Many times, we’re “wrapped up” in some activity of some sort or I mind is floating away in thoughts far away from our action at the moment. As others approach us and then move on…they simply, WALK ON BY! So too in sports, players, teams, actions off the field occur and we miss it as our thoughts just “WALK ON BY” …..for example…

….As sitting on a bench reading my comics, I heard 2 men talking. Their voices were getting louder .. they were talking about the Blues. The smaller, louder walker was bragging about his Blues. The larger man was so “keen” on them. Then, they WALKED ON BY!  It made me think… I’d give good marks to (in no particular order) Bennington (who seemed terrific on most nights); Robert Thomas (who has become the star of the team); Jordan Kyrou (he’s not perfect but he can score—you can’t get rid of a scorer); Jake Neighbors who seemed quicker this year, set up shop in front of the GK & scored, checked often & aggressively. He impressed me! ; Nathan Walker (never going to be a star- but plays the fundamentals & checks). I kept thinking about the Blues…I’m really NOT a “hockey guy” but I watch & cheer for the Blues with some regularty. With that being said, these guys seem very mediocre to me(in no particular order)—Kevin Hayes, Brayden Schenn (apparently he’s a great “team” guy  and he can check but we need some goals for his spot); Kasperi Kapanen always seemed “late to the play”—he’s gotta go; Oscar Sundquist-seems to give his “all” but the tank seems empty to me. Justin Faulk & Brandon Saad have seen their best days. My thoughts can’t stay on one sport too long…soooo…I started looking again back at the walkers, who continued WALK ON BY.

….While sitting there, I saw a guy walking by me wearing a Mizzou hat, my mind went right to the Tigers football team.  He kept WALKING ON BY me. My mind remembered that 6 Tigers had been WALKED ON BY the college ranks as they were drafted  by the NFL last week. This draft shows that Coach Drink has really elevated the quality of the team.  A grand total of 3 MU players were drafted in the ’22 & ’23 drafts! After the ’24 draft, 5 other Tigers signed as free agents this year.  The draftees were:1^st Round: DL Darius Robinson, Arizona, No. 27;  2nd Round: CB Ennis Rakestraw, Jr., Detroit, No. 61; 3rd Round: LB Ty’Ron Hopper, Green Bay, No. 91 pick; 4th Round: OL Javon Foster, Jacksonville, No. 114; 5th Round: CB Kris Abrams-Draine, Denver, No. 145; 5th Round: LB/S Jaylon Carlies, Indianapolis, No. 151 pick.  My mind kept wandering…you gotta have talent, real good talent, to win in the SEC.  Looks like Mizzou is making progress. My thoughts flew to a totally different area..it went to the D-2 talent(who started @ Truman St), who came from a non-football high school—Lutheran South grad, Cody Schrader signed as a free agent with the NFL! What a path he had traveled!! That thought stunned me back to day-dreaming as others ‘WALKED ON BY.

…..Suddenly, I heard some youngster dribbling a basketball, as I sat there. Sure enough…WALKED RIGHT ON BY ME.   It made me think….what’s going on with Mizzou basketball this off-season? Apparently, MU landed a former 5-star prospect from Duke. Mark Mitchell signed in April ’24 with MU as he departed from Duke. That caliber player should “step up” several categories for MU. Returning players for 24-25 season are Aidan Shaw, Anthony Robinson, Jordan Butler, Pierce, and Bates a. However, anything is still possible in the transfer portal era. Some may stay…some may leave. 

…My next sight was of Fr Time. He was wearing a Cardinal Hat and moving ever so slowly as h WALKED ON BY. It seems to him that the Cardinals have not matched the newer approach to using the minor leagues in 2024. The recently released 2024 minor league rankings placed the Cardinals 23^rd overall. The other 4 Central Division teams were all in the Top 10. Further, the average age of of the top 30 Cards prospects is 22.2 years of age. For the Reds, Cubs, Pirates & Brewers, the combined average is 20.0. The top 30 minor league prospects in ALL of baseball is 20.8! The top minor-league prospect that was just sent down by the Cardinals (Victor Scott) is 23 years old!  If your twenty-three-year-old player isn’t ready for the major league roster when 20.8 is the average age of a top MLB prospect, then  something is wrong!

…It appears that the Cardinals are still “locked into” the “old” approach used decades ago. Players don’t “develop” over 3-4 years if they are “stars”. The highly touted players play only a short while in the minors before making the leap to the MLB.

…..Times have changed the AAA minor league level appears to be an extension of the MLB team. Often these AAA clubs have former MLB players. Some are rehabbing, some are trying to get back to the “bigs”, others are there as they try to learn new skills that make them more appealing to the MLB. 

….Perfect example is Victor Scott. He wasn’t good enough for the floundering Cards but Nolan Schanuel, spent just 21 days in the minors, and the World Series-winning Texas Rangers have just announced that Wyatt Langford made their team after only 44 games in the minor leagues. The San Diego Padres promoted Ethan Salas to Double-A at age 17. One has to wonder if baseball is changing and the St. Louis Cardinals haven’t jumped on the band wagon yet?  Does this team have so much talent that we can’t squeeze in our top prospect (pardon the sarcasm 😊)

…When the Cardinals drafted Victor Scott, he had played 3 seasons of college ball which seemingly has replaced A & AA minor league ball. Many college coaches are developing their athletes at the same, or maybe even better, as lower level minor leagues.  Scott should be on the Cardinals RIGHT NOW The reasons he should have made this team were defense and speed. No amount of time in the minors will increase his speed and MLB already grades his defense as a 70. No current player on the Cardinals roster will save more runs in the outfield or create more runs on the base paths than Scott. Wasting his time in the minor leagues as the Cards battle to get out of the basement, doesn’t enhance his skills or the overall strength of the Cardinals.   Will he struggle batting…SURE!  But….give him 400-500 AB and his maturation should increase quicker. Are the Cards a playoff team this year? You know the answer!! Think of how long the Cards tinkered around with Paul DeJong and others of that ilk. 

…Moving quickly and almost under the radar as they WALKED ON BY were the Billikens Womens Basketball Coaches.  They were smiling, having fun and enjoying the walk. They had just signed another strong player for the second time in two weeks!  St. Louis University has added the top scorer from Indiana State! SLU Womens’s team signed Mya Glanton, who is from East St. Louis. She will transfer to play for the Billikens after leading the Indiana State with averages of 11.2 points and 6.9 rebounds. Further, Coach Rebecca Tillett also signed 6-foot-5 center Marilena Triantafylli. She arrives  from Greece and played one season at Syracuse. Good for the Lady Billikens. BTW…why don’t the women play, at least some of their games, prior to the mens’ games? One would think that the crowds would be larger—especially for later in the game when the game is “on the line”.

….Well….now it’s time for me to WALK ON BY and move on.  But….don’t you WALK ON BY!  Let me (and others) know YOUR thoughts. You can’t be wrong…they are YOUR thoughts.  Thanks for the read & pass the word on the Buzz. Bob