Join columnist Jeff Gordon for his live STL sports chat at 1 p.m. Friday
Bring your Cards, Blues, Mizzou, SLU and MLS questions and comments, and talk to columnist Jeff Gordon in his weekly live chat.
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There isn't significant data yet because there have been relatively few games with teams trying it out. Common sense suggests it will shave a few minutes off game times because it should cut down on trips to the mound and eliminate pitchers starting into their hat while trying to figure out what to throw next.I'd like to see this become mandatory once all the bugs are worked out. Right now the MLBPA wants it to be a players' choice thing. In time, I bet it becomes universal. It just makes too much sense. Then teams will have one less excuse for losing.
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The Blues are third in the Western Conference with 37 regulation wins. By contrast, Minnesota only has 31 and Dallas just 26. Good for those teams to pick up a lot of 3 v 3 and Shootout points to help them in the standings. But come playoff time, the Blues overall record in 5 on 5 hockey appears to be much more indicative of success. Just food for thought....
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Yeah, Minnesota is 7-1 in 3-on-3 overtime and the Blues are 1-7. The Blues have such a high-skilled team, so that failure has been baffling. The Chief has had no explanation. But like you say, it won't be a concern come playoff time. I have to think the Blues' unusual offensive depth could pay off once the postseason grind begins.
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There are different standards for sure. My guess is the NFL would have welcomed Bauer back once he was cleared of criminal liability. In this case, not only is MLB reluctant to take Bauer back as an entity, but there will be individual teams shying away due to "clubhouse culture" concerns if MLB gives the green light.
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Hey Jeff,
Enjoy your weekly chat. You shoot straight!
Question, how can the KU program continue to run circles around the NCAA with this 'bag-man' shoe dollar scam? This is ridiculous to say the least! Will the hammer ever come down on Kansas and, is there a chance the crown may be taken away if the infractions are super significant? Help us MIZZOU fans digest the issue! -
I would be surprised if the NCAA taking away this title because the alleged infractions took place so long ago. But since the NCAA has already stepped on the other schools in that federal probe, it's inevitable that it will try to nail Kansas with forward-looking sanctions. But KU has sent clear signals that it will fight this to the death in court if that time comes. So NCAA has to be sure when it drops the hammer and it must be prepared to see this whole matter drag out even longer.
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I think gates will improve the talent it is just unreal how much talent the other SEC teams are bringing in. Ark it is unreal the players he has coming in. Brazile will have to play very well to get many minutes. Mizzou could be much better and still finish in the bottom 4 of the conference next year. Not sure the NIL will be a friend of mizzou sports compared to other SEC schools.
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The right basketball coach can win at Missouri, just as the right coach has won at Auburn and Alabama. It is easier to overcome revenue disparity in basketball, since just takes a few key players each year to make the difference.The SEC competition level is insane, yes, but Dennis Gates is coming in aiming high. He won top recruit Aidan Shaw back into the fold and he hired an elite associate head coach. He has convinced an army of transfer candidates to consider Mizzou. And it appears the school is also getting its name, image and likeness act together. There is hope!
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Where were you 2 weeks ago? I had to chat with Tom Timmerman he banished me from the Chat-dom! Anyway the Blues are more interesting then Clydesdales. But I did enjoy the opening day ceremonies. Surprised how some HOF's age. Bruce Sutter practically got stuck in the Mustang. Whitey was still cool even with a cane. Joe Torre still looks good at 82. He must have the highest Cardinal batting average modern day .363 in 1971 he was MVP. He's really personable to I met him in a restaurant I managed once. It's weird not to have Lou Brock and Bob Gibson around. Is Keith Hernandez in the Cardinal HOF now?
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Jeff, how did a once proud franchise fall into such abyss? The Pirates opening day baseball coverage isn’t even the number one sports story in this morning’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Of course, the top story is the Steelers talk around a new QB. Wouldn’t you think the fans in a great sports city like Pittsburgh would demand more from their billionaire owner?
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The fans can demand all they want, but owner Robert Nutting isn't going to consistently invest in that team. The franchise got used to losing. That proceeded his family gaining control. The fan base withered. So from a business standpoint, the Pirates can run low payrolls for long stretches and collect huge profits while "rebuilding with youth." That might lead to a few good years, but another selloff/rebuild will likely follow. That is a business model many of the less-ambitious teams follow.
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Count me as one of those people who knew letting Albert go was a mistake. Sure had a lot of arrogant sportswriters put me down as some rube who doesn’t know jack about baseball for years. Be nice to see one who has the character to admit maybe just maybe they might have been wrong. Guy brings so much to the table that isn’t quantifiable by stats. The Cardinals crying poor that they couldn’t afford Albert, Yadi and Waino was always convenient, but it was bs. Team has been printing money for fifteen years now.
Let’s see what the Blues can get done come playoffs. I would favor the Blues over the Wild. Cant be understated that most of Minnesota’s team has never won anything. I hope the Blues get that matchup. -
Albert decided the leave the Cardinals after this franchise made a good offer to higher. The Angels offered higher total value on his contract, but it was backloaded and subject to higher taxation and a much higher cost of living. I'd argue that Albert would have been better off financially for the long haul staying in the STL. He could have built strong forever earning potential in this market.But had he stayed here, his pre-DH years in the NL could have gotten ugly for both sides.
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Were you amazed at hearing Molina embrace more rest and sharing play time? Does this also mean he won't push to bat higher in the lineup? Has the addition of Pujols and how he's handled a reduced role been what's changed Molina's thoughts and approach because he's seemed to have filled out the lineup card these past few years? Has Marmol benefited from Pujols coming as handling an aging star by La Russa contention is a managers hardest endeavor?
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Jeff, with Pujols selling tickets and the nightly bobbleheads stashed away till next year, the Cards are almost assured of reaching 3.0 million again. However, I expect ticket sales to nosedive throughout the league which almost makes the Pujols signing look like a coup. You would never know it by watching the Cards home opener but there are throngs of discontented fans elsewhere. Are you seeing it the same way or just too early to tell? We can revisit this topic in several months.
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It's early to draw conclusions on fan unrest over the lockout. The regular season was set back just a week after all of that angry posturing by the owners and players. A bigger issue might be life in the post-pandemic world. People got used to doing things differently -- work, play, everything. Some folks will be eager to get back out to concerts and sporting events and others may have gotten used to NOT spending huge dollars on either. The retail and restaurant worlds have had to adapt and maybe the live entertainment world will as well.
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What's the Blues record since Krug has been injured? With Berube finding more confidence in Rosen who will get the majority of 3rd line play between Borts, Scandella, Mikkola and him when Krug returns? The team has looked good when playing 7 D. Could this continue which also gives more play time to Blues strong top three centers?
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I expect the Blues to use the traditional 12-forward, 6-defensemen alignment come playoff time with some rotation on the fourth forward line and third defensive pairing from game to game. Within that configuration Craig Berube can still condense lines to feature his top centers. Calle Rosen has helped himself for sure, but the physical nature of postseason hockey should add value to both Robert Bortuzzo and Niko Mikkola.
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Jeff, thank you for the chat. I know this is premature since the season is still active, but I’ve come to the conclusion there are better options out there than Parayko for next season. Nikita Zadorov is an UFA after this season and he and Parayko have almost identical stats. Parayko is making $6.5m a year whereas you could get Zadorov for probably $2.5m next year, plus he plays physical. You could then trade Parayko to Seattle for Cason Soucy and a 2nd Round draft pick. His stats are similar to Parayko too. Your thoughts?
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Good one! Parayko is plus-26 in the past three months playing the hardest minutes for a defensive corps which lacks the overall strength of previous units. Zadorov is playing just 17 minutes a night. He's fine for third-pairing-plus-penalty killing role, but he's no Parayko. The same goes for Soucy. who is another supporting cast guy -- not a primarly defender.
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A trade could happen if Vladdy still wants a fresh start elsewhere. Given No. 91's high level of play this season, the going rate for such a valuable player is a good young veteran, a top prospect and a quality draft pick. Which team should make that offer? The Islanders, who need a shooter to play with Mathew Barzal.The Blues can't afford to keep everybody for the long haul. Right now Tarasenko is a value for his salary/production, but he will be due a nice raise on his next deal if his sustains this level of play next season. That factors in the equation for the Blues as well.
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I am watching Johnny Gaudreau's contract extension going no where in Calgary. He's to close to UFA to sign now I believe. If he goes to the Flyers as an UFA Matthew Tkachuck is just a year behind him doing the same. So Johnny leaves I would bet Matthew does. It's going to be Vladi for Matthew this off season. YOU heard it from ROY HOBBS first posters!!! Just like I've been right about Nathan Walker all along and Tom Timmerman and Gordzonga have been wrong about our favorite Aussie! There's a lot to unpack in this post--so just don't answer one small part of it like you've been known to do!!
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Fitting Matthew Tkachuk into the salary structure here for the long haul would take some work. Might that happen some day? Sure, but Doug Armstrong is in no rush to give out eight-digit salaries. And like I said about Tarasenko, the best trade for him would bring long-term assets as well as salary cap relief so other guys can stay. Doug would rather keep a lot of good players than spend on a few bigger assets.As for Walker, he's been fine in a fourth-liner role. His speed and skill are assets on the forcecheck, but his lack of size and strength will be an issue if the Blues get into a grinding series with a physical team like Minnesota.
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I would take the elite recruiter capable of finding emerging talent, getting in early on players and building lasting relationships on the grass roots circuit that later lead to transfer gets. Recruiters who do all of that can find great program fits and build numbers. And some of those kids will hit big. Having money to buy players is great, but a coach needs to build a strong foundation and a steady talent flow before those sorts of high-end purchases really pay off.
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