People WALK IN THE PARK in all different ways….some race themselves, some stop to admire the animals or beauty, some are “Zoning out” as they listen to their music; some look straight ahead as their imagination takes them far away from the walk, some think about what they’re going to write their Buzz about 😊, etc. Let’s take our own WALK IN THE PARK in the sports world…

…coming off a HUGE Bowl game victory over Ohio State, the Mizzou Tigers are WALKING…ALMOST RUNNING.. to get into the ’24 season. In the 1^st portal cycle of the year (Dec), Mizzou landed 7 players with impressive credentials. That alone, doesn’t make a team good, but the it does make a fan feel good to hear the experts praise these players. Here they are– 1) After playing at Clemson, a local HS player Toriano Pride Jr. from E StL,a Junior Cornerback, transfers to MU. He brings in outstanding speed w/modest size 5-11, 190 lbs. He’s expected to be an immediate starter. 2) MU filled their running back need by signing Marcus Carroll. A Senior, from Union City, Ga., 5-10, 210 lbs.He played @ Georgia State last yera. In ‘23 with he ran for over 1,300 yards with 200 receiving yards. 3) Cayden Green, Soph 6-5, 315 lbs, Off Guard comes to MU from Oklahoma. His home is Lee Summit, MO so he’s a local player. 4) Darris Smith-Junior, Def End 6-5, 240/LB from Baxley, Ga. He’s leaving Georgia, so I’m assuming that he has some talent. 5) At 6ft 230 lbs,Sr LB, Corey Flagg from Houston, Tx. & Miami U comes to Columbia. He’s not projected to be a starter but in this era of “situational” player, he fits right in. Each of the last 3 years, he has 7+ “tackles for loss” sooo..that sounds good. 6) 6-3, 320 lb’er Chris McClellan comes to MU from Florida. He lined up on 187 of 291 snaps as a D-Tackle last year so he’s already experienced. The next portal pool is in April for 2 weeks. I’m sure that the Tigers will be doing some more “fishing” in that time span. You can NEVER stop trying to improve your team.

….Now WALKING SLOWER WITH MIZZOU…the biggest loss this off-season was the departure of the Def-Coordinator—Blake Baker. Baker bolted for LSU where he’ll be the highest paid assistant in college football with a $2.5m yearly contract for 3 years. Coach Drink tried hard to keep him….MU couldn’t match the LSU $$$$.

…. Probably, ready to transform the roster to WALK(SKATE) UP A DIFFERENT PATH are the BLUES.  StL could make trades at the deadline with short-term &/or long range results in mind. Keep in mind that the Blues have to watch the salary cap. Currently, the Blues are only $250,000 under the cap of $83.5m. Next year the cap moves up to $87.5m. Currently the Blues are obligated for $71.4m for the 16 players that are under contract for next year. From where I watch the Blues, the defense needs to be shored up. Marco Scandella is in the last year of his contract. I don’t think that he’ll be WALKING WITH THE BLUES after this year. Krug, Parayko & Faulk all earn exactly the same-$6.5m. I’m thinking that the Blues may be tired of WALKING with at least one of them in the future.

…WALKING A PATH that was treasured at 1 time…LEADER RUSHER IN THE Big 10 was Illinois RB Chase Brown. He piled up 1643 yards rushing! But in this “new” offensive world teams are WALKING DOWN THE PATH OF passing while running the ball is relegated to a necessary thing to do every-so-often.

….Or…WALKING DOWN A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PATH in a different direction… the Play of Hofer in net may lead the Blues to trade Bennington  for a strong player who can score or defend well. In December, Bennington posted a 4-5-0 record with an 881 save percentage. With the Blues Offense WALKING AT A SLOW CLIP OF having scored the 2^nd fewest # of goals in the Cen Div of Western Conference… soooo offense is still an issue.  It’ll be fun to see which path the Blues WALK towards the trade deadline of March 8.

….After their last place finish in ’23, the interest in the Cardinals seem to be  more casually WALKING through the park. Maybe, they feel that landing the 4 new pitchers that they’ve “done their job” and now they can focus on the younger players & hopefully… stars.  Getting time with the Big Club so they were WALKING WITH THE BIG BOYS were the Top 2 prospects– Jordan Walker & Masyn Winn.  Walker continued improving throughout the year, Wynn never has yet to hit at the MLB level. Most of the StL brass feel that he WILL hit….but we’ll wait & see if he can WALK at the pace of the MLB players.

….Meanwhile, they’re other players increasing their walking speed and hoping to reach the MLB next year. The hottest prospect who walked like a MLB player last year was INF Thomas Saggese. Saggese came to Cards in the Jordan Montgomery trade. Saggese blasted Class AA level pitching with high marks in average & power. However, when moved up to AAA his batting marks sagged. In 13 games, he had a .207 mark, 5 dbl, 1 hr in his 13 games. Sooo…we’ll have to see if he can WALK AT A FASTER PACE THAN AA walking speed.

…Tink Hence is often listed as the TOP minor league pitching prospect of the Cards. He owns a 90+ mph fastball, can he WALK AT the Pace of the MLB’ers during ’24. The other name popping up frequently is CF Victor Scott. A speed merchant, his bio sounds like “lou brock ish”. Who knows if he’ll hit…but he can fly & already plays strong defense as a CF. If the Cards sag early in the year, look for Scott to be brought up as the every-day CF for a “long WALK IN THE PARK. Let’s be honest, the Cards will be WALKING through the 2024 season with many different faces.

…traveling WALKING DOWN a different patch is Bill Belichick. It’s reported that he’s talking with the Falcons about coaching.  Apparently, he still yearns to WALK THE PATH of a coach but wants a team with some talent!  I’m sure that they’ll buy “out” Boston so Belichick can WALK THIS NEW PATH.

…WALKING down a very, very unique “FAMILY” path is the LaPorta family of Highland, Ill. Sam Laporta may sound familiar to you…he’s currently playing TE for the Detroit Lions. Some talk of him as a Rookie of the Year candidate. He played @ Iowa—where he finished 10^th in the Big 10 in pass receiving yardage. Iowa isn’t known for their passing game 😊 But he wasn’t the only LaPorta WALKING Down the Athletic Path. 1 of his sisters, Olivia, played Volleyball @ Fordham. Another sister, Alex LaPorta who played basketball & volleyball @ UMSL. She is now playing basketball @ Basketball Academie Limburg in the Dutch Basketball league. Yet another sister, Bella, played volleyball @ Wm Jewell University. I guess you could say that they WALKED WAY DOWN THE SPORTS PATH as a family!!

……btw, Relief hurler Jordan Hicks took a WALK DOWN A DIFFERENT PATH. Traded by Cards to Toronto @ the trade deadline and becoming a Free Agent this year, was just signed by the SF Giants. Hicks posted a 2-3 mark, 4 sv, 7 holds in 25 games w/Jays. Obviously, he wants to WALK DOWN A NEW PATH – that of the Primary Closer.

….The Cards are turning to Ryan Helsley as their main man TO WALK THEM THROUGH THE 9^th inning. One rating service, ranked him as #8 in the MLB in Closers for the upcoming season. He had 14 saves but missed almost half the ’23 season on the IL.  Durability seems to be a tougher path for him to WALK than facing MLB batters. That question still remains.

…Well…I’ve been WALKING LONG ENOUGH on this path. I’m tired 😊 YOUR thoughts on any part of the Walk in the Park are always invited! Thanks for your time & read! Bob