BLAZING INTO JUNE!  Yes, we’re still in May but it sure feels like June😊 In the sports world, MLB action is clearly in the “summer” mode—warmer days, fewer days off, players are well within their “daily routine” days.  Soooo..there’s still more…take a look..

…The NL Central is really BLAZING, it is the tightest division in the MLB. As I write this, the Brewers have 33 wins and all the other 4 teams had 29 wins!! Every team in the Central Division holds a record over .500 as these teams have all played between 52 and 55 games.

…Cardinals with  the BLAZING BATS of  Jordan Walker &  Alec Burleson have raised fans expectations. This duo are 1-2 on the club in several categories. Batting average—Walker-.296,  Burleson.287; in RBI’s Walker-42- Burleson-35; Home Runs—Walker-15, Burleson-7. Walker has come back to reality recently after an truly unbelievable start to 2026. Yet, while is home runs have sagged recently, his batting average has held steady around .300. AT the MLB level, Walker holds some VERY impressive numbers.  He’s tied for 7th in HR; he’s 5th in RBI’s; 5th in total bases; 7th in OPS (onbase plus slugging %) one spot behind Aaron Judge of the Yankees!!! He’s 4th in the entire MLB in WAR (wins above replacement). Some, maybe many, StL fans had “written off” Walker & Gorman after 2 unimpressive years as they adjusted to the MLB level. Well…shame on YOU! It’s really not that easy to compete against the best players in the world day after day.

…Surprisingly BLAZING at the plate…. Another young surprise has been Catcher Ivan Herrera, which is a real bonus when the catcher (often stuck in the lower end of the batting order) becomes an integral part of the offense. He currently holds a.263 average; .813-OPS (#2 on team); team leading 32 RBI’s!! 

… 1st round draft choice in 2024–Rookie JJ Wetherholt has been a surprising contributor also. It’s not quite BLAZING but he is productive as he adjusts to the MLB level of competition.! Holding just a .234-average; but, on the up side, he’s shockingly to me, 2nd on the team with 9 home runs;  he’s scored 36 runs-2nd on the team; with 25 RBI’s! He already has posted 241 plate appearance and we aren’t to June yet as I write this REWIND. He’s really earned his daily starting spot not just because he was the Cards 1st round draft choice om 2024 but due to his performance. Defensively, he looks very solid, not flashy but dependable  @ 2b.

…Now let’s BLAZE through those past winning years, the Cards had a “regular” day-day 2b—take a look—2001-2002-Fernando Vina(btw…he was drafted in the 51st round of the draft in 1988 by the NYY!) 2003 saw a trio of 2b—Vina, Miguel Cairo & Bo Hart; 2024-Tony Womack; 2025  Mark Grudzielanek; 2006-Aaron Miles; 2007-Aaron Miles & Adam Kennedy; 2008 Adam Kennedy 2009 -2011-Skip Schumaker 2012 Dan Descalso; 2013-Chris Carpenter; 2014-2020-Colton Wong; 2021-22- Tommy Edman; 2023-24 Nolon Gorman had the most games @ 2B over a bevy of player; and in 2025 the Cardinal player with the most starts @ 2b was Brendan Donovan. Boy….I couldn’t have named more than 2 or 3 or maybe if I was lucky, 4 of those guys. Being strong (and consistent) “up the middle”(cather, 2b, SS, CF) has been a long-time mantra of winning post-season MLB  teams. The longest stint as a regular 2b starter for the Cardianls from my research were:  11 years-Julian Javier & 10 years with Red Schoendienst handling the 2b duties. Other Notable “runner up”, commonly recognized 2b were: Rogers Hornsby & Tommy Herr- each 7 years; Franke Frisch (5 years, traded away, came back a year later with the Cards and played 3 more Cardinals years!! Don’t ask me why? Don Blasingame-5 years. OK…history lesson is over 😊)

…BLAZING BACK TO 2026…In this multi-year rebuild, restart, whatever you want to call it, the Cardinals top prospects in the minor leagues look like this: the top rated prospect is catcher—(#15 in MLB rankings). Rainiel Rodriguez, (sadly, that’s one of the spots that the Cards are young & productive with Herrera behind the plate!) At any rate, he’s what the experts say about him–Rodriguez is a polished power hitter with the tools to stick behind the plate. He doesn’t have much physical projection and will need to prove his approach works in the upper minors. I see a trade coming here!! You can’t carry 2 young catchers or at least, I can’t recall it happening, EVER!! 

…Moving up from #50 in the preseason to #28 now is 28 is Liam Doyle, LHP. He’s found the jump to AA level to be a bit steeper than his earlier minor league days. This year, he has pitched 29.1 innings for Springfield), holds a 6.44 ERA (a unimpressive number) with an average of  11.7 K/9 strikeout rate. Sooo, it appears from this short exposure in Springfied (AA ball) that he has the “stuff” but needs more experience (probably in exact location—you just can’t throw the ball “by” batters as you’ve done throughout your life once you reach AA.) From my view, AA ball is for the “top” young  up & coming prospects. AAA seems to be the level for former MLB players that are sent back to the minors OR long time minor league players. Sidenote…on a sad note, I only saw 2 Cardinals prospects listed in the top 50 MLB prospects!! Ugh!!! Maybe there should be some BLAZING in the scouting staff?

…Let’s now BLAZE on over to the soccer world.  Let’s focus on our hometown team. The StL City Soccer Club currently holds a 4-4-6 record in 2026. They’ve won 3 of the last 5 matches and for the season their goals vs goals against is a very tight margin of 16 goals vs 20 allowed goals. Soooo…they are basically a .500 team in my eyes.

…Using their own soccer language, City is in a “transitional phase” (commonly called rebuilding in the USA) so immediate positive results are in the future. Following the last 2 year’s of very disappointing seasons, the team reset its front office and coaching staff, and most notably traded away all-time leading scorer João Klauss as they enter this “bridge” year(rebuild year). As a result, the club is younger and attempting to play a more ball-control style (similar to European style) unlike the American style of applying pressure as often as possible (as they did in their 1st year). 

… Apparently, the BLAZING, constant pressure style requires an exhaustive effort.  My suggestion, as limited as it is, is to abandon the European style of limited subs per game. Have “free” substitution throughout the entire match. Let players run, chase, sprint constantly & use their skills (and without question their ball-handling, passing, shooting skills are really remarkable even to the eyes of a non-soccer guy). I don’t see any negative at all in FREE SUBSTITUTIOIN. You don’t HAVE to do it if you don’t want to do so. If you want to play the starters for the entire match while the opposition sends our fresh players on a regular basis. Have at it.  

…Further, to be completely honest, the REAL superstars of this sport play in Europe. In a sense, the MLS is like a minor league when compared to the best European teams. We need to see fresh players who can sprint and play “hard” for each second that they are on the pitch..oops almost said field (still learning this language 😊). In the limited MLS soccer matches what I’ve watched, I’m completely turned off when I see players walking on the far side of the play away from the play.

…Well….on that soccer note…I’m going to BLAZE right out of here….thanks for your read! I always enjoy your comments. Pro & con! We had a record-high-26 responses last week!   Bob