titles all over the place in the 60s and
stuff where teams like to claim it when
they weren’t the number one team of the
nation they don’t have they don’t have
football national championship in my
opinion that’s either way one or one or
none but the fact of the matter is they
have never been regarded as one of the
best programs in America as they they
just don’t have the Championships to
stack up to the Alabam the USC’s the
Notre Dames the michigans of the world
in football or the Carolina’s kuy Dukes
of the world in basketball and where is
that battle line trophy right
now North M there you go there you go
that’s kind of a nothing trophy oh come
onand you’re right you don’t you don’t
believe in the
rivalry yeah here here’s the thing I I
would hope no I
don’t no no you should I would hope that
that person that texted in and is really
thrilled about the 60 National track
championships which is great oh my gosh
but if you’re that down on missou then
you shouldn’t want Eli drinkwitz as your
head football coach in Arkansas should
you yeah that’s fair I think they would
take him in a heartbeat yeah apparently
that’s chiny Tyson’s next Target oh no
stay away yep so we we’ll see how that
goes Nobody eat uh chicken nuggets here
in Missouri oh man yeah thank you
Matthew pleasure it’s our producer audio
video engineer the one the only Matthew
Rocko Brooke have a great three-day
weekend or is it going to be more No
it’s it’s three days okay so you’ll be
back on I’m not gonna surprise you on
Monday by not showing up okay I’m glad
I’m glad that you’ll be here I can’t
wait to see the gifts that you guys will
bring me oh it’s GNA be awesome uh
Daniel you and I will be joined at the
end of the show tomorrow by one Osborne
Earl Smith oh good he confirmed he is
going be us so we’re looking forward to
that we’ll also talk to Joe Vali
tomorrow J deling talking Masters early
in the morning we’re going to have quite
a show don’t we have do we have somebody
else tomorrow maybe not uh not right now
okay so that way though that’s a pretty
good show we’ll see and we’ll be at
Rawlings at Westport so we hope you’ll
join us there from 7 to 10 we thank you
for tuning in texting in and being a
part of the show for all of us until
tomorrow morning at 7: have a great
Friday Eve St Louis that’s
right
