…In a sense, all of us are AUDITIONING. Maybe it’s to get a raise in pay, maybe to get a promotion, maybe to just keep our job, yada-yada-yada. It’s very true in the sports world. To make the MLB, to become a starter, to convince management that you really can play 2b, CF, 3b…or where ever it might be.

…For the Cardinals right now, many players are AUDITIONING. Some to stay on the roster, some to become an “everyday” player; some to move up in the status of the Manager. Every player wants to be a starter or a closer. Players (outside of pitchers) AUDITION to become an everyday “starter.”

…Since the trade deadline, GM-John Mozeliak analyzed the production and cost of each piece of his show. Some were good performers but their cost, for him & the Cardinals, was too high.  He parted ways with his star closer Ryan Helsley and pitchers Phil Maton and Steven Matz with the intentions of lowering the salary expenses. While their AUDITION over this season may have been good, their salary request (demands in some cases) was too high. Helsley had been the closer. Matz has become the “bring me in the game at any time” man. (excluding the 9th inning).  Surprisingly Phil Maton, who was showing unexpected skill out of the bullpen, was included in this trio of pitchers who were removed from the roster via a trade. With MO moving on, I think he’s relieved this process is over.

… The DeWitt ownership (from my view) has tied his hands with regard to acquiring talent. It seems to me, that their bottom line approach for “cutting costs” makes it tough to acquire talent that’s ready to play and contribute immediately. This is despite an unbelievable change in the value of the Cards since his purchase. Mr. Dewitt purchased the StL Cardinals in 1995 for $150,000,000. Their current estimated value according to the fine folks over at Forbes is $2.55 billion, with a B. That is an increase of 1,566.67%. Now that is over 30 years but over 1,500% gain on anything is really fantastic. Question is…could DeWitt sell the team for $2.55 billion?  What do you think?

… Most of Mozeliak’s significant trades have occurred on the day of the deadline, if not hours before. He traded Tommy Edman last year on the afternoon of the deadline. Jack Flaherty was traded roughly an hour before the 2023 deadline passed. Mozeliak’s acquisition of Jordan Montgomery from the New York Yankees for Harrison Bader came together minutes before the 2022 deadline. So did his 2021 deal for Jon Lester. Sooo…last minute deal is the M.O. for MO 😊

…It could have been worse, Bob Nightengale of USA today, reported “The Cardinals would have loved to move starters Sonny Gray and Miles Mikolas, and first baseman Willson Contreras, too, but all three told the Cardinals they would not waive their no-trade clauses.” My prediction of almost 2 years ago that the DeWitts are looking to sell the club are looking more & more likely to me.

…Not even given a chance to view their AUDITIONS on the field, Mizzou recently lost 2 prime recruits. Mizzou suffered a large blow to its 2026 recruiting class as 2 different defensive prospects, who ranked high on MU recruiting charts, chose different schools. 4-star safety, Jayden McGregory has committed to Louisville. McGregory is ranked as the No. 400 player in the country, as well as the No. 24 athlete and No. 4 in his home state of Iowa. This is a significant loss for Mizzou, as they don’t have many options to pivot toward in that position. McGregory chose U of Louisville over MU. I’m speculating that Louisville reached deeper into their pocket book to procure McGregory from MU. With the season starting practice in about a month, Mizzou now has to look around as the AUDITIONS will become watching tapes of past performances in lieu of AUDITIONING in person. Interestingly enough, Mizzou’s recruiting efforts tilt towards defensive players thus far! 

…Staying along the same, evaluating AUDITIONS (now by watching them on tape) theme… “Flipping” on Mizzou was 3-star LB Braxton Lindsey He flipped from Mizzou & committed to BYU. Lindsey chose the Cougars over Missouri, Arkansas, Miami and Oklahoma. He’s the No. 508 player in the country and No. 35 at his position. Lindsey is ranked as the 7th-best player in the state of Arkansas and is from Rogers, Arkansas. Missouri made a late push for Lindsey after losing a priority LB target late last week when J.J. Bush, also committed to Arkansas.

…Now….don’t get all riled up about losing 2 recruits. I would think that NO school actually signs all the players that they want in a particular year. Coach Drinkwitz has piled up some slick looking won-lost numbers @ MU. In the last 2 years, Missouri has finished the year ranked in the top-25 and collected a combined 21-5 overall record, including an 11-5 mark in SEC play, which is tied for the 3rd best two-year stretch in MU history. Now starting his 6th season, Coach Drink has piled up a 38-24 (.613) overall record. He has eclipsed Dan Devine’s school record for wins in the first five seasons of a Mizzou head coaching tenure. Keep in mind Coach Devine had only 10 regular season games in his era. The regular season is now 13 games + a much expanded Bowl season that just about guarantees any team over .500 will “go Bowling”. There were far fewer bowl games in Devine’s HC era.

… Devine didn’t worry about wins/losses in pre-conference games. He wanted his non-league schedule to prepare his team for Big 8 competition. He wanted his players to AUDITION for starting roles not on the practice field but in game action. Divine stayed away, as much as possible from non-conference cupcakes each year. As good as the SEC conference is, there is always 1 or 2 completely overmatched teams. Drinkwitz holds a 27-7 (.794) record on Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium, giving him the best home win percentage (minimum 4 seasons) in the history of MU. See above about the level of competition. MU has become very accustom to “buying wins” by paying cupcakes to play them @ Faurot Field. Wouldn’t it be great to see Mizzou play Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, K-State (adjacent states) in non-league games. That would probably include a home/away game in back/back years for the schools.

…Devine posted a 173-56-9 in his college coaching career. He left Mizzou for Notre Dame. Then moved to professional ranks (1971-74) to Coach Green Bay Packers. During those Packer years, the Packers won one division title. It would be the only division title between 1968 and 1994 for the Packers! Devine’s professional record was 25-23-8 (can you imagine 8 ties in 4 years?)

…in 2024 Mizzou’s non-conference football schedule was MURRAY STATE, BUFFALO   BOSTON COLLEGE and the 1 road game at Massachusetts. Did those opponents make us “ready” for SEC action?

…With the Cardinals out of the playoff race, the AUDITIONING for playing prominent positions in 2026 exists at a higher level. The higher priced the salary, the more is expected of the player. Which…really is way it should be. “Off years” probably mean “off the team” 😊

… There are still some keen AUDITIONING going on for the final playoff spots. There are 6 spots from each league for the playoff spots– The 3 division winners & 3 wild-card spots. The most staggering, surprising team still in the playoff hunt is the Miami Marlins.  The Marlins hold a .500 record as of today (that alone is an accomplishment for them 😊) They are in the 3rd place in the NL Eastern Division behind the Phillies & Mets. 

…With the bulk of the season behind them, the StL City soccer team holds a 4-6-14 record. To no one’s surprise…scoring goals seems to be the major problem. City has 24 goals (2nd fewest of MSL). It’s not impossible to win with only a few goals but it’s very tough! The 7th place team, Austin, has the lowest # of goals of MSL @ 21 goals. Individually, City’s João Klauss of St. Louis CITY SC has 7 goals to lead the team in goals for 2025 season.  But, City is -16 for the season (16 less goals scored than allowed). Each player (and coach) is AUDITIONING right now for a sport on the 2026 team. Despite the W-L record, City is 10th in the league in attendance (at this moment) with a 21,979 avg/game. StL is backing them!!. In 2025 (Partial Season): St. Louis City SC’s average attendance is currently 21,662.  That’s only a drop of 3% but it’s still a “new” franchise.

…ALL PROFESSIONAL TEAMS AUDITION each year for fans. If fans aren’t happy with what they see…they don’t attend home games. Just take a look at the meager attendance for the 2025 Cardinals who built up a tremendous fan base over decades but have fielded inferior teams for the last 3 years. Sooo….StL crowds in 2025 are a pittance of years ago.  Cardinals average home attendance in 2025 is 28,881. That is 11th of the 15 National League teams. Just 2 years ago(2023), the Cardinals average attendance was just short of 41,000. Further, this 2025 average attendance is the lowest Cardinal average attendance since 1995!! That’s a long time ago!

…Thanks for your time & read. I hope that I touched some interesting topics this week for each of you. I realize that each week, I’m AUDTIONING to get & keep you as a reader! Soooo..please respond with YOUR thoughts. You can post them directly on my Facebook page-Bob Ryan or email them to me. I would really appreciate it if you “spread the word” of the Buzz to friends/family. Thanks!Bob