Sports Columnist at St. Louis Post-Dispatch and
@stltoday
. Radio talker at
@KTRS550
. Instagram: benfredpd. Living one word to the next, one line at a time.
Albert Pujols said Mike Trout told him playing in this series feels like the posteason every at-bat, every play.
Pujols said he told Trout, "I lived that for 11 years here."
I know the XFL is not the NFL, and I know NFL owners are motivated by greed above all, but I'm not sure how some powerful NFL people don't see what is happening in St. Louis -- relocation lawsuit plus BattleHawks success -- and not feel like they picked wrong side of divorce.
This is my dad. He’s been practicing family medicine in my hometown of Sedalia for more than 35 years. I tell him to retire. He won’t listen, and he certainly won’t stop now. Thank you to everyone in health care who is suiting up to help us. Let’s help by listening.
#StayHome
The BattleHawks are considering opening The Dome’s second level for the third home game (March 21), per team president Kurt Hunzeker. That game is against ... Los Angeles.
Scene: Matt Carpenter pulls a bottle of water out of Wrigley Field’s visiting clubhouse fridge. Something in the back catches his eye. It couldn’t be. Could it? He starts throwing bottles out left and right until there it is, buried in the back — last year’s leftover salsa.
Bryce Harper sent a text to Genesis Cabrera today, per
#STLCards
manager Mike Shildt. Classy move. Wanted to make sure Genesis new Harper knew it was an accident, and invited a conversation if Cabrera wanted to have one.
#STLBlues
goalie Jordan Binnington was asked today about Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy suggesting Boston has advantage against Binnington because he spent last season with Bruins' AHL affiliate in Providence.
"That's good, I guess," Binnington answered.
Pat Maroon laughed out loud.
Breaking:
#STLCards
president of baseball operations John Mozeliak just told a room full of fans at Winter Warm-Up that the team doesn’t really care about a player’s average as an evaluation tool.
Prepare for chaos.
Wainwright says he saw 20-something fan in stands at recent game holding Molina-Wainwright sign and told Molina: "You know what's crazy? That person has no
#STLCards
memories without us on the team."
Thankful for today. It’s been 8 years since I stopped drinking. (Started early.) I’m forever grateful to those who understood and encouraged my choice. If you think sobriety could be a better path, there’s a whole bunch of people happy to help. It’s not too late, or too early.
If
#STLCards
are not trading Nolan Arenado, they are handling it very poorly. Front office has ghosted, leaving Arenado to speak on reports and rumors tonight after game. He initially declined, then came back and talked. He’s a pro, but he’s frustrated. Bad spot for him to be in.
Yadier Molina signed the base Kolten Wong stole off of him — and took with him. It’s headed for a special spot in Wong’s man cave. “I’ve learned so much from that guy,” Wong said. “Nothing but respect.”
The
#STLCards
are finally back. You can tell by how mad they make people who don’t cheer for them. They’ve always been their best when they piss people off. Always.
Years from now, Yadier Molina's great great grandchild will reach for an extra cookie when he thinks Great Grandpa Yadi is not looking, only to find his hand blocked by a cane.
One thought about Schiano mess at Tennessee: You would think campus leaders would take a look at past mistakes, plus Pilot Flying J fiasco, and Cleveland Browns (oof) and ask themselves if they really want to keep letting Haslam family influence decision making. It’s not working.
Ryan O’Reilly’s dad confirms what we had a hint of. His son was playing with damaged ribs. Said cracked but perhaps just bruised severely. Happened in Winnipeg and he got better as postseason went along. Nuts.
And that is why you don’t get ejected arguing balls and strikes. Because you rob yourself of a chance to do something like that. Wow. Tyler O’Neill becoming a
#STLCards
star.
Loyal fans frustrated by 3 missed postseasons. Public goal of winning division. Self-imposed motto of 2019 Matters. In 1st on deadline day, but need to help rotation that's lost depth since spring. Players stepped up. Manager, too. And
#STLCards
FO didn't. Simple as that.
Pat Maroon this morning: “We are excited. It’s a new day. Probably the biggest game of the year is tonight. We have to set the tone right away. Let them know we’re coming, and we are pissed off.”
#STLBlues
If everyone agreed to police their own activities during the pandemic like they are policing the activities of professional athletes, we could probably get a grip on the damn pandemic.
Sonny Gray: "Going into this thing, I wanted to be a Cardinal. That started over a year ago. It's a place, every time I've come here as a visitor, I've looked at the stadium and said, 'Wow, this place is incredible.'"
#STLCards
Breaking News: St. Louis Rams legend Isaac Bruce (
@IsaacBruce80
) is headed to Canton. He's a Hall of Famer. News is posting to
@stltoday
. "Done deal," he said. "God is good."
David Freese found his peace. No one should have any problem with him protecting it however he feels is best. He loves the
#STLCards
. He has a beautiful, supportive family. He won in baseball, then in life. Good for him.
Pat Maroon: "I'm proud. I'm proud to be from St. Louis. I'm proud to put that jersey on every night. I'm proud to work hard in front of these fans, work hard for these guys that deserve it in here, that have been here for so long, that want nothing more to win."
#STLBlues
Mike Shildt said Nolan Arenado called his home run today. Told coaches he was going to go up, hit a homer and be done for spring training and ready for the regular season. And he did. On a pitch that was a ball.
Here’s a Jose Martinez story: He fishes at his neighborhood lake. Anyone who shows up is free to join him. Neighborhood teenagers often do. They FaceTime their friends, who answer and freak out because it’s Jose Martinez on the screen. He also DJs at a local bar. Just for fun.
Lots of talk about
#STLCards
needing to not waste Goldschmidt and Arenado. Might need to be some more talk about not wasting this season of Yadier Molina. He’s doing everything he can and then some.
NEWS at
@STLToday
: Here are final stadium renderings for the St. Louis
#MLS
stadium.
#MLS4TheLou
ownership group will own stadium (north of Market) and land. Stadium, practice fields, training facility all downtown. Details/context with
@jacobbarker
:
Miles Mikolas, a Jupiter guy, told a cool story after his
#STLCards
start today about getting pulled out of school by his mom to go to spring training games at Roger Dean Stadium, where they would sit in the cheap seats and . . . watch Albert Pujols
Pete Alonso did apologize to
#STLCards
dugout after it was made clear to him -- by Miles Mikolas and teammates -- what he had done.
He seemed legitimately sorry.
Then again, Stubby Clapp was within striking distance.
Polar Bear was probably shaking in his spikes.
For what it's worth,
#STLCards
catcher Willson Contreras finished his first season in St. Louis tied with Paul Goldschmidt for the team's highest WAR (3.4), per
@baseball_ref
. Pretty impressive considering he spent months playing with skid marks across his back.
Heard from a reliable source tonight that
#Mizzou
coach Eli Drinkwitz sent today’s news about potential SEC expansion to recruits he’s battling Oklahoma and Texas to land. The message? See, even the Longhorns and Sooners want to play in the SEC.
It’s 12:52 a.m. on June 4 in downtown St. Louis and a car just honked “Let’s Go Blues” at a tuba-playing man on the corner, who answered with his instrument. Wild times.
MLB can put a game in a cornfield but can't make sure every MLB fan who wants to pay to watch/stream games daily in their preferred fashion have that option. Inspiring.
Tennessee fans ruined this sear — Wait. What’s that, you say? You say Tennessee fans forced their athletic department to make a better hire? And this better hire is beloved by the same media who have been ripping Tennessee fans?
Drinkwitz on Florida’s trip to
#Mizzou
: “I’m praying for snow. Dan (Mullen) is going to complain about everything anyway.”
And then he thanks Shane Beamer for informing the world South Carolina is going to throw to his tight ends a bunch this season. Said Tigers will be ready.
The sister of the infected patient and her father attended a father-daughter dance Saturday night. County officials say the family had been told Thursday to self quarantine.
Eli Drinkwitz during his late-night SportsCenter appearance, while wearing a slingshot over his shoulder that he said he carried during Cotton Bowl: "We're not going to stop. No one is waiting for
#Mizzou
to take its place in college football. We've got to kick the door down."
Lance Lynn is thrilled to be
#STLCards
starter for the home opener. It will be his first. Yes, he never started opening day or the home opener for the Cardinals before. "Waino was always a dick," Lynn said, with a big grin.
#STLCards
Twitter: Yeah, the Cards got Goldschmidt, but he's only going to be here for a year.
#STLCards
Twitter: Yeah the Cards extended Goldschmidt, but how good will will be be in his 5th year?
Twitter, your baseball team stole one of the NL's best, then locked him up. Enjoy.
Missouri weather in one tweet: My sister and I left Sedalia at the same time this afternoon. She was headed for KC. I was headed for STL. She hit a blizzard. I got a tornado warning.
#STLCards
say they’re certain Pujols will be ready to roll for the start of the regular season. He’s been working out, doing hitting drills. I’ll let you all judge the physique, but here he is.
Another thing on the Ohio State stuff: Don't overlook some of the media types who are already hard at work spinning this for the program. This is a growing problem. Too many credentialed fans masquerading as media. Too many coaches rewarding them for it with news, access, scoops.
No contact. Ref who calls foul is behind shooter and can't see there is no contact. Shooter sticks out leg to draw contact, and still creates no contact. This "foul" led to free throws that tied the game.
#Mizzou
needs to turn this tape into the
@SEC
.
A tip of the cap to
@DannyMacTV
. He bought a suite for tonight's
#STLCards
game for families of children with special needs. They got field passes, dugout tour, shirts and dinner before enjoying the game. He didn't say a word about it. Spotted him in dugout hanging with the kids.
Mike Shildt:
“The [Braves] started some shit. We finished the shit. And that’s how we roll. No one fucks with us ever. Now, I don’t give a fuck who we play. We’re gonna fuck them up. We’re gonna take it right to them the whole fucking way. We’re gonna kick their fucking ass.”
Nolan Gorman says he feels game-ready at second base. Would prefer to stay on dirt but will add outfield if asked. Has a glove for everything but first. Has texted with Dustin Pedroia about 2B advice. Said multiple times he just wants to help
#STLCards
win.
Twitter is worse without Adam Wainwright on it. Hope he comes back one day. Another thought: Bringing back Waino for his retirement season in no way, shape or form stopped
#STLCards
from adding starting pitching -- unless they wanted it to.
Underrated
#Mizzou
storyline more people should be discussing. No. 16 Tigers are 2-0 while outscoring opponents 72-33 during the LPF era. Lorelai Palmer Frederickson was born at kickoff of Kentucky game.
@cassanovy
is a rockstar. I’m floating. Thanks to those who pulled for us
Adam Wainwright today: "Liberatore. People don't now it yet. Just wait. That trade is going to work out just great for us. Just fine. He's super talented. Wants it. Asks tons of questions. Pays attention during the game. Fun to watch."
#STLCards
Adam Wainwright's head hits his hands and the tears start to fall as Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina surprise him during his ceremony. They popped out of the dugout. He didn't know.
#STLCards
Andrew Miller: "The goal is to win the World Series. I told that to the Cardinals." Says he would not have gone somewhere where dog-piling after a championship was not a realistic option.
#STLCards
That the
#STLCards
had to talk Brendan Donovan into season-ending injury surgery because he wanted to keep playing for a team going nowhere tells you exactly why assumptions Cards would ship him out at trade deadline were a reach
#Keeper
Former
#STLCards
manager Mike Shildt takes the high road on his way out. "I was taught not to talk out of school." Said there were differences, but he's not going to get into them. Thanked the org, the front office, players and pretty much everyone else -- many by name.
Just announced: Among this year's Musial Awards recipients will be
#Phillies
star Bryce Harper, who showed great class in reaching out to
#STLCards
reliever Genesis Cabrera after the young reliever accidentally hit Harper in the face with a pitch. Great idea,
@MusialAwards
.
Shoutout to the parents who made a bold choice to check their kids out of the first days of school to maybe see Albert Pujols do Albert Pujols stuff. They were rewarded with a pinch-hit grand slam. You're not seeing that during recess.