As we forge ahead, let’s take a look @ the SILVER LINING behind our sports teams/ players/movements/ etc! 

…Even as the Cardinals travel down an unused path for many decades regarding the formation of their roster, there still is a SILVER LINING! It’s a complete “start over”…ya remember your younger days when you played each day….each day was a “start over” with a different roster, often different players, often different rules. Everyday we were excited to play.  2026 will provide us with a SILVER LINING on many of our StL Sports teams.

…Well…in 2026, as baseball fans we’ll see more speed (a SILVER LINING in itself since StL fans have always has taken to speed on the bases). We’ll probably see fewer home runs but probably more doubles or even triples as Cardinals race around the bases.

….While in the field, we can use the SILVER LINING of playing manager. Which pitchers will we use..how long for each? Will there be a 1-man closer? Or by committee? Will we break the taboo of limiting a “closer” to only 1 inning period??? Will starting pitchers be expected to go 4 innings?  5?  Probably not 6—somehow, despite all their amateur training, currently it’s “unheard of” to extend starting pitchers?  Or…maybe a rotation of expecting 4 or 5 innings and then bringing the starter back on 3 days rest?

…Will the SILVER LINING extend to platooning?  Will it be the constant “match up” of batters vs LHP or RHP? Basically, those types of managers are indicating that their batter can’t hit the breaking ball (curve or slider) from a pitcher that throws with the same arm as the batter hits from in the batter’s box. But…it does open up playing time for a wider segment of the roster.

…But opening day was something that had a SILVER LINING this year. The usual opening day pre-game excitement seemed a bit muted until the action began. Let’s be honest….there aren’t many fans, or experts, with high hopes for this 2026 ball club. But, much of the excitement centered around rookie JJ Wetherholt. He exceeded our expectations when he knocked his 1^st pitch in the Major Leagues over the wall! WOW!! He became the first Cardinal to slug his 1^st big league hit and home run in one swing since Paul DeJong (2017). Further, he’s the first Cardinal to accomplish this amazing feat in an MLB debut on Opening Day in 69 years, since Bobby Smith did it against the Cincinnati Reds at Crosley Field on April 16, 1957. Many, maybe most of you, weren’t even around then 😊 Now, don’t let your hopes get out of control…. there’s still 161 games to go!!

 ….It’s an exciting time for some families. Signing Week for college scholarships is upon us.  But the SILVER LINING tells us that actually only 7% of High School players will actually play (get on the field) in college sports in their career.

….Univ of Misssouri- St. Louis (UMSL) Women’s Basketball Program had a terrific season. The Lady Titons finished in 1^st place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. For the season, UMSL-Women posted an 18-2 conference record to finish in 1^st place in the GLVC.  But, in the GLVC Tournament Championship Game, the Tritons dropped an 83-75 double Overtime loss to Maryville.  Then advancing to their 4^th-ever NCAA D-II Tournament, the SILVER LINING was that they won their 1^st game of the tourney as the 7^th seed as they upset #2 seed & #16 nationally ranked Ferris State 70-59. A loss in the 2^nd round of Midwest Regional to Northwood (#23 ranked, #3 seed) by a 60-49 score ended their season. But, it was yet another VERY STRONG season for the UMSL-Women’s Basketball team.  Congrats to Coach Vaughn(now 14 seasons as Head Coach with over 230 wins) & all the players on a tremendous 2025-26 season! BTW… the 2^nd place team in the regular season was also a St. Louis team—Maryville. Maryville also reached the tourney championship game!  Even though it’s the best kept secret in St Louis, these 2 programs generally put out good, strong D-2 teams!!

…Sometimes, we feel like super star players in professional sports are very spoiled and seemingly aloof from the other players. But, how about Shohei Ohtani’s gift to each of his teammates.  Each player received an exclusive $4,000 Seiko watch from Shohei Ohtani, accompanied by a motivational note: “Let’s three-peat” this spring training.

..Some sports “streaks” are barely known. I just learned that Tyler O’Neill’s run of six straight Opening Day home runs ended this year. It was snapped in Baltimore’s 2-1 win over the Twins. Tyler O’Neill homered in every Opening Day game, setting a Major League record of 6 straight seasons. He began the streak with 4 consecutive Opening Day homers for the Cardinals, added another with the Red Sox in 2024, and extended it to six in his Orioles debut in 2025. This “Home run streak broke the record of 4 straight games held by Yogi Berra, Gary Carter, and Todd Hundley. What a weird thing… all 3 of those guys were catchers!!

….While MLB dominates the sports page in the Lou in the spring time, football in Columbia, MO has brought some unusual happenings as players “come & go” in the transfer portal.

Many players depart if they feel that their playing time (or lack of it) doesn’t match their expectations. Frankly, you don’t expect those guys to transfer to other SEC schools where the “playing time” challenges remain. The SILVER LINING is that there are many other schools outside of the SEC & Big 10 for those players to choose.

….Will that wraps it up for today. I hope that you don’t think that the end od this rewind is the SILVER LINING 😊  Bob