After an ugly last couple months, HOPE RETURNS for the Cards fans with their recent win streak. It’s easy to jump on the WINNING TRUCK as they’ve won 6 consecutive games. But…with that HOPE RETURNING, one must be objective also….Let’s take a look

….As I write this, the Cards have moved past the Pirates into 4^th place with a 44-53 record with 65 games remaining. The winning streak revives our hopes. Maybe as fans, we’re blind to some of the weaknesses of our home-town heroes. Looking at the 1^st half, the Cards starters held a 4.96 ERA and have opponents to bat .295 against them (YES….295 when the MLB average is .248!!) The horrible beginning of the season saw the Cards drop 6 of 7 games in mid-April.  Then they lost 11 of 12 games in late April/early May. In June, there was a spell of losing 11 of 13 games. Hopefully, those streaks are behind us. This winning streak in July gives us HOPE that the 2^nd half will be totally different.

…Our HOPE depends on “fixing” the pitching. Cardinals starters own a 4.96 ERA and have allowed opponents to hit .295—yes, .295—against them. The bullpen has blown 16 saves, tied for the most in MLB. The Cardinals are tied with the Nationals for the third-lowest swinging strike rate in MLB and have allowed the third-most hits of any team. In short, they’re a hittable staff that doesn’t miss bats, and their defense hasn’t helped. The Cardinals rank 21st in Outs Above Average, as measured by Statcast, with the outfield defense a particular problem area.  According to experts–Is it fixable? The Cardinals have used 23 different pitchers!!  Some of them have already been “moved”. Our top starting prospects don’t appear to be able to make it through 5 innings. It seems that our bullpen has gone through a rash of arm injuries.

…..The Closer Role seems to have become a “Hot Potato”…no one can hold onto it for long. Genesis Cabrera was just released then traded…he should have been in the “peak” years of his career at 27 years old. Suddenly we have HIGH HOPES for a new closer–JoJo Romero. Romero has suddenly emerged by throwing strikes & keeping the ball low in the strike zone. I really don’t care about his velocity….fans just want outs. He brings HOPE that the Cards will abandon their “throw the ball by the batter every pitch” approach. Currently, the Cards bullpen is 13^th (of 15) in the NL in ERA. But.. Romero brings us “HOPE” since a team only needs 1 closer.

….Another team with lots of HOPE is the Minnesota Twins. Perched atop the AL Central Division, The Twinkies hold a meager 50-48 record for the season. But…no one else in the division is over .500!

…Two other divisional leaders are holding lots of HOPE. The Baltimore Orioles are #1 in the AL East. Arguably, the AL East is the best division in the MLB. The O’s (59-37) are barely ahead of Tampa Bay while Toronto, Boston & the Yankees trail in that order! The 2^nd best record in the AL is held by Texas as they sit in 1^st place in the West with lots of HOPE. Pre-season favorite, Houston trails by 4 games. The Angels have a couple star players but are holding a 49-48 record. Seattle & Oakland don’t contend.

…the Blues have HIGH HOPES for Colton Parayko. He’s early in a long-term contract(1 year of a 8 year deal). He’s coming off a sub-par 22-23 season.  He’s had 53 & 49 turnovers in each of the last 2 years. Further, his positioning and anticipation skills seemed to erode. Still holding HIGH HOPES , the Blues MUST have a stronger year from Parayko.

…While there is HOPE RETURNING for the Cards, we have to look in the mirror and realize that Adam Wainwright (one of the best hurlers in Cards history) is on his last trail. Zach Greineke is traveling the same exact trail. In 2023, Greineke is 1-10 with a 5.40 ERA. Unfortunately, it seems very hard for these star athletes to realize that their time is past. I admire both of them for their years of outstanding performance, their work off the field  but….it’s over for them—there’s really no HOPE.

…With Coach Drinkwitz beginning his 4^th season as HC, Mizzou has HIGHER HOPES than in many of the past years. Coach Drink brought in a transfer QB from Miami to challenge Brady Cook. Cook’s attributes don’t seem to match up to the ’23 standards of throwing 40x/game. He’s more of a run & pass QB. On the other hand, Mizzou’s top running back, Cody Schrader, doesn’t bring ooo’s & ahhh’s when runs but he gains yards. He runs north & south, hitting the hole at full  speed and “reads” those quick blocks on the LB. MU also HOPES that Luther Burden, who will have a starting sport, will improve his play and attain the 4-star status that he was ranked as a recruit.

…Once in a while, our HOPES are actually exceeded!! Can you believe the year that  Shohei Ohtani is having for the Angels?  Being in StL, we seldom see him (like once every 6 years). But…here’s what he’s putting together in 2023…from the batters box–1^st in MLB in HR (35); 1^st in OPS (1.078); 1^st in MLB in RBI’s (76). As a pitcher Ohtani holds a  7-5 record with a 49-48 team. He is 1^st in the MLB in batting average against him–.195! He’s 4^th in Strikeouts w/ 144. Some say that he’s the closest comparison to Babe Ruth as anyone has ever seen.

…While we continually HOPE for more from our Cardinal players…take a look @ Arenado & Goldschmidt—our 2 best players. They ARE doing their part.. the are 10th & 11^th in the NL in batting average; Arenado is 5^th in the NL in RBI”s. Jumping out of nowhere, rookie Nolan Gorman is 15^th in the NL in RBI’s! Jordan Montgomery is 13^th in NL in ERA. While that really helps the Cards in ’23, it really raises Montgomery’s asking price as Free Agent. Maybe, we can HOLD OUT HOPE that the Cards will resign him. It would be “out of character” but….we can STILL HOPE.

…BRINGING HOPE to all Mizzou basketball fans, HC Dennis Gates doesn’t have the respect around the country..yet… This off season, MU is picked for 10^th place in the SEC and ranked 50^th overall. Somehow, My HOPES see Mizzou being much better than that prediction in 23-24 season.

….What HOPES do YOU have about any of the StL/Missouri teams? Thanks for your read!  Please send any of your thoughts about any part of this Buzz to me via email or put them directly on my Facebook page. Thanks!  Bob