This past week I had the chance, for the 1^st time, to sit in the front row on the end of the court for a SLU basketball game. Despite the hundreds of basketball games that I’ve watched, it was a different view. TAKING A REAL CLOSE LOOK made the game seem different. You could see all the contact, especially under the basket w/o the ball, the bumping asa they use their shoulder to bump the defender in the chest to create space, quick pushes, slaps, etc. It was a really different look as I was TAKING A REAL CLOSE LOOK!
…When you watch the Blues, they really don’t look “bad” but they don’t win. There are moments when they play well, or play poorly but generally it’s good/bad  back & forth. Focusing in on defensemen, Parayko & Leddy, who each play 20+ min/game closely, they look “OK”. Yet TAKING A REAL CLOSE LOOK, Parayko hasn’t scored a point (either assist or goal) since Feb 11^th! He’s a key…in Blues wins, he has 8 goals 9 assists; in Blues losses 1 goal & 3 assists!! Nick Leddy has no goals & 8 assists in games lost by the Blues. In wins, he has 3 goals, 10 assists. They MUST be a part of the offense for the Blues to win!!
….In college basketball, it seems like it’s the same teams are winning the title over& over again in the NCAA Tournament. Well…. TAKING A REAL CLOSE LOOK AT IT…Since 1974 (it’ll be 50 years this year), Duke won in 91 & 92 & Florida in 2006 & 2007! That’s it.. TWICE back-back champions in 50 years!
…In MLB World Series, we think of the same ol’ teams winning it every year. TAKING A CLOSE LOOK, since 2001, we’ve had NO repeat champions!! In 1998, 99,2000, the Yankees won it under Joe Torre. Amazingly, a National League hasn’t won back-back World Series since 1975-1976 when the Reds won it under Sparky Anderson.
…It’s good to see that HC Eli Drinkwitz is “growing” in the position. When hired, he seemed to be more involved in the offense than the defense. It suited his skills (and probably his interests). TAKING A REAL CLOSE LOOK AT IT currently, Drinkwitz is expanding his interest, input, coaching on the defensive side of the ball. Maybe it’s due to the fact the separate coaches have been hired for Def Ends and another Coach for Def Lineman! Sounds like a logical improvement (assuming that the salaries don’t hinder other facets of the staff)
….St Louis City returns for Year 2. City will again “force the action” with an aggressive style of play.  TAKING A REAL CLOSE LOOK, City seems to have signed a couple “higher” level players for the ’24 season. Their recent 2-0 home victory over NYC FC. The play of  Celio Pompeu caught the eye of many fans as he was an offensive force(moved up from City2 team last year). It was encouraging.  TAKING A REAL CLOSE LOOK It’s a long, long 9 month season of games. Soooo ….we can’t make too many judgements yet.
…..the Cardinals are still “juggling” their probable starting lineup. The elbow surgery to Brendan Donovan may be “forcing” him into a 2b spot.  TAKING A  REAL  CLOSE LOOK AT IT….Nolan Gorman has to play! He can’t be platooned. The best place for this slugger seems to be 2b! Gorman blasted 27 HR with 76 RBI”s in 400ish AB last year. He needs to be getting 600 AB’s this year. He’s going to strike out…don’t ALL sluggers? He’s 23 years old—He’s ready for Prime Time. Donovan may be shoved to the DH spot or the OF when the gets healthy. With Tommy Edman injured (isn’t recovering from arthroscopic wrist surgery as quickly as the team hoped or expected), a CF is required from some place…maybe Donovan? Maybe the minor-league speedster  Victor Scott?  In spring training, the Cards offense has been mediocre at best. Maybe this speedster can help in igniting the offense?
…Mizzou’s recruiting class has been rated an A- by some of the experts who do that type of thing. Others rate them #23 in the USA! Let’s hope that the players develop as expected, stay healthy, don’t transfer. TAKING A CLOSER LOOK…Coach Drinkwitz has to be recognized as the best MU recruiter in decades!! Keep it  up…it’s a yearly battle.
….With the injury to ace Sonny Gray set for about a month, at this moment, the ace is Miles Mikolas. TAKING A REAL CLOSE LOOK at the 35 year old Mikolas is a bit worrisome. He carries in the baggage of 2023—35 starts (good durability last year); 201 innings with 226 hits—a 1:1 ratio is often used as a guide for success; a career high ERA of 4.78; 137 strikeouts – his lowest for a full season of pitching.  Those marks really worry me more than “excite me”.  
… TAKING A REAL CLOSE LOOK at the Cards–With the two “leaders” of the team – Paul Goldschmidt (36) and Nolan Arenado turning 33 years old in April reaching ages of decline in their play; a very, very mediocre pitching staff (boosted by 3 veteran starters past their prime) and 1 real starter (who’s now injured), and a turnover in every-day players to young, unproven players in several positions,  it makes me feel like the Cardinals haven’t made maximum efforts to improve their last place team. Attendance dropped last year after July 4. With this lack of effort to really improve the team, it won’t last that long this year!
…. A sports fan HAS to look at his FAVORITE team but also the major opponents of their “team”. For the Cards, it’s Milwaukee. TAKING A REAL CLOSE LOOK ….this won’t be the same Brewer team as in recent years. Take a look at some of the familiar names who have departed since the end of last year—Josh Donaldson retired; Rowdy Telez  released; Adrian Houser (traded); Brandon Woodruff; Wade Miley(released); Victor Caratini(released); Jess Winker (Free agent); Carlos Santana (free agent); Julio Teheran(released); Brian Anderson (released); Josh Dondaldson (FA); Carlos Santana (FA); Eric Lauer (FA).  The also lost their excellent manager- Craig Counsell). It appears that the Brewers are going to be a totally different team and NOT for the better!! The Cubs(Counsel’s new team)  & the Reds seem to be our strongest rivals in the NL Central Division.
….Still “hanging on” are the Battlehawks who will open their season March 30. Their outstanding attendance made them an easy choice to remain in the new structure where several teams were removed. All games are televised but….if possible….try to get down to the Dome. The atmosphere is tremendous. TAKING A REAL CLOSE LOOK….if any of these franchises draw sizable crowds for the next 5-8 years….the NFL might expand again using those cities that have shown that they can draw fans. However, St Louis already has 2 strikes against it with Cardinals & Rams departures.
….Well…TAKING A  real CLOSE LOOK at the length of my Buzz….it’s time to go. Thanks for your read and spread the word to your friends/family. Bob