Meet Me At Musial: A St. Louis Cardinals Podcast: Recent Episodes
Daniel Shoptaw and Allen Medlock
Every week, a fan in Arkansas and a fan in Oklahoma virtually meet at the Musial statue to discuss all things Cardinals.
Another week and not exactly a lot to enjoy when it comes to St. Louis Cardinals baseball. The team is depleted in numerous ways and it shows in the results. Daniel (@C70) and Allen (@amedlock1) talk about the struggles of the club, most notably the pitching staff. How will Miles Mikolas's recent outings impact how the Cardinals approach the winter? What about Dakota Hudson and Zack Thompson? Is Jordan Walker untouchable when it comes to looking for young pitching this offseason? How will they clear up some of this roster mess? Then, in what will sure to be a hit with the middle-aged dad population of the audience, it's time to Remember Some Guys. The guys pull up the box score from this point in the 1990 season to talk about those that were playing and how different that era of baseball was. Let them know if you like that feature and maybe they'll do more of it this September! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Cardinals may be playing out the string but that doesn't mean there can't be any excitement. Masyn Winn made his debut with the Cardinals last night and Daniel (@C70) and Allen (@amedlock1) are here to talk about it. When was the last time a homegrown shortstop had this sort of excitement around him? Pete Alonso may be a big, strong blockhead--what was he thinking throwing out Winn's first hit? Also, the pair get into John Mozeliak's proclamation that the team is looking for three starters this winter plus the improved results of Adam Wainwright this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's early for meaningless baseball but 2023 has us in this predicament. Which means Daniel (@C70) and Allen (@amedlock1) have to find some things to talk about so there's not dead air for an hour. Adam Wainwright's blowup against the Royals Friday night provided some fodder. How do you deal with the legend when he doesn't seem to have it? What should the Cardinals do about him, if anything? That leads to some discussion of next year's roster--which is likely to be a popular topic the rest of the year--and then some talk about Tyler O'Neill and his week. Come listen to Daniel completely ruin how Allen views the player! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Here we are, on the other side of the trade deadline. The activity was unprecedented but it's over now. Daniel (@C70) and Allen (@amedlock1) sort through the overall activity at the deadline. What impact will these moves have on this organization? What was the best deal? Can we trust the front office to be active this winter? Discussion then turns to Adam Wainwright, who failed yet again to win #199. Can he get to 200? Also, besides that, what is there to watch for over two months of meaningless baseball? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's our final look at the trade deadline! Daniel (@C70) discusses the prospects that came back in the Jack Flaherty trade with Derek Arnold (@EutawStReport). It's a bit of a role reversal as the Cards are selling and the O's are buying. Where does Cesar Prieto fit into the Cardinals organization? Is there more promise to Drew Rom than some of the numbers indicate? How intriguing is Zack Showalter? After that, Daniel chats with Tyler Zickel (@tyler_zickel) who is the voice of the A ball Vancouver Canadians, the most recent (extended) home of now-Cardinal Matt Svanson. Tyler talks about Matt's time in Vancouver, how he fit into the clubhouse, and how strong his performance was after taking over the closer role. Tyler also drops a little knowledge about the other Jays prospects acquired as well as a little bonus! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
5:00 Central Time has come and gone. All the uncertainty and speculation is over. Now it's time to sift through what's left after the Cardinals had their first (and hopefully last) garage sale at the MLB trade deadline. Daniel (@C70) brings in Jason Hill (@JPHill_Cards) and David Jones (@iPopEditor) to take a look at what St. Louis did and what it didn't do over the last few days. How intriguing are the prospects that came back? Did the club understand their assignment? How nerve-wracking were the last few minutes before the final bell? Come in for some initial thoughts and impressions about a historic few days! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Three out, five in. The trade deadline has started in earnest for the St. Louis Cardinals and while known names have gone to Toronto and Texas, new faces are now in the organization. Daniel (@C70) dipped into the large pool of content creators at the Fans First Sports Network (@FFSN) to go to the source and find out more about the prospects the Cardinals acquired. First up, in an interview conducted by Leo Moony (@minor_leaguer, part of the Around the Nest Podcast), the voice of the AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats Steve Goldberg (@SteveGoldberg_) fills us in on pitchers Sem Robberse and Adam Kloffenstein. How did these guys improve during their time in New Hampshire? How did they fit in to the community and the team? What memories will Steve have of them? The second half of the show finds Daniel chatting with Ben Dieter (@bdieter75) and C.J. Berryman (CJB_RR) of The Ranger Report (@TheRangerReport). What did they think of acquiring Jordan Montgomery and Chris Stratton? Is Tekoah Roby's health a serious issue? What will John King bring to the bullpen? Is Thomas Saggese close to ready for prime time? Thanks to all of the guests that help us get a fuller picture of these new Cardinals! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What in the world are we doing here? That's what Daniel (@C70) and Allen (@amedlock1) are asking after the Nolan Arenado story continues to dominate the discourse. What the heck is John Mozeliak thinking not nipping this in the bud? Did EVERYONE in the front office somehow lose Arenado's phone number and forget how to find the clubhouse? Why in the world would you risk damaging your relationship with a player that really wants to be in St. Louis? Beyond that, what's going on at the trade deadline? Will the club be left without a chair when the music stops playing? Will slow playing wind up with a better return or force a panic move? Is there a chance Jordan Montgomery finishes the year with St. Louis after all is said and done? All this and much more, plus talk about Adam Wainwright and how the club should handle him over the next two months. The discourse in this one is as hot as the weather! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In the first of what will hopefully be a series of trade deadline shows, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Richard McGill (Playing Catch Pod, @RichardMcGill89) talk about the winds surrounding the Cardinals as the deadline is a week away. Katie Woo is reporting that the Cards may extend Jordan Hicks instead of trading him. Is that a good move? Katie's also saying the club may not trade Tyler O'Neill. Posturing or is there something to that? The Dodgers traded for a utility guy, so where does that leave Paul DeJong? Listen as the guys try to sort through some of the reports as a potentially busy deadline approaches! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Can you ever win at the wrong time? The Cardinals might be doing just that, running off six wins in eight games since the All-Star Break. However, John Mozeliak has already said that they'll be sellers at the break. Should they change their mind? Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and guest host Alex (@alexcards79) ponder that question and other things around the trade deadline. Is the 2007 season instructive at all? Will any player expected to move stay put? What will make this a successful trade deadline? Does the Genesis Cabrera deal speak at all to what the market will be like? Come for all that, stay for all the rabbit holes these two guys go down! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's the All-Star Break, finally, and it's a good time to take stock of the situation. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) tapped a few other Cardinal podcasters to look back at the first half and ahead to the second. Nate (Talking About Birds, @TalkAboutBirds), David (Gateway to Baseball Heaven, @iPopEditor), and Ben (Cardinals Off Day, @b_g_h) come together to commiserate about such an unusual season in St. Louis. What has been the most frustrating? Are there leadership problems? Why is the baserunning so bad? After taking stock of the first three months, the guys look ahead to the last three, prognosticating on the fate of Adam Wainwright, who will be traded at the deadline, and where the Cards will wind up when it is all said and done. An enjoyable hour of talk from some of your favorite voices! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It could have been a good week. The Cardinals took the series from the Yankees and held a late lead in three of the four games against the Marlins. Two of those slipped away, most notably when Jordan Hicks apparently tried to give a Marlins fan a live baseball, and St. Louis sits firmly in last place and 15 games out of the division. Daniel (@C70) and Allen (@amedlock1) look for the silver lining in those losses, hoping that it pushed the front office clearly into sell mode instead of giving them false hope. Who will still be around after the trade deadline? Has the organization treated Matthew Liberatore properly? Can Adam Wainwright get to 200? Has John Mozeliak tarnished his legacy? All this and more in an extra-long show, because we know how much people are just clamoring to hear about this team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Another week and the Cardinals are not any closer to finding purchase or figuring things out. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (@amedlock1) look at a .500 week since the last show and discuss whether the white flag is coming out or already flying freely. Adam Wainwright is struggling a lot. Is this just Father Time or can he make adjustments for a better second half? Does it even matter when it comes to his rotation spot? Why is Tommy Edman still playing the outfield every day? What kind of deals will John Mozeliak pull at the trade deadline? Come and spend a little time with us talking Cardinals! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
They usually don't let you take toxic things through customs but somehow the Cardinals took their whole game to London anyway. After the first game implosion, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (@amedlock1) talk about where this team stands as we get closer and closer to the halfway mark. Is there any real hope for a resurgence? Is John Mozeliak right that the Cards shouldn't rebuild? What sort of trades should the front office be looking at? The season isn't over, but should it be treated as such? All this and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A full week without a Cardinals victory used to be unheard of but now is becoming depressingly regular. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (@amedlock1) talk about the depressing state of the team currently. How frustrating is it to know even when things go right, the club can still lose? That every facet of the team has let them down? John Mozeliak talks about a lot of baseball left but there's not that much time before trade deadline decisions have to be made. What does that look like for this club? It's a rough time for us fans but we can get through it together! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's the last of the bonus shows (if you have missed it, the regular show is back there after these extras) and Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) talks with Brian Salvatore (@BrianNeedsaNap, @HRApplesauce), co-founder of the Fans First Sports Network (@FansFirstSN). Both the Cardinals and the Mets have been disappointing this year and the guys talk about the similarities and the differences in those frustrations. There are positives in New York as well and Brian highlights those before they discuss the pitching matchups, most notably Adam Wainwright going against the Mets. After that, it's only fair to talk about Brian's favorite Cardinals/Mets memories! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
With the Cardinals making the trip across the pond next weekend, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) thought it was a great time to sit down and talk with Dave of the St. Louis Cardinals UK Podcast (@hayesunit). It always interesting to hear how someone outside the US came to baseball and the guys cover that as well as how Dave deals with the time difference, how he picked the Cardinals, and what the atmosphere is like as his country gets ready to host our national pastime. For once, the British guy isn't the villain so come give a listen! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Some bonus content for you this week, starting with a look ahead at the Cardinals and Giants. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) brings in fellow @FansFirstSN contributor Bryan Murphy (@GiantsChroncast) to give us some insight about the team by the bay. What's working for the Giants right now and what isn't? Should Cardinals fans continue to fear Brandon Crawford? What stands out about the pitching matchups? Plus Daniel allows Bryan to talk about his favorite St. Louis/San Francisco memories, so there's a trigger warning for the last few minutes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Two straight wins makes for a more upbeat show, though Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (@amedlock1) don't shy away from the problems that the Cardinals continue to have. What's up with Dylan Carlson not playing center field? Is the pitching rotation starting to come into focus with Miles Mikolas and Jack Flaherty on strong runs? Who could be moved at the trade deadline? Which Paul DeJong is the real Paul DeJong? All that and more on this week's show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
You should never go to the grocery store hungry and you should never podcast after a disappointing loss. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (@amedlock1) had their recording time scheduled, though, so they have to ponder the Cardinals dropping another frustrating loss on the fanbase Friday night. Are we seeing 2007 again? Will Steven Matz stay in the bullpen all year or will he return to the rotation? How has the outfield injuries affected the trade possibilities? Come join us as we discuss this maddening team! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) invites both sides of the Cardinals Off Day podcast, Ben Godar (@bengodar) and Ben Humphries (@b_g_h) to fill in the co-host chair while Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) continues the high school baseball activities. Roster decisions became clearer this week with the injuries to Adam Wainwright and Paul DeJong. How does the rotation look and are there concerns about Waino's return? Who would be the first man up, Dakota Hudson or Matthew Liberatore? Does the order of the rotation matter at all? There's also talk about the middle infield now that DeJong has cleared the way for some other folks on the roster. All that and much more, plus a show announcement, are waiting for you within!
With Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) still molding young minds and improving his players, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) sits down with Richard McGill (@RichardMcGill89) of the Playing Catch podcast. They talk about why Richard and his son Truman started their show and how its going before diving into the Cardinal talk. The Cardinals made a 40-man roster move this week--was it for Jordan Walker and why make it now? The rotation has looked sharp in spring, should we expect that going forward? And how in the world are we expected to know the Opening Day roster? All that and much more!
It's Lars Nootbaar's world and we're all just living in it. The Cardinal outfielder is the biggest thing to hit Japan since a certain kaiju. With Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) still doing the coaching thing, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) teamed up with Nate and Ben from the Talking About Birds podcast (@TalkAboutBirds) to discuss how in the world Nootbaar became the most recognized Cardinal across the globe. The guys also get into everyone's favorite topic, Jordan Walker, as well as the man who has had perhaps the better spring training. Questions about Paul DeJong and Jordan Hicks are answered and there's even time for Nate to bring one of their podcast staples out and host a game show. It's an offbeat hour of great Cardinal conversation!
With Allen's (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) season getting started at Tulsa Hale, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) brings in Ben Cerutti (Birds on the Black, @stlfanbc7) to talk about a full week of spring training. While none of these results should be taken with anything but a grain of salt, there's still a lot of interesting things to talk about. Jordan Walker continues to make a case for starting in St. Louis--can it really happen? Masyn Winn is holding his own at short while Paul DeJong can't get on the field, but does that matter? What about Adam Wainwright's velocity questions? Then the guys dig into Ben's patented projection system and talk about some of the highlights and interesting numbers. Come join the discussion!
Seasons are starting, whether it's high school (where Allen, Mr. Red Dirt Redbird and @amedlock1, is at) or professional (at least, the exhibition version). Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) brings in Russ Robinson (Redbird Rants, @frrobinson1957) to talk about goings on in camp on the eve of the Cardinals' first spring training game. Does the fact that Tyler O'Neill wants to play center cause a rift with Dylan Carlson? Can Giovanny Gallegos pitch faster or does he continue to do his impression of Daniel trying to get to a point? Also, is there any chance anyone gets into the Cardinal Hall of Fame this year other than David Freese? Be sure to stick around when Russ throws a whole can of gasoline on the HOF fire!
Pitchers and catchers (and other players) have reported to Jupiter and the baseballs are flying, either in bullpens or batting practice. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) brings in Alex (Birds on the Black, @alexcards79) with Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) still on assignment to talk about things in Jupiter. The guys honor Tim McCarver after his passing this week and discuss how many Cardinal icons have left us in the last few years. Then they focus on this team, talking about what they've seen so far in camp and how much, if any of it, matters. Finally there's discussion about arbitration, most specifically the case involving Ryan Helsley. Come on in and enjoy the conversation!
With Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) on assignment, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) is fortunate enough to rope in prospect guru and all around great guy Kyle Reis (Birds on the Black, @kyler416) for a little chat. The guys talk about the World Baseball Classic, combating the hype around certain players, and how the organization values its farm system. And, of course, we get into the Dirty 50 list Kyle is putting out there at Birds on the Black! All this plus a little Star Wars, Marvel, and DC discussion so come on in and give it a listen!
It's Episode #300 in Best Dans/MMM history (and the 100th with the current theme song by Some Guy Named Robb) and Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) doesn't have Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) but instead gets to chat with Jason Hill (Viva El Birdos, @JPHill_Cards) about Cardinal things. The two spend most of the time using the roster possibilities as the backbone of their conversation. Do we believe in the changes Paul DeJong is making? Is Nolan Gorman a lock for the team? Who makes up the bullpen and is there a way Dakota Hudson isn't on this squad for the opener? All that plus Rolen to the HOF talk and a little discussion of the new broadcaster. It's an oversized episode but it's a good one!
With weather issues keeping Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) away, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) sits down solo to talk with Katie Woo (The Athletic, @katiejwoo) about a host of topics, including the fact that Katie finally gets a normal spring training. What is she looking for when she heads to Jupiter? What was it like last year, with Albert, Yadi, Waino, and the MVP boys? What struck her out of the interviews at Winter Warm-Up? What's more meaningful, being Missouri Sportswriter of the Year or winning Top Cards on Twitter again? All the important stuff packed into an hour of great Cardinal talk!
With Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) away on assignment, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) trades jibes with Brenden Schaeffer (KMOV, @bschaeffer12) while talking about the state of the Cardinals in 2022 and 2023. What was it like for Brenden to cover Albert Pujols after watching him as a fan growing up? How crazy was last year and how much should we remember the disappointing ending? Will the Cardinals ever make the big move and would it matter if they were in a different division? Plenty of talk about what makes this team tick so come on and give it a listen!
It's another season of Meet Me at Musial and with Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) away starting baseball coaching duties, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) has the traditional season opener, bringing in Jeff Jones (Belleville News-Democrat, @jmjones) to talk about all things Cardinals. 2022 brought a lot of great storylines for Cardinal fans. What was it like getting to see Albert Pujols up close? How strange was the season of Yadier Molina? Was the changeover in the coaching staff that unexpected?
There's a lot to look forward to as well with the 2023 season on its way. Who is going to be the regular center fielder? Can Jordan Walker make this team out of spring? Is this the last season for John Mozeliak in his current position? All that and much more as we start off Season 9!
On New Year's Eve, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) talk about some of the biggest stories of 2022, from Albert Pujols's return to the big trade, and then went over some of the predictions of 2023 to see how reasonable they are. Come wrap up the year with the guys!
It's been a couple of weeks and things have happened--and not happened--in the world of the Cardinals so Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) got together to try to discuss it all. St. Louis found its replacement for the departing Yadier Molina in Willson Contreras. While it brings up memories of Dexter Fowler, is this really a bad deal? How will it impact the pitching staff, especially Adam Wainwright?
That leads to a discussion of said staff, especially the fact that it has not been upgraded, with the last big free agent signing elsewhere. Will there be a trade? What is the thinking of the front office?
The guys wrap discussing the sad news around Dan McLaughlin and pondering who might be filling that seat in 2023. Come spend some pre-Christmas time with these two!
After a little time off for Thanksgiving, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) are back at it, trying to stir some embers and see if the Cardinals version of the hot stove can catch fire. Before that, though, the guys fix an issue from last time, talking about the additions of the new coaches on staff, most notably Matt Holliday. Then they get into what the Cardinals should do, what the Cardinals likely will do, and the chances that there's a surprise out there. They wrap it all up in a nice Cody Bellinger-shaped bow, so stay tuned for that!
Who wants to talk about payroll? Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) spend most of this episode trying to wrap their heads around what the Cardinals are doing with their budget for this winter. The available amounts seem to have gone from $60 million to $20 million faster than the snap of Thanos's fingers. Is that reasonable? Should the Cardinals not be counting the money from Colorado, even though they are receiving it now? Can you get this team to where it needs to be with the resources provided? They also talk about awards season, the World Series, and when the Christmas season actually starts. Come on in and give it a listen!
For a team not in the playoffs, the Cardinals made quite a bit of news this week. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) go over all of it. Adam Wainwright is coming back for another season. Is that a surprise? Does that mean that the Cards are set at pitcher? Waino deferred some money in his new contract and John Mozeliak said that payroll will be going up. Where is that money going? Some may go to Nolan Arenado, who seems to be using his opt-out leverage in constructive ways. But would he go somewhere else? Mo also indicated there would be an outside addition at catcher. How surprising was that and is Willson Contreras the answer? Finally the guys get to the coaching changes and what kind of person might fill the void. Come settle in and go over all the news!
The Cardinals' season ended in the snap of a (jammed) finger and with a whimper, not a bang. With Allen (@amedlock1) away, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Alex (Birds on the Black, @alexcards79) get down to talking about how things ended. Which, being the grumpy old men that they are, leads down the "is this postseason expansion bad" road. After that, they discuss Adam Wainwright's Twitter explanation of his rough September and spend some time honoring Bruce Sutter.
The Cardinals were 93-0 entering the ninth inning of a postseason game with a lead of two or more. They were much more known for late rallies than late collapses. Unfortunately, not all this history this season is good and Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) are here to sift the the rubble of that ninth inning. How much blame goes to Oli Marmol? Should Ryan Helsley have notified the bench sooner about his finger? What sort of situation does that put the Cards in for the rest of the series, which hopefully is more than one game? The guys talk about all of that, plus the end of the regular season and the curious case of the reliever extension.
The Cardinals did the second-best kind of divisional clinching this week, taking the NL Central on Milwaukee's turf. (The best, of course, would have been to do it against Milwaukee at Busch.) Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) spend some time looking at the rest of the playoff picture and how that might impact the Cards before settling in to the Cardinal-centric talk. Who's in and who's out of the postseason roster? Is there any way Adam Wainwright doesn't make a start in the first series? Can Tyler O'Neill get back in time? All that plus some reflections on The Last Inning--the final home weekend with two (three?) absolute legends of the organization.
700! A mark that seemed so improbable at the beginning of the season and so impossible midway through became reality last night. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) marvel at the man that is Albert Pujols and talk about this historic event and all that surrounds it, such as if it couldn't come in St. Louis, LA was the next best place. While the guys could talk about Pujols forever, they do turn to the recent downturn of the offense, their thoughts on the current pitching staff, and some look forward to the postseason. Mainly, though, this is about Albert. As it should be!
It's been a historic week for the Cardinals and Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) are here to talk all about it. From the incredibleness that is Albert Pujols to the reliability of Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina, plenty of milestones were on display. Did that distract the team any? Is there a concern about their late inning heroics being non-repeatable in October? Is Jack Flaherty a part of the postseason rotation? How are pitchers going to be used in the playoffs? So many questions around a pretty solid team. Come listen and see if we have answers!
The Cardinals finally dropped back-to-back games for the first time since late July. But is it a good thing they've cooled from their red-hot August? Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) talk about the week that was for the Cardinals and what might be lurking ahead. Is the pitching staff hitting a little bit of a wall? What will the bullpen roles be like in the playoffs? Are there downsides to Ryan Helsley's new entrance display? All that plus talk about Alec Burleson's callup and the MLB rule changes so come on in and join us!
The Cardinals are heading into Labor Day weekend in very strong position, up 7 1/2 over the Brewers. Is this race over already? Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) talk about how things are going for the surging Redbirds. How much will Jack Flaherty bring when he returns next week? Is there concern over Miles Mikolas? Is Lars Nootbaar for real? The guys also talk about MLB debuts and player usage. Spend your afternoon with them!
It's been a very good few weeks for the St. Louis Cardinals, but that doesn't mean it's been perfect. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) don't spend as much time as they should marveling at Paul Goldschmidt's Triple Crown run or Nolan Arenado's mastery but instead look around at some of the potential issues of the club. What does the pitching staff look like when Jack Flaherty returns? Has Dakota Hudson actually turned it around? What's up with players like Genesis Cabrera and Paul DeJong? What may the club do this offseason? All that plus a plug for our Discord server--DM C70 if you want to join it!
The Cardinals are up four games in the NL Central and that has Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) riding high. The guys talk about the week that was, including Albert Pujols's heroics and his chances at 700, plus discuss other matters such as who they trust in the bullpen, how important Jordan Montgomery in particular has been to the club, and what is going on with Tyler O'Neill and Paul DeJong. Give it a listen!
The Cardinals stumbled in Colorado while the Brewers finally found their post-Hader footing, so this weekend's series between the two teams is big. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) talk about the week that was, the weeks to come, and the winter looming. Can Jack Flaherty make a difference? What is up with Tyler O'Neill? How trustworthy is Genesis Cabrera? Plus some talk about the big non-Cardinal news of the weekend and a rant over the new schedule as only the old men can do it!
The Cardinals didn't get big and bold at the trade deadline but they did get better. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) talk about all three trades the Cards made and the repercussions involved in them. Will JoJo Romero influence this season? How perfect is the fit of Jose Quintana? Did the club somehow sour on Harrison Bader? All that plus discussion of next year's starting rotation and the excitement that comes from sweeping the Cubs. Come and join us!
With still a couple of days before the deadline, the Cardinals haven't made any moves in the trade market yet. That's expected to change and Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) are here to talk about what could happen, what probably won't happen, what they want to happen, and what they don't want to happen. Will the Cardinals bring Juan Soto back with them from Washington? Should they be active in acquiring Frankie Montas? How does the fact Paul DeJong is on the taxi squad influence trade thoughts? A lot of talk about rumors and reports plus the coming return of Yadier Molina. Come give it a listen before it gets too dated!
Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) had the chance to go to St. Louis and be a part of Blogger Day last week, which means there's a lot of commentary on the comments President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak had for the group. How do those comments color the swirling trade rumors around Washington Nationals wunderkind Juan Soto? Could the Cardinals actually be in that? The guys also talk about the All-Star Game, Yadier Molina's rehab and return, and what pitchers the Cards could look at during the next week in the trade market. Come spend some time with the guys!
It's a tough stretch for the St. Louis Cardinals. Is that all it is or should we be worried that there's more to it? Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) look at the past week with all its frustrations and foibles. What's up with the offense? Can anyone start clicking at the top of the lineup? Are the folks on the injured list going to improve things when they return? Can Mo use a time machine to acquire Zack Wheeler? Who might join Paul Goldschmidt and Albert Pujols in LA for the All-Star Game? All of this and much more on this week's show!
Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) are here to kick off your holiday weekend with some Cardinals talk! The guys spend a good bit of time on the bullpen--how it's used, what's the role of Jordan Hicks when he returns, stuff like that--before getting into the Jack Flaherty situation and how it impacts the rotation and the trade deadline. A free flowing conversation that comes to a fairly unique end, so be sure to stick around for that!
After yet another split between the Cardinals and the Brewers, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) get together to talk about that team up north that will be the only real obstacle to a division title. They also talk about the state of the bullpen, especially the middle relief portion, and what can or should be done at catcher, plus they take a moment to remember Darryl Kile 20 years later. Come on in and get comfortable!
Daniel (C70 At the Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) are back at it this week, talking about a big week of Cardinal news. Less so the games and more so things around the team, though Miles Mikolas almost throwing a no-hitter commanded a lot of attention. The guys talk about their thoughts on almost seeing history as well as what might be a preview of the changing of the guard at catcher, as Yadier Molina heads to the IL. They discuss the somewhat new atmosphere and approach to the roster and team from this year as well as why it's not bad that they are somewhat of a vanilla organization. Small technical problems in the middle but hopefully it's still a good listen!
Not only are the Cardinals back in first place in the NL Central but Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) is back in the co-hosting chair! Allen joins Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and talks about his season coaching Tulsa Hale and the challenges that went along with a new program. Then the guys get into the week of Cardinal baseball, talking about the road ahead, if Corey Dickerson had the best timing on getting hurt, and what happens when Jack Flaherty and Jordan Hicks are healthy. Plus, even with him finding a stroke in Memphis, have we seen the last of Paul DeJong? All that and more for your weekend!
Adam Wainwright likes to go take pictures as he goes on his "Day After Pitching Old Man Walk". It'd be great to say that Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Alex (Birds on the Black, @alexcards79) painted verbal pictures during this podcast to inform and delight, but that's probably pushing the analogy too far. The guys do wander down some rabbit trails, such as a former Cardinal outfielder and if anyone will reach 3,000 hits again, but they also talk about the young additions to the Cardinals and their chances the rest of the year. Sit back and enjoy the rambling!
After the debut of one of the most highly anticipated Star Wars projects to date, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) brings in Kyle Reis (Birds on the Black, @kyler416) to talk...baseball and the minors, what were you expecting? The guys get into how Kyle adjusts when prospects become major leaguers, whether teams are rushing their players through the minors, what to expect from Nolan Gorman and Matthew Liberatore, and who is coming up from the farm. OK, OK, there's also Star Wars talk at the very end, mainly about Obi-Wan Kenobi but also other various Star Wars properties. It's well marked, however, so if you are worried about spoilers you can drop out before we get to that. Come use Kyle's knowledge, he begs you!
On one end of this past week, you had the old guys of Yadier Molina, Adam Wainwright, and Albert Pujols taking the spotlight. On the other, the news of the promotions of Nolan Gorman and Matthew Liberatore. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) brings in Ben Godar (Cardinals Off Day, @bengodar) to chat about those bookends plus other things arising out of this week. What's the bullpen going to look like? Should the starters be going longer? Is this offense really as bad as we sometimes think? Plus the guys mark the possible end of the careers of Matt Carpenter and Carlos Martinez. Give it a listen!
It was a momentous week for the Cardinals and Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and guest host Jason Hill (Viva El Birdos, @JPHill_Cards) are here to talk all about it. Of course, the big news was the Paul DeJong demotion but the guys talk about a few things before that topic, including the sputtering offense. Eventually they get to DeJong, the reasons why Tommy Edman is still at second, and why is Nolan Gorman still at Memphis? Plus, after some internet issues, Daniel and Jason discuss some relievers and the manager's use of them. Settle in for a good conversation!
The Cardinals are out on the West Coast, meaning that it's a late start to the night of baseball. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) brings in Russ Robinson (Redbird Rants, @frrobinson1957) to talk about all things Cardinals before the game gets underway. The guys talk about all manner of things, whether it's the COVID issues around Adam Wainwright, the confidence in the pitching rotation and what sort of depth there is backing it up, and the Cardinal Hall of Fame. Of course, we are also legally obligated to discuss Paul DeJong's struggles, so that's in there as well. Come join the fun!
The Cardinals being on an alternate viewing stream on Friday night gave Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and guest Alex (Birds on the Black, @alexcards79) something new to complain about, even if they didn't completely take advantage. This show isn't all about griping, though, not with the Cardinals off to a strong start to the 2022 season. What's working with the club right now? How much fun has it been to see a relaxed Albert Pujols and has he rubbed off on Yadier Molina? Why does it seem the only Marlin Daniel knows is Jazz Chisholm? All that and much more on an extended edition of Musial!
As the Cardinals put a pounding to the Brewers, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) brings in Evan (Redbird Rewind, @webb_evan12) to talk about the very early going of the 2022 season. The offense has looked pretty sharp, all things considered, led by....Tommy Edman? (Well, Nolan Arenado first but Edman is right up there.) The guys talk about that surprise as well as other bits and pieces from the first week. Does anyone feel better about the pitching staff? How much fun are Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina having during this season so far? All that and much more!
The 2022 St. Louis Cardinals season is here and, so far, it's spectacular. With one game in the books, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) sits down with Carter Zehr (Cardinals Chat podcast, @CardinalsChat18) to go through the ins and outs of the Opening Day celebration. How great was the honoring of the Big Three? How exciting was the offense? Was there anything at all troubling about the day in general? The guys break down everything plus talk about the decision of Jordan Hicks as fifth starter. Baseball's back!
Closing audio courtesy of Bally Sports Midwest
With the return of Albert Pujols to St. Louis, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) thought it best to bring in his own blast from the past. Dan Buffa (@buffa82), the original co-host of this show back when it was Best Dans in Baseball, makes his return after six years away. In a free-wheeling conversation, the guys talk about the return of Albert, the needs of this rotation, what this offense could look like, and Jordan Hicks's spring. Plus, as a nod to the old show, they wrap it up with some TV and movie talk. Come party like it's 2016!
With Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) still off on baseball assignment, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) brings in some old friends with a new look. Nate and Ben of Talking About Birds (@TalkAboutBirds) have revived their podcast and are bringing their unique looks at Cardinal baseball back to the masses. The guys talk about all sorts of things, whether it is the future of Jordan Hicks, what the addition of Cory Spangenburg means, and what this strong spring means for the 2022 season. Plus there's some general talk about where baseball might be going. Come talk about those birds!
With Allen getting a much-needed day off from baseball activities, Ben Cerutti (Birds on the Black, @stlfanbc7) joins Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) to talk about the initial week of spring training and the initial exhibition game. When can we start wondering about how different Oli Marmol is from Mike Shildt? What bat is still out there that intrigues Mr. Cerutti? Where should Jordan Hicks start the season, how damaging are the injuries to Alex Reyes and Jack Flaherty, and do the Cardinals realize that their pitching depth could use some shoring up? Get back into the swing of things with another Musial!
The lockout is over and baseball is on its way back with spring training games in less than a week. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) is joined by Ben Godar (Cardinals Off Day, @bengodar) to talk about the CBA and some of the provisions in it before shifting their focus to the Cardinals. What are the expectations for the newest Cardinal, Drew VerHagen? Should the Cardinals get Albert Pujols for one last hurrah? Just how good is this team anyway? All that and an update on the Nathan Hale Rangers!
Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) was feeling particularly grumpy about the state of baseball, what with that whole lockout and some of the solutions (like expanded playoffs) to try to fix it, so he got someone he knew was on the same page to join him this week. Alex (Birds on the Black, @alexcards79) might not be as old as Daniel, but the two share a sensibility about the game. How does baseball find a way out of this mess? What will the ramifications be in regards to baseball's future and popularity? And just how bad is this expanded playoff idea? Plus stick around for an update from Coach Allen's (@amedlock1) first managerial outing!
The lockout still going. Rule changes seemingly unavoidable. It seems now it is possible to not be romantic about baseball. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) is joined by Kyle Reis (Birds on the Black, @kyler416) to talk about all that is wrong with the sport right now. Is there any optimism that the season will start on time? How excited are either of these guys for the season right now anyway? There's minor league talk as well, both about how the lockout affects those guys and which guys Kyle is anxious to see when things get underway. It's not the most upbeat show but we can only work with what MLB will give us!
Things are still very unsettled in baseball but Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) are glad to be joined by Katie Woo (The Athletic, @katiejwoo) to talk about what is actually happening. The three discuss Katie's first year on the beat, how time no longer has meaning, and some of the best moments of the past season. Then they get into the lockout, whether this week was a step back or there's still hope for an on-time season, and the issues that relate to the Cardinals, such as free agency or Paul DeJong. A fun time and a good conversation so come on in!
Is the episode title a cheap effort to tie into the popular word game? Yeah, pretty much. However, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) spends time talking with Brenden Schaeffer (KMOV, @bschaeffer12) and Wordle gets mentioned, so we'll go with it. The two put aside their massive differences to talk about all sorts of baseball topics. Does the movement in the CBA talks portend good things? What will the Cardinals do when the gates open? How does Brenden feel about Paul DeJong and Tommy Edman? Finally, are the Cardinals about to have a retired number problem. A good hour of baseball talk in the midst of the bleak winter!
Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) kick off the eighth season of the show by honoring what has become tradition to begin things, bringing on Jeff Jones (Belleville News-Democrat, @jmjones) to start the season off properly. The guys talk about a wide variety of items, starting with the current MLB lockout and what this winter has been like for a writer and wrapping up with a look at the 2022 Cardinals. In between, there's Hall of Fame voting and what it's like for Jeff to move into the "old guy" section of the Cardinals beat writers. A great way to start off what will hopefully be a great year!
As 2021 comes to a close, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) get together one final time to put a bow on the season. The lockout is still the only real topic in baseball and the guys talk about what they want to see come out of the CBA negotiations and how confident they are the 2022 season will start on time. They then tackle some of the topics around the Hall of Fame voting before finishing up with a quick look back at the Cardinals season. Thanks to all that have supported us this season and we wish you a very happy new year!
The baseball world got unnaturally quiet this week as the CBA expired and the owners decided to lock out the players. Jason Hill (Viva El Birdos, @JPHill_Cards) joins Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) to talk about how things are different and when we might see baseball back to normal. They also spend time talking about the signing of Steven Matz and what the 2022 Cardinals will look like should they get back on the field. What is their ceiling? Is there something the Cardinals can do to improve their squad? Come while away the baseball hours with a little chatter!
It's Thanksgiving week and we hope you'll be thankful there's another Meet Me at Musial episode! Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) talk about what they are thankful for as Cardinal fans but they also get into some of the news of the day. Does the activity around baseball mean that the looming lockout isn't going to be that bad? What are Allen's thoughts on the new members of the coaching staff? The guys also revisit the starting pitcher vs. shortstop discussion and talk more about what the team could look like in 2022. Take the show with you as you hit the road for the holidays!
No Allen Medlock (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) on this one, unfortunately, but Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) brings in yet another podcasting team to help cover the gap. Tara (Birds on the Black, @tarawellman) and Alex (Birds on the Black, @alexcards79) from Chirps sit in and cover a wide range of subjects. How much impact will Skip Schumaker have on the organization? How will things be different under Oli Marmol? Does it matter that the Cards resigned T.J. McFarland? All this and some talk about the Gold Gloves as well!
We've got Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) back safely ensconced in the co-hosts chair just in time to talk about the new Cardinal manager. It's no surprise that Oli Marmol got the gig but what does that mean for the rest of the staff? Allen and Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) go over that, then discuss the excellent showing by the Cardinals in the Gold Glove nominees. Who will win and who won't? The guys also talk about the decade of Cardinal baseball that has happened since Allen Craig caught the last fly ball of Game 7 and some early talk about the winter to come. Come and join the guys as they catch up!
With Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) out on assignment, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) welcomes in the guys from the Turnin' 2 Podcast (@Turnin2Podcast), Tito (@triveratops) and the man known as Dylan_Dinger. The guys continue to break down the surprising firing of Mike Shildt with everyone tossing in conjectures and thoughts. They also discuss Shildt's reported interview coming up with the Padres as well as who they'd like to see take over the Cardinals job.
After that, they discuss some of the free agents the Cardinals have. Should Luis Garcia or T.J. McFarland return? What about J.A. Happ or Jon Lester? And what does the future hold for Paul DeJong? Come give a listen to find out the answers!
As Han Solo once said, "This is not how I thought this day was going to go." Stunning news out of St. Louis this afternoon as Mike Shildt was fired as manager. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) is joined by the Bens of Cardinals Off Day, Mr. Godar (@bengodar) and Mr. Humphries (@b_g_h) to talk about this surprising turn of events. What could be the cause of these "philosophical differences"? What impact does a manager have a team these days anyway? Who will be the 51st manager of the Cardinals and will Mike Shildt manage anywhere else? All these questions are tackled, if not answered, and then some in an episode that focuses just on this topic, leaving the hot button topic of projected arbitration salaries painfully neglected.
Audio clip of John Mozeliak courtesy of Rob Rains/St. Louis Sports Page Theme song by Some Guy Named Robb
The postseason was short and less than sweet and Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) are here to talk about it. From Adam Wainwright's mastery to Alex Reyes's last pitch, the guys talk about some of the important points of the game while taking a brief look at the winter to come. Plus Allen has some news!
The Cardinals lost a game this week. It's remarkable that that piece of information is news! After a record run, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) talk about what's next for this team. Which team should the Cardinals want to see in the wild card game? Is there a path to the World Series for this club? This weekend is the last for Mike Shannon and Matt Carpenter. Is there anything to Shannon's most recent bombshell? And how will Carpenter go out? All this and more as the guys get ready for October!
Twelve wins in a row, something the club hasn't done since 1982 which is not entirely outside of Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen's (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) lifetimes but far enough back that the guys aren't going to remember it. Daniel and Allen talk about what this team has done over the stretch and most notably yesterday in Milwaukee, rallying in a game that seemed destined to end the streak. Not everything is perfect--the bullpen usage still is a concern--but there's a lot of happy talk and a little bit of looking ahead in this week's show!
After a sweep in New York and some help along the way, the Cardinals reach the weekend a 1/2 game ahead of the Padres for the second wild card right before San Diego pays a visit to Busch. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) talk about this turn of events and what has gotten the Cards to this point. The pitching staff is shaping up, but how does Dakota Hudson and Jack Flaherty fit into the picture? There's talk about the outfield and how it is clicking, plus there's some talk about shortstop for next year, including a name that Daniel really had trouble wrapping his head around.
It wasn't the worst week of Cardinal baseball, but take out an inning and it would have been a lot better. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) talk about many different facets of the week, especially the Dodgers series (though, surprisingly, not much about the return of Mr. Pujols). Did Mike Shildt have enough urgency for that series? Does any team really want to win the wild card? The guys also talk a lot about Matt Carpenter, Alex Reyes, and some possible additions for the future. Come on in and sit a spell!
We've flipped the calendar to September, the last guaranteed month of baseball (OK, there are three games in October with the Cubs as well.) Daniel and Allen talk about the last week, the series with the Reds, and look at a few other issues surrounding the Cardinals. Is the closer spot really about matchups and will Alex Reyes find himself back there soon? What does the rest of the way look like for the Cardinals? And could the Cardinals have come up with a more boring September callup class? All this and much more!
After one of the (but, amazingly, not THE) hardest losses of the season, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) come together to talk about the state of the Cardinals through the prism of the debacle against the Pirates. What is Mike Shildt doing? Is the bullpen going to survive? Even though they scored seven runs, this offense isn't reliable either. Plus there's the Yadier Molina extension to discuss as well. So much packed into one hour!
While the Cardinals didn't win the series against the Brewers, they easily could have (you can argue should have) and weren't outclassed by the division leaders. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) talk about the win on Thursday, the series in general, and what's coming up for the Cardinals, Reds, and Padres. There's also a discussion of bullpen management by the manager (before news of Ryan Helsley's injury broke) and more condemnation about the circumstances around Kolten Wong playing on the visitor's side this weekend. All this and much more!
It was a successful week of Cardinal baseball, winning two of three from the Royals and sweeping the Pirates. Now, on the verge of another series with Kansas City, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) sit down and talk about if there are signs for optimism. Jack Flaherty is coming back, though Wade LeBlanc seems to be going out. Can the club make a run at the wild card? Is the upcoming Milwaukee series a line in the sand? They talk about the overuse of Tommy Edman and the under....well, really non-use of Lars Nootbaar. There's a look at the offseason and some talk about the bullpen. It's nice to be talking after some wins, so come and join us!
It's honestly not been a great week for the St. Louis Cardinals, capped off by a come from ahead loss on Wednesday night when the final four runs scored via bases loaded walks. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) try to come to terms with a Cardinals team that seems like they are already playing meaningless baseball even if they aren't technically eliminated. Should we see more creativity, both on the field and from the front office? How are we feeling about Alex Reyes and Giovanny Gallegos? What sort of pitfalls might the club fall into this offseason? Should they re-sign Yadier Molina for 2022? If nothing else, a mess of a week leaves a lot of things to talk about!
Back in January, the guys were recording when Nolan Arenado became a Cardinal. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) hoped lightning would strike twice as they recorded less than 24 hours before the trade deadline, only to see a couple of potential targets head elsewhere (it appears). While much of the show focuses around the club's inaction and silent running during this active time, the guys do talk about the recent games in Cincinnati and Cleveland as well as the schedule ahead. All of that pales in comparison to the waiting game going on right now, though. Here's hoping this show doesn't age well!
It was a much better week of Cardinal baseball than we've seen in a while, even if it had one crushing ninth inning mixed in. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) talk about a wide variety of Cardinals topics. Is there a concern over the bullpen usage and that Alex Reyes and Giovanny Gallegos might get overused? Will John Mozeliak make a move at the deadline or rely on the return of Jack Flaherty and Miles Mikolas? Will Yadier Molina ever rest? Plus the guys rave over the defense that St. Louis displayed against the Cubs this week. Come spend some time talking baseball!
You know it's going to be a good time when Kyle Reis (Birds on the Black, @kyler416) joins in on the conversation. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) pepper Kyle with questions at all levels of the organization. What should the Cardinals do at the deadline? What kind of chips do they have at the minor leagues? There's plenty of discussion about the minors, most notably the new #PatronProspect Alec Burleson. (Apparently, you can't have two at one time, learn something new every day.) Then Kyle brings the knowledge about the draft. Find out which names caught his eye and what he thought about the draft as a whole. It's a great ride so buckle up!
After a week that inspired a flicker of hope, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) get together to talk about all the things going on with the Cardinals. The focus, of course, is on the upcoming trade deadline. Who could they actually use as trade chips? Is Andrew Knizner being showcased? With Carlos Martinez going down, are they forced to make a pitching move? There's also a look at the upcoming series with the Cubs and how bad things have been for the North Siders as well, so there's something positive!
The Cardinals took all three games against the Diamondbacks, meaning they've won four of five before this recording. Does that make us feel any better? With Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) out of pocket, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) breaks it down with Ben Godar (Cardinals Off Day, @bengodar). Is there any hope now that the June funk seems to have been broken? What do we need to see between now and the All-Star Break? Can anything be done about the seeming systemic failures going on in the organization? Plus Nolan Arenado is your National League All-Star starting first baseman, so Ben and Daniel share their thoughts on the Midsummer Classic.
The Cardinals played three games between episodes against teams in last place in their divisions. They lost all three and none of them were particularly close. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) try to make some sense out of this team and really struggle at it. What should we make of Tommy Edman's comments about hitting preparation? What kind of moves can be made that would be effective? Is it too early to write this team off? Is someone going to lose their job over all this? Come give it a listen and share in the frustrations!
Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) was out on vacation last week but, as Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) informed him, he didn't really miss anything relating to the Cardinals. The club is as maddeningly frustrating and mediocre as ever and the guys talk about the biggest issues relating to St. Louis. It's hard to believe, but the focus seems to have shifted to the offense. Could they get a bat? Would they get one, if it meant displacing someone like Paul DeJong? The pitching isn't ignored, of course, but unfortunately no issues are solved. The guys want to hear from you--shoot them some ideas for Friday's show!
The Cardinals were one Adam Wainwright start away from putting up a goose egg in the win column between shows. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) talk about all the ugliness and what the Cardinals can do about it. How confident are you about this weekend against the Cubs? Is it a big series for the middle of June? What can Shelby Miller bring to the table, if the Cardinals do actually bring him back to the fold? All that and plenty more for your listening pleasure!
A bit of a Murphy's Law week for the Cardinals with very little going right and a whole lot going wrong. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) are here to sort through things, trying to at least name all the problems even if they can't come up with solutions. How are we feeling about Mike Shildt these days? Are the Cardinals using sticky stuff like everyone else....or is the lack of it their problem? Where's the offense been? What do you do about the starting rotation? It's enough to give podcasters a headache, much less presidents of baseball operations!
It wasn't the best span of time that the 2021 Cardinals have had, losing two of three to the Cubs and White Sox before taking the opener in Arizona. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) talk about all sorts of aspects about the club. Are we starting to see another tier in the bullpen? Have we seen enough of Justin Williams? How harmful was the Miles Mikolas injury? What does the fact that Tommy Edman has played every inning say about this squad? There is also talk about the inconceivable Cubs/Pirates play and, of course, we cap it off with the incident in Chicago. Stick around until the end to hear Mike Shildt's rant!
Theme song by Some Guy Named Robb
The Cardinals go out to San Diego and get swept, then return the favor to the Pirates in a short mid-week series. Do either of them move the needle about what we think about this team? Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) hash it out, talking about the good, the bad, and the ugly from this past week of baseball. How much of an impact has adding Nolan Arenado had to the whole lineup? What are the concerns about the upcoming Cubs series? What's the best way to fix the bullpen? (Hint: It rhymes with Tax Merzer.) All that and much more!
When the Cardinals only lose once between shows, it's a pretty good week. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) talk about all things Cardinals, from the intense and exciting Brewers series to what the rotation next year might look like. There's Alex Reyes and Jordan Hicks, there's what the return of Miles Mikolas might mean, and there's discussion about the lineup. All that and a little update on the Pujols discussion!
It's rare that Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) spend much time talking about a team that's not the Cardinals, but when it's the Angels releasing Albert Pujols, you better believe they'll find the time. Was the manner of his Anaheim end worthy of a player of his stature? Is #Pujols2STL really feasible? Is it really what people want, after the emotion clears?
Eventually the focus does turn to the Cardinals. So many walks in Thursday's game with John Gant being the main culprit. How much longer does he have in the rotation? Are Tyler Webb's days numbered? And what's up with the return of Lane Thomas? A bit of an oversized show this week but hopefully you'll find it entertaining!
With Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) unavailable, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) flies solo while chatting with new Cardinals beat writer for The Athletic Katie Woo (@katiejwoo). The two talk about Katie's background in baseball and how she came to love the sport, her time with MiLB.com, and what it was like to get the call from The Athletic and how her adjustment period has been.
And, of course, they talk about the Cardinals. From Matt Carpenter's historic explosions to the rebound of Genesis Cabrera, they cover most of the pressing topics of the day and, in the case of certain noises coming from the Busch Stadium stands, some of the less pressing!
Theme song by Some Guy Named Robb (sgnrobb.com)
What's this? Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) sans guest? In a first for 2021, the two sit down together to talk about the week that was in Cardinal baseball. Is it an encouraging sign that the starting pitching put up three quality starts in a row? Is it better to lose a 3-2 game or a 12-2 game? How long do you stay the course? Plus, don't worry, there's plenty of Matt Carpenter talk as well as the first entry in what is sure to be this summer's favorite game, can they get Max Scherzer?
Theme song by Some Guy Named Robb
We're two weeks into the season and all the questions that were circling this team in the offseason still seem to be unanswered. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) welcome in St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Benjamin Hochman (@hochman) to talk about the problems relating to the 2021 Cardinals. What could be the first thing the club does to right the ship? Is the Lane Thomas move a big deal? What kind of future is there for Jeff Albert?
Plus Benjamin and Allen talk about what it's like to return to the ballpark and there's plenty of talk about Benjamin's new book, "11 in 11", which can be found on Amazon and at 11in11book.com!
Theme song by Some Guy Named Robb
There's one road trip and one remarkable home opener in the books for the St. Louis Cardinals. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) talk it over with longtime reporter and writer Rob Rains (STL Sports Page, @RobRains). The guys talk about Rob's storied career covering the Cardinals before getting into some thoughts about the current squad. How remarkable was Nolan Arenado's home run to win the home opener? Can Tyler O'Neill turn it around? Is there hope for Matt Carpenter? The guys wrap the show with some more Arenado comments and a bit of discussion about the baseball history made while they were recording.
Baseball is truly back! The Cardinals beat up on the Reds in Game 1, but how much can we take from that? Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) sit down with new MLB.com beat writer Zachary Silver (@zachsilver) to talk about all things Cardinals. Zachary goes over his background and how he came to the St. Louis job, plus what he's looking forward to on the beat. He gives his impressions from spring training as well as the first game of the season and the conversation covers much of the roster. Come in and learn a bit about one of the newest faces on the Cards beat!
It's (almost) two shows in one! In the first section, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) sit down with The Sporting News writer and editor Ryan Fagan (@ryanfagan) to talk about what it's like to be a St. Louis boy that grows up to work at a legendary St. Louis institution. The guys also talk about baseball cards, the upcoming season, and how the Cardinals look to someone that is taking in the whole MLB picture.
The second part finds Daniel and Allen talking about Harrison Bader, given the news that he'll start the season on the IL and his use of platelet-rich plasma as a healing tool. The guys talk about what the offensive side of the roster could look like, how maybe we shouldn't use spring training stats to make roster decisions, and then touch on what the pitching side of the roster looks like. It's the last show before Opening Day so we made it a super-sized one!
We're less than two weeks until the season kicks off and spring training continues to roll on. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) welcome in Ben Cerutti (Birds on the Black, @stlfanbc7) to talk about what's going on in camp and what might be coming in the future. The guys talk about the lack of depth in the starting rotation pool, how the club should handle Alex Reyes, and whether there are some positive signs for Matt Carpenter. Plus there's plenty of talk about Ben's new podcast, Conversations With Cerutti, and his patented projection system!
The epic run of guests continues as Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) join forces with Alex Crisafulli (Birds on the Black, @alexcards79) to talk about the most recent news from Cardinals spring training. Of course, being middle-aged guys, they wander into some surprising territory, like a discussion of Nolan Ryan, but for the most part they focus on Miles Mikolas's shoulder, Alex Reyes's bullpen status, Matt Carpenter's hitless streak, and Tyler O'Neill's good spring. Plenty of good baseball talk in this one!
Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) have the distinct privilege of having Brian Walton (TheCardinalNation.com, @B_Walton) as this week's guest. Brian brings his knowledge of the minor leagues to bear as the guys talk about prospects of long ago and the prospects of today along with topics like the minor league reorganization and how different things were in 2020. Plus Daniel gets to finally find out a little bit about the Cardinal Hall of Fame committee that Brian is a part of. Come join us for a good chat!
Spring training is starting to find its next gear and the Cardinals will soon be getting out the white home jerseys (though maybe not for the first game on Sunday). Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) welcome in Ben Godar (Viva El Birdos, @bengodar) to talk about some of the early returns from spring training. Can we take anything from Harrison Bader's first live BP? What do you look for in the early part of spring? The guys also talk about Jack Flaherty's arbitration hearing and what that may mean going forward, especially with the CBA renewal coming up.
Then the three spend a lot of time on jerseys, shirts, hats, and the general outward signs that show what your team preference is. Come and join in, then weigh in on the discussion on Twitter!
While the middle part of the country, including Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1), deal with cold and snow, the Cardinals have taken flight south to Jupiter, as spring training has kicked off with pitchers and catchers (and more) reporting. Joining the guys this week is prospect expert and general raconteur Kyle Reis (Birds on the Black, @kyler416), which means it's a fun hour of talk that focuses mainly on those up-and-coming players. What does everyone think about Zack Thompson wearing 57? What kind of information came out of the Springfield camp from last year? Can Nolan Gorman stick at second? Plus stick around for a glimpse at who Kyle would rank at the top of the prospect list right now--the answer might surprise you!
Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) continue their run of excellent guests by roping in KMOV's Brenden Schaeffer (@bschaeffer12). Brenden gives a first-hand account of covering the team in an empty stadium, discusses the craziness that was the Arenado deal, and then dives into the 2021 Cardinals. It'll get you warmed up and ready for spring as the pitching staff, the outfield, and other factors are discussed. And no, Daniel couldn't go the whole show without a dig at Brenden. He tried, he really did.
The Cardinals have been extremely busy over the last few days and Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) are here to talk about it. Before they get into that, though, the guys chat with Mike Mitchell (@rickeysredbirds), author of Mr. Rickey's Redbirds. Mike talks about the process of writing his book, some of the stories about Rickey and baseball in St. Louis, and whether Rickey would have tried to break the color barrier had he stayed in St. Louis instead of moving to Brooklyn.
Then the guys get into all this work that the front office has been doing since the last show. The trade for Dexter Fowler last night was a bit of a surprise. What does that mean for the outfield? Kolten Wong is a Milwaukee Brewer now. Is it a good thing that we'll see him 18 times a year? Then more talk about Nolan Arenado and what in the world is happening in Colorado. Another long one so strap in and enjoy!
Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) had things all nicely planned out. Then the Cardinals threw a curveball worthy of Uncle Charlie.
This week, the guys talk to Geoff Goldman of FOX Sports (soon to be Bally Sports) Midwest. Geoff discusses his job as Senior Director of Communications, talking about how things have changed over the past 20 years, what 2020 was like for him and the crew, and even that infamous Dexter Fowler video.
Then, as that conversation winds down, a conflagration began on Twitter as Ken Rosenthal confirmed what we'd been talking about all day long: Nolan Arenado is going to be a Cardinal. The guys spend the second half of the show discussing the deal, dreaming on lineups, and basically trying to temper excitement and failing. Plus there's talk about what looked to be the news of the day until about 9:30 PM, the return of Adam Wainwright.
It's an extra-long show but folks, these sort of blockbusters just don't happen every day. Give it a listen!
Theme song by Some Guy Named Robb
More weeks without much in the way of Cardinals news, but we've got the cure for your baseball ennui right here. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) are very pleased to welcome in FOX Sports Midwest sideline reporter Jim "The Cat" Hayes to this week's show. Jim talks about how rough doing what he does was in 2020, tells some stories about Hall of Famers and former Cardinals, and how he approaches Twitter. No cargo shorts were harmed in the making of this podcast so come give it a listen!
Theme song by Some Guy Named Robb
Season 7! Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) are joined by Jeff Jones (Belleville News Democrat, @jmjones) to talk about the season that was, the offseason that is, and the season that is to come. What's it like trying to cover a team during a pandemic? What are the dynamics around Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina and will they return to St. Louis? Who is one player to watch in the coming season and what will said season look like? All this and much more as we start another fun year of talking baseball at the Musial statue!
One last show for 2020! Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) are joined by Jason Hill (Viva El Birdos, @JPHill_Cards) as they look at the limited pool of Cardinal news for the last month. What are the Cards thinking about with the legends? Could Kolten Wong return? Will anyone at all be joining the birds on the bat? The guys then go through some 2020 awards before handing out a resolution for 2021. Thanks for joining us this year and we look forward to better days!
It's been a little bit since the guys got together but the baseball landscape hasn't changed all that much. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) get together and talk about the players non-tendered from the Cardinals and players out there now that could be a target. There's also a discussion about how you'd feel about certain Cub players becoming Cardinals. A good bit of baseball talk to warm the winter!
Call this show an audio counterpart to Daniel's (C70 At The Bat, @C70) Exit Interview series. After some general talk about the quietness of the week, he and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) go through the first part of the interview posts. What kind of grade should Harrison Bader get? Is there any hope for Matt Carpenter? What can you make of Jack Flaherty's season? All that and much more as we work our way to the holiday season!
While it was a full week in certain aspects of society, baseball was a bit quieter. That doesn't keep Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) from getting together to talk about things. The Cardinals were credited with two Gold Gloves this week, even though one of the winners is now a free agent. The guys talk about what the Gloves still mean and how bittersweet it was to see Kolten Wong win one. There's also talk about Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright, which there probably will be until they sign somewhere, and a rundown of a few potential moves the Cards might make. If nothing else, we hope we're a distraction for you!
After a couple of weeks off, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) return to find the agenda stuffed with things to talk about. Not all of them are Cardinals-related, like Justin Turner's conduct after the end of the World Series, but most of them are. Kolten Wong's option was declined this week as the Cardinals started their offseason work. Was that the right move? What does this mean for the 2021 staff? Are Yadi and Waino returning or are they going to join up with that fresh face in Chicago? And is the return of Jeff Albert surprising, disappointing, or neither? All that and some other topics in an oversized MMM!
With the Game 3 loss in San Diego, the Cardinals went into their offseason on a down note. The situation was put in perspective immediately, however, with the news of the passing of Bob Gibson. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) talk about the legendary Cardinal and what his loss means to them. Then they shift gears, talking about the finale of the Wild Card Round and what could be coming up next for the Redbirds as Allen makes his pitch for a certain outfielder. They wrap it up by discussing some of those that have gotten away. Start off your winter with us!
The Cardinals are in the playoffs! The tension is high as it comes down to Friday's game to determine if they stay that way. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) talk about the ins and outs of the first two games of this series while looking ahead to the finale. Where did this offense come from and can it stick around? Why is the bullpen suddenly leaking? Do the Cardinals have a bench or do they even need one? Plenty of Wild Card Round talk in this one!
Theme song by Some Guy Named Robb
We're just three days away from the end of the season. Or is it four? Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) try to sort out what can happen and what hopefully won't happen this weekend and possibly Monday in Detroit. They also get into the current issue of the day, the status of Carlos Martinez, as well as the 2000-hit man Yadier Molina and the pitching staff in general. Lots of things to cover so come join us!
Theme song by Some Guy Named Robb
It's been a full week of baseball--13 games in the 10 days since our last show--and there are plenty of things to talk about. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) do just that, touching on the current Pittsburgh series and some of the follies from the past week. Is it a good thing that Andrew Miller is going to vest his option? How bad is the Dakota Hudson news? What about the future of Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright (I think we'll be talking a lot about that over the next few weeks)? Is Allen in favor of the new playoff structure being permanent? That and much much more!
Theme song by Some Guy Named Robb
On the last day without Cardinal baseball for the regular season, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) talk about the last few days and what might be coming up. Dylan Carlson got sent down this week--will we see him return? Is there any hope for Matt Carpenter? The upcoming schedule has a lot of games, but there's a lot of optimism for them and a return to the playoffs. Plus the guys pay tribute to Lou Brock. All that and plenty more for your ears!
It's Episode 200 of Meet Me at Musial (if you count the predecessor Best Dans in Baseball) and to honor the occasion, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) debut their new theme song! They also talk about the ups and downs of Cardinal baseball and there have been a lot of them over the last week. From being blown out to blowing a team out, from bad losses to Adam Wainwright's masterpiece, there was plenty to discuss. Plus the guys get into the issues the Cardinals will need to address in the near term. (Daniel would also like to apologize for sounding distracted at times, but there was a lot going on at his house during this recording.)
Theme song by Some Guy Named Robb (www.sgnrobb.com)
It wasn't the best week of Cardinal baseball, but Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) are here to talk about it anyway. Losing three of five to the Royals and the Pirates doesn't necessarily infuse anyone with hope and the guys talk about the main problem--the lack of any sort of reliable offense. Is there any hope? How can you judge anyone in a season as strange as this? They also talk about the pitching staff and some of Mike Shildt's more questionable recent moves. Plus a little news about next week's show!
The Cardinals have played a lot of baseball over the last week and Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) are here to talk about it! With nine games--almost double what the Cards had played to this point last week--to discuss, the guys talk about what this past week meant to the club and what the coming week may mean to them. There's talk about the slow start of Dylan Carlson, which players might survive this crazy 40-man roster carousel, and what the return of some players off the COVID IL will mean for the club. Lots to talk about so come join us!
One week after it looked like the Cardinals were returning to the field, there's still been no baseball for the St. Louis squad. That looks to change on Saturday as the Cards will start their exhausting run to October in Chicago against the White Sox. With Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) away on another engagement, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) is fortunate enough to be joined by Alex Crisafulli (Birds On The Black, @alexcards79) to talk about all things baseball. Daniel and Alex talk about what to expect from a team that hasn't even worked out in a week jumping right into a doubleheader, what Dylan Carlson can do and what fans should expect of him, and the strange sensation of having no real idea who is on the roster right now. There are diversions and discussions along the way as two might-as-well-be 80 year old men discuss a very edgy and untraditional year!
The Cardinals spent the last week cooped up in Milwaukee due to positive COVID-19 tests that continued to multiply. Now, with the infected identified and separated, the rest of the team has returned to St. Louis, facing the daunting task of playing the division leading Cubs this weekend without their catcher and their shortstop and on extended rest. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) talk about the challenges that lay ahead for this team, whether it's the different personnel, the time off, or the crammed schedule that lies before them. They talk about who is on the roster, who is not, and who maybe should have been. Come in and listen to the guys cover another week without baseball!
It may have felt like it would happen sometime, but that doesn't make it any more palatable when it does. Two Cardinals tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, delaying the beginning of the Milwaukee series and throwing a little more fire on an already chaotic season. Will it be a completed season? Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) discuss that and many other issues coming out of this news, including whether the plans to play Saturday make sense or not. Then they turn their attention to more bad news, also known as the series in Minnesota. How much longer will Harrison Bader be out there? Can the offense get it going and who else might be to blame? All this and much more!
The 2020 season for the St. Louis Cardinals kicked off this weekend and Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) are here to talk about all the different angles of it. How long will Dakota Hudson be in the rotation? Will the first cuts be two position players? How will Mike Shildt be able to use Austin Gomber and Daniel Ponce de Leon? Also, they get into why you might not be seeing Dylan Carlson for a while.
They can't avoid talking about the coronavirus either, not with the epidemic running through the Miami Marlins. Should baseball have cancelled? What should they be doing about keeping things quarantined? No answers, but plenty of talking through the questions!
It's becoming a bit more real these days that baseball is just around the corner. The Cardinals have had two different intrasquad games streamed and Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) are here to talk about those games and the issues around them. Are the hitters struggling or are the pitchers that good? What will the roster makeup ratio be? Who makes up the bullpen? Will the starters create the innings deficit we think they will? Plenty of questions that nobody really has answers to but the guys tackle them anyway!
After a bump at the beginning of the week when testing issues caused consternation, the players are on the field and taking part in intrasquad games. While there's not much news from those, that doesn't mean there's not a lot for Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) to discuss, especially when they bring in special guest Ben Godar (Viva El Birdos, @bengodar) to help out. The guys discuss the testing issues and how concerned they are about the number of positive tests in the early going. Then they get into some of the things this season might hold, such as how long do you stick with a cold bat? How vital is each game? Plus, with the Iowan on board, they discuss all things relating to the Field of Dreams game coming in August. Plenty of talk for your weekend!
After weeks of contention, we finally have a 2020 season! Well, at least we know it's coming (virus permitting) in about a month. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allan (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) go through a lot of the different issues and possibilities relating to the strange season. What will it mean for people like Dylan Carlson and Nolan Gorman? How long can you let a player work through a slump? Will fans ever be in the stands (and should they be)? And how excited are you about this season anyway? It's good to have actual baseball things to talk about for once!
Another week has gone by and there's still no agreement between the players and owners about when the 2020 season can resume, how long it will be, and the financial issues that go with it. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) get into the week that was, with the owners' proposal and the players' counter-proposal capping things off, perhaps permanently. There also could be some significant changes to the game if it does return, which gets Daniel up on his soapbox.
Of course, the virus gets the final say and with all the spring training sites being closed down for cleaning due to an outbreak in Phillies camp (among others), who is to say it will matter what the two sides agree on? Baseball may not return either way.
To wrap up, the guys talk about the 30 for 30 documentary Long Gone Summer and relive a little bit of 1998. COVID-19 can take a lot, but it can't take away two guys talking about games of the past.
Baseball news! Actual real baseball news! The First-Year Player Draft was held this week and that means Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) went to the expert to find out all about the draft and the players the Cardinals took. Kyle Reis (Birds on the Black, @kyler416) breaks it all down for us--how good was the draft, his thoughts on the players taken, and what might happen next with the undrafted players. Sure, before the guys get into that, they have to get into the latest "proposal" by the owners, but that's old hat by now really. The draft part is the good stuff!
Another week and no movement by players and owners to some sort of settlement that will get baseball back on the field in 2020. While there's a chance for a forced season of around 50 games, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) wonder if it is worth it to go through all the hoops for a season that would be so extreme and truly a small sample size. The clock is ticking, though, and a small season might be all we can reasonably hope for. The guys also talk about Jack Flaherty, whether it is his openness to criticize MLB owners or his fight on behalf of black Americans in this time of turmoil. So much to discuss (and hopefully at better sound levels)!
Is there going to be a season? Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) discuss the latest developments in the battle between MLB owners and the players' association. Will baseball really give itself another black eye by not playing baseball due to money issues in this environment? Can there really be any common ground, though? The guys discuss both sides, then talk about the minor leaguers that are being cut in droves. Optimism doesn't abound here, folks, but we plug on regardless!
With Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) away due to his daughter's graduation, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) brought in a rookie to help go through some Cardinal news. Russ Robinson (Redbird Rants, @frrobinson1957) and Daniel spend most of the time talking about the Cardinal Hall of Fame announcement. Are the '80s too represented? Who are some names that might be on the ballot soon? What's the deal with Keith Hernandez? They touch on the recent MLB/player developments for restarting the season at the end as well. A solid debut from the pinch-hitter!
Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) were honored to be visited by Matthew Leach, current MLB.com editor and former Cardinal beat writer for the site. Matthew's run in St. Louis went from 2002 to 2011 and we cover all sorts of topics from that time. How hard was 2002 for a guy just getting on the beat? How good was that 2004 team? How many drafts of a story did he have to write about Game 6? So much good stuff from one of the greatest periods in Cardinal history.
Before and after their chat with Mr. Leach, the guys talk about the most recent issues with MLB and the players that might keep the game from returning and about some recent comments from Yadier Molina. But you are here for Matthew Leach and we completely understand that.
It feels like every week we get another plan for restarting baseball. This week, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) talk about the regional plan that came out, pitting the Cardinals against basically every other Central team, NL and AL, as part of a three-division setup for MLB. Does that solve the problems that baseball is facing? What would the chances be for the Cardinals in such a division? Is that close enough to "real baseball"? Then the guys tackle the news this week that Yadier Molina wants to keep playing even if it's not with the Cardinals. Is there anything to this? Will anyone else be interested in Molina's services? Finally, the guys talk about the umpires and their agreement with MLB about the 2020 season. Another hour of baseball talk to hopefully keep you sane!
After a week off, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) are back at it, talking about how the virus is affecting their neck of the woods before getting into the little news that baseball has provided. Does the idea of adding a third quarantine area if baseball starts play make more sense? How would a Texas/Florida/Arizona plan work? There are reports MiLB is starting to acquiesce to MLB's demands for the contracting of teams. While that discussion is probably better served on Chirps, Allen and Daniel get into it as well. And should MLB teams be cancelling games instead of postponing them and getting refunds back to fans? Sit back and spend an hour with the guys!
We're basically a month removed from the last time the Cardinals took the field and it's starting to wear on Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1). However, are the plans that are trickling out about the return of baseball the solution? The guys talk about the problems and the pitfalls of both the Arizona "bubble" plan and the Cactus/Grapefruit realignment plan. How much are we willing to sacrifice to get baseball back on the field? Also, they talk about why, as great as the old games on TV are, they aren't completely appointment television and who might be the next retired number. Spend a little time with the guys as we wait on baseball!
Still no baseball on the horizon, so Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) talk about whatever comes to mind. From how the coronavirus is affecting them to what John Mozeliak said this week to a trip down memory lane talking baseball cards, it's just a couple of guys passing the time and trying to make sense of this current world. Come on in and pass the time with them!
Another week of coronavirus-enforced separation from baseball, but this time there's at least some news for Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) to talk about. The owners and the players agreed on a framework for some of the issues for this crazy year. Did the players give up too much? Should they have been focused on free agency in a year that might have a very cold stove? What are the chances there isn't a 2020 season at all? Plus the Cards continued trimming their roster down, so the guys talk about the moves and why some of them are a little surprising. Invite the guys into your quarantine for some baseball talk!
What do you do when there are no sports and little news? Podcast, of course! Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) try to talk about the news around the Cardinals, because there was actually a little of it, but as all conversations these days do, it comes back to the delay of the game and when we might get started up again. Hopefully this will help kill a little time if you are stuck in the house!
Usually when there's a crossover episode, it's because of something fun like Blogger Day. Not so this time, as Major League Baseball pulled the plug on spring training and delayed the start of the season by two weeks at minimum due to the pandemic caused by COVID-19. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) are joined by Tara Wellman (Birds on the Black, @tarawellman) as they talk about all the various ramifications of this decision. Was it the right call? What about the minor leaguers who may not be paid? Will baseball actually be back the early part of April? All this and more--no answers, just some fans trying to make sense of a historic situation.
The Cardinals continue to creep ever closer to Opening Day, now just 2 1/2 weeks away. While some decisions are going to be tough, the middle infield became a bit easier when Yairo Munoz decided to hit the road. What does that strange situation mean for him and for the Cardinals? The guys also get into the possible lineup and how the outfield could shape up before looking a bit at Alex Reyes and the bullpen. We're pretty sure you can't catch the coronavirus from listening to a podcast but both Daniel (C70 At the Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) are free and clear anyway so you've got no reason not to listen!
On the eve of Super Tuesday, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) are concerned with different competition results. 10 days of spring training have given the guys a lot of things to talk about, whether it is injuries both large and small or some results that, while taken with a grain of salt, still provide fodder for discussion. What do you do about Dexter Fowler? Does Dylan Carlson make the team? What does the bullpen look like? Can Daniel Ponce de Leon or Austin Gomber force the issue? Plus, in great radio, Daniel can't remember which prospect from history he's thinking of, so feel free to blast him on Twitter with the answer!
Spring training games have started and Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) are excited to get to talk about it. While it's way too early to draw any conclusions, the guys talk about Alex Reyes's first day back on the mound, the effectiveness of a platelet-rich plasma infusion, and whether four lefties will make the roster. There's discussions about Daniel Ponce de Leon and Ryan Helsley and they do get into the hitters as well, with Justin Williams, Dylan Carlson, Dexter Fowler, and Kolten Wong getting some attention. Plenty to talk about so come join in!
With so many guys not on the 40-man roster in Cardinals camp, it seemed like a good time to talk prospects. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) brings along regular guest Kyle Reis (Birds on the Black, @kyler416) and, making his Musial debut, Trevor Hooth (Viva El Birdos, @HoothTrevor). The guys talk about which prospects could surprise, which prospects they aren't as high on, and plenty about the Official Prospect of the Blog Dylan Carlson. Plus they answer some Twitter questions! Unfortunately, the last bit of the show was plagued by technical issues, but hopefully you enjoy what we have!
Spring training has officially kicked off. How do we know? Because a Cardinal pitcher has come up lame. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) talk about the Miles Mikolas injury/discomfort/other medical terminology. What are the odds that he won't start the season in the rotation? And if he doesn't, who takes his spot? Are there ripple effects to this issue? There are other places for competition as well and the guys get into those as well. Alex Reyes looks good so far, but how much stock can we put into that? Plus, eventually they make their way to Houston and the commissioner, because it's hard to ignore those huge clouds on baseball's horizon. Get your spring reps in by giving the show a listen!
With spring training officially getting underway in a couple of weeks, all eyes are looking at 2020 and trying to figure out what might happen. A man that does more than guesstimate is Ben Cerutti (Birds on the Black, @stlfanbc7) and he joins Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) to talk about his system, why he came up with it, what it does well and what still might need tinkering. The guys get into some of the possibilities for the coming season (though you'll need to check out Birds on the Black regularly for the actual numbers!) as well as some general talk about the season. Finally, they work through the Cardinals Hall of Fame ballot that was released this past week. We project that you're going to like this one!
Technical glitches kept Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) from barraging him with too many questions, but the guys were very happy to welcome in Mark Saxon from The Athletic to talk about the current state of the Cardinals. From the lack of activity to the outfield situation, Mark covers it all with insight and good humor. Then, after the issues are addressed, Daniel and Allen spend a little time talking about the situation the Cards are in now. It's a little disjointed but if you've ever wanted much less Daniel and much more Allen, this is your show!
It's Winter Warmup Weekend but that doesn't mean the news is just abundantly flowing. In fact, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) spent more time than they ever have talking about the Cubs, which just tells you how quiet things are. Still, WWU at least gets the players in town to talk about things, even if they are in cliches, so the guys discuss Harrison Bader, Tyler O'Neill, Carlos Martinez, and Alex Reyes, among others. Plus your weekly dose of Nolan Arenado talk!
Welcome to Season 6 of Meet Me at Musial! To kick off what is sure to be a serious season, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) welcome scribe Jeff Jones (Belleville News-Democrat, @jmjones) and there's a trade for the guys to talk about! Jeff talks about what it is like trying to confirm reports like the ones on Thursday, when the Cards sent Jose Martinez, Randy Arozarena, and a compensatory draft pick to Tampa Bay for Matthew Liberatore, Edgardo Rodriguez, and a lower draft pick. Does this trade mean anything for Marcell Ozuna? Is Nolan Arenado more than a pipe dream? Plus Jeff talks about Winter Warm-up and the Writers' Dinner coming up next weekend. We're off and running on another year of MMM!
While by this time all of the presents under various trees have been unwrapped, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) go the opposite way, wrapping up not only another baseball season but Season 5 of MMM. The guys talk about the addition of Kwang Hyun Kim to the Cardinal pitching staff. What does this mean for Carlos Martinez? Does adding KK put the pressure on him? They also talk about the shrinking market for Marcell Ozuna. Does that mean that he might be re-entering the picture for the Redbirds? The guys then tackle some Twitter questions and quickly talk about how 2019 will be remembered. Thanks to everyone that has supported the podcast this year and we hope to do even better in 2020!
It's the Winter Meetings, but Cardinal fans seem to have the post-holiday blues. Lots of folks aren't feeling the excitement about the 2020 Cardinals and Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) can't really blame them. The guys talk about the defection of Michael Wacha to the Mets before getting into the dull winter the Cards are having while big contracts and player movement is going on all around them. A couple of big names might change that, but what are the odds of someone like David Price, much less Nolan Arenado? Plus (after an attempt to sign off) the guys talk about the induction of Ted Simmons to the Hall of Fame. Throw on the Yule Log and settle in for some discussion!
It's been a while since we did one of these Star Wars podcasts, so Tina (@ErdrickStorm) and Daniel (@C70) get together to talk about what's new in that galaxy far, far away. Most of the talk centered around The Mandalorian and no, not all of it was about Baby Yoda. (Maybe most of it.) What's working in the show? How has it become an outing that really seems to have united the Star Wars fanbase? The two also get into The Rise of Skywalker, which will be on screens in less than a month believe it or not, and a little about whatever movie might be coming in 2022. No tracking fob needed to find this bounty!
There's still not a lot going on with the Cardinals as of right now, but Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) go through what news there is. The Cards sorted out their 40-man, adding three and dropping Dominic Leone. Is that a loss? Mike Shildt was named Manager of the Year in his first full season. How impressive is that? Then the guys work through their ballots for the Cardinal Blogger Awards. If you want to vote, the link is here! https://forms.gle/G19JQKtHht7LvhjZ8
The end-of-the-season press conference happened this week, giving Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) a few topics to go over. Is the best idea hoping that players will bounce back next season to fix the offense? Is the fanbase actually "enthused" as Bill DeWitt thinks? What are the chances that Matt Carpenter can bounce back next season? Plenty of discussion before the hot stove gets fired up (or, for the Cardinals, gets dusted off and then covered up for another year).
With the World Series on (and the Nationals looking like a team of destiny), there's not as much Cardinals news but Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) are here to talk you through what there is. Besides some World Series talk, the guys get into all the different Cardinal nominees for the Gold Glove, while acknowledging the limitations of the award. Plus they talk about the 40-man roster and the free agents that are out there. While away a little bit of your colder week with the first embers of the hot stove!
It was a NLCS that is never going to be brought up when talking about the storied Cardinal postseason tradition. A four game sweep with an offense that was colder than the fall temperatures that hit St. Louis to start the series. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) perform a retrospective on the series, talking about the lack of offense and what could have been. Hat tips to Jose Martinez and Adam Wainwright and some real talk about the future of Jeff Albert. Postmortems are never fun but hopefully you'll find some good in this one!
After a final week that was much more dramatic than it had any right to be, the St. Louis Cardinals are not only in the playoffs, but leading the NLDS after a game. Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) get into all the details of the game and what might be coming up. How big of a role will baserunning play? How much credit should Miles Mikolas get for keeping things in check? Is Jack Flaherty a guaranteed win? Plenty more where that came from, folks. It's a playoff podcast!
Here's where the fun begins. Well, fun if you like agonizing stakes, every pitch mattering, and some things possibly being out of your control. If you are big on ulcers and want to visit your cardiologist, the Cardinals may just have the weekend for you! Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) talk about the upcoming series with the Cardinals clinging to a one game lead and the Brewers apparently impervious to defeat. What's going to happen? Why is there that nagging feeling that things are scary even as the Cards are well favored to win the division? The guys look back at the Arizona series plus the great weekend that happened in Chicago before risking things by discussing the playoff roster a bit. Buckle up, it's going to be a wild few days!