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What is ailing Cardinals’ second baseman Kolten Wong?

August 21, 2015August 21, 2015 · Leave a comment ·

I wrote weeks ago about how I think Kolten Wong can be one of the best second baseman to ever wear the Birds on the bat. I still believe that but it seems like plenty of others around St. Louis do not. After Wong’s two error game in a Sunday against the Miami Marlins, the toll on Wong’s mental approach to the game was evident. After another couple of errors this week, Wong’s confidence in the field is fractured. Could it be that Wong just needs a day or two off to clear his head?

It’s no secret Wong has struggled lately. In his last 30 games, Wong is hitting just .197 with an on base percentage of .258 and a slugging percentage of .262. His signature brand of pop is missing in August, as he has zero extra base hits and only 10 singles(.156 average). It seems like a decade since his last home run and his average has plunged from near .290 to .263 in the past month. His 11 home runs, 48 RBI, and 114 hits are still respectable but his overall on base percentage and slugging percentage is dropping. Is he still hitting baseballs hard? While his overall line drive rate is 23.5%, his game to game rates in August have seen less sting on balls he hits. It’s not a great trend.

Maybe it could help if Mike Matheny found a comfy spot for Wong in the lineup. This season, Wong has taken swings in every lineup spot but cleanup. He has over 200 at bats in cleanup and 40+ in the #2, #7 and #8. He doesn’t know where he hits and it stems from the fact that when the kid is right, his bat can help in a number of ways. He can collect a double, crank a home run and has speed on the bases(14 steals included). He is the prototypical #2 hitter but his best stats come from the pressure free 8th spot. He has 20 hits in 60 at bats there, with a .391 OBP. One thing Matheny can do is shift him there to take some pressure off and get him to relax.

Another thing Matheny could is rest the kid. Wong has played in 37 straight games. That’s at bat in every one of those games and starting over 95% of them. While Jhonny Peralta gets a day off per week, Wong continues to play and his bat, body and mind could use a rest. Wong committed his 11th and 12th errors on Sunday and when the kid messes up, he takes himself to school mentally for the rest of the game. Part of being a highly talented soon to be 25 year old franchise type player. Wong has put together a lot of great moments over the past couple years and was handed the keys to second base last season. There will be setbacks.

A couple days off may hinder an ailing Cards offense, but it may dividends down the road when the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs continue to shove the Birds for their share of first place. The Central division isn’t softening up, with all three teams having great months of August, especially the Cubs. The time could be now to release some of the pressure from a kid who has hit .206 with four extra base hits since the All Star break. Rest him.

Kolten Wong may not like it, but a couple days off could relieve the pressure. If not that, bat him 8th and keep him there for a while. At this point, Wong needs normalcy or a small vacation. Do what is needed to get this kid right. He’s too important to run into the ground. A small rest could do wonders for Kolten Wong.

Will John Lackey pitch in St. Louis next season?

August 20, 2015August 16, 2015 · Leave a comment ·

Ask any saloon owner and the last thing you want to do is lose your best cowboy to another town next season. With the way St. Louis Cardinals starter John Lackey is pitching right now, the question remains swirling around my head. Will he come back and pitch for the Birds next year?

The Texan has turned back the clock in 2015, reaching 10 wins for the 12th consecutive season he’s pitched in. He’s more efficient than ever, racking up a 2.87 earned run average and a 1.18 WHIP with 116 strikeouts in 159.2 innings this season. He’s only walked 38 batters. He scatters singles, allows a lot of singles and the occasional home run but for the most part Lackey has stepped into the Chris Carpenter role since he joined the team last July. He’s an angry man on the mound and lets his emotions fly. He commands respect that other pitchers can only dream of. He’s more than just a talented arm. He’s a simple man with a plan who hasn’t added a pitch in years yet remains efficient.

Is it enough to bring him back next year? Sure it is. I just don’t think Lackey will want what the Cardinals offer him. I don’t see John Mozeliak offering a soon to be 37 year old more than a 1 year deal with the fleet of young pitchers coming up through the minor leagues like a locomotive carrying silver bullets into town. Put yourself in Lackey’s position. If you are pitching this well, and doing it for the bargain price of 500,000 dollars(Cards slipped him a bonus at midseason to enhance the earnings), would you accept a lesser deal at this point in your career?

I think Lackey will look for a parachute deal, something to float away into retirement on top of. He won’t go pitch for the Marlins or anything, but other contending teams will pay him good money and guarantee it for 2-3 seasons. I think of the “who comes back” ordeal to center around Jaime Garcia and Lackey. Right now, brittle body or not, Garcia has a better chance of returning simply because he has half the leverage that Lackey does and he needs to prove he can start 25-30 games in a season again.

I’d love to have Lackey stout back for another round of drinks. He’s tough. Once Waino fell down and Lance Lynn struggled a bit early on, Lackey’s role became enhanced this season. With his fine work Saturday night, John Lackey has hurled 12 quality starts in a row, nine of them covering 7 innings or more. He has been one of the most impressive if not the biggest bright spot in the league’s best rotation.

Enjoy him while he’s here folks. Lackey is exactly the guy the Cards need in the postseason, a guy who has closed out two teams on two different teams to win the World Series(including the Cardinals in 2013). As a competitor taking the ball every five days, Lackey is one of the best. As the oldest starting pitcher on the Cards, he’s hanging with these younger guns just fine.

While he may not be a Cardinal past 2015, John Lackey has proven to be worth every penny and then some this season. I think that’s enough to sleep on for Cardinals fans.

Hey Cardinals, let’s sign Jason Heyward!

August 19, 2015August 13, 2015 · 1 Comment ·

(In case you missed it on KSDK)

When the news of the new TV deal between the St. Louis Cardinals and Fox Sports Midwest landed, the first thought that hit my head was simple. It’s time to sign Jason Heyward to a long term deal.

If there was hesitation before, the extra money that kicks in during 2018 demolishes the doubt. As John Mozeliak told KMOX last week, he’s seen enough to know that Heyward belongs in St. Louis for a very long time so let’s wrap it up. He was being brought in to be the cardholder in right field and be the future face of this franchise. He has delivered the play in the field to prove he is worth the big contract.

Heyward turned 26 years old on Sunday, so signing him to a long term deal would be a fine present. Why not? What has Heyward not shown you through four months that was expected?

If you are looking for more power, look elsewhere. No one ever labeled Heyward a home run threat. You don’t see him competing in home run derbies, do you? He’s hit 20+ homers one time, so stop looking for gold there.

Through 107 games and 384 at bats, Heyward is hitting .286 with a .342 on base percentage and a .430 slugging percentage. His strikeout rate is only 17 percent. He has drawn 32 walks. He has 9 home runs and 37 RBI. Heyward has gotten better every month. He has been hitting since May 1st.

Here is his OPS and batting average per month.

April-.611/.217

May-.783/.284

June-.881/.326

July-.806/.312

August-.740/.290(8 games)

In case you have been blinded by the light, Heyward also plays a mean right field, and that includes a missile for a left arm and an ability to make run saving catches. According to Fangraphs, Heyward has saved 13 runs in right field and has an UZR(ultimate zone rating) of 11.8. Adam Jones and Nick Markakis won a Gold Glove with lesser numbers in both categories last season. Heyward’s overall WAR of 3.8(highest on the team) is powered by his gold glove caliber defense. It’s no lie that his greatest asset is his ability to take hits and runs away in the field, through physical action or reputation. For a team that relies on great pitching being aided by great defense, Heyward is a nice asset to have out there.

He can hit anywhere in the lineup. Clean up, move up to 3rd or slide down to 6th. Did I mention he’s only 26 years old? The capabilities for this guy haven’t reached the roof offensively either, so the baseball card mafia can still hold out some hope for some more boom in that stick. Yes, I’d like a home run from Heyward sometime soon(his last came in Miami on June 24th) but that’s not where his true value is.

Heyward’s value comes in a versatile tool set. He has 18 steals in 20 attempts and he has 24 doubles. He has recaptured the ability to hit lefties this year(.286 in 105 at bats) and hit the ball to the opposite field. When Heyward did display the power back in 2012, he was a big time pull hitter, almost to where teams would shift on him. These days, he’s refined that part of his hitting approach and its fits right in with the Cardinals. Whitey Herzog would have loved to coach Heyward, right?

The time is now to sign Heyward because he is getting more expensive by the week. The closer he gets to free agency the higher his price tag goes. The free agent market this winter will include Heyward, Yoenis Cespedes and Justin Upton as their premier young bats. If the Cardinals let Heyward reach November without a contract, his price will sky rocket. Don’t get into a bidding war with the Yankees. If the money is there, sign Heyward now. The promise of this movie trailer of talent hasn’t disappointed over the first 2/3 of the season. Mo has seen enough, so I expect a deal to get done before the start of September. There’s no reason to wait.

With aging players like Matt Holliday and Yadier Molina reaching their final contracts and their bodies wearing down, it’s important to secure a big piece in the future in Heyward.

How much for his services? The Cards traded a big piece in Shelby Miller to acquire Heyward, so Mo knows the market and the price. A deal like seven years/161 million carries an annual average value of 23 million doesn’t sound bad for either side but it could be higher. That’s a place the Cards could start with at least. Who knows? The next few weeks will tell the tale.

Heyward has shown me enough to want him here long term. Has he done enough for you? Tell me in the comments below.

Should Cardinals fans worry about the Randal Grichuk injury?

August 18, 2015August 17, 2015 · 1 Comment ·

Any time a theme park ride closes down, the people waiting in line get mad and depressed. What it would have been like to ride that thing? Right now, across a hot St. Louis, St. Louis Cardinals fans are disheartened by the idea of the Randal Grichuk experience being closed until September. The talented 25 year old rookie of the year candidate is going on the disabled list with a right elbow strain. The complete severity of the injury is unknown, but the warning signs are enough for the team to act quickly after the MRI this morning. Should the fans freak out?

The answer is no. Grichuk, while impressive and durable with the bat, wasn’t powering this offense singlehandedly. This moderate attack doesn’t operate on one boom stick anymore. Grichuk was essentially a sniper in a band of versatile weapons that scratch out just enough runs to help out the best pitching staff in baseball. They still have Stephen Piscotty and Jason Heyward out there(who combined for three home runs Sunday), and Matt Carpenter and Jhonny Peralta have handled business this month.

Grichuk’s power will be missed. The kind of pop that can turn a silent Friday game into a quick Cardinals lead like he did with a 2 run home run against the Marlins. A bat that had grown more lethal over the course of the season. One that accumulated 43 extra base hits(21 doubles, 7 triples, 15 home runs) and a .561 slugging percentage. Sure, he had 97 strikeouts(at least 3 multi-K games every ten game set) but he was drawing more walks as the weeks passed by. Grichuk’s lethal ability to crank baseball 100 mph was only improving so the spectacle will be missed.

What happens next? Tommy Pham will come up, be inserted into the roster and have another chance to showcase his skills. Brandon Moss isn’t going to improve sitting on the bench, so the loss of Grichuk gives him renewed time in left field. Jason Heyward, by the looks of today’s lineup, will get some time in center field while Stephen Piscotty moves to a place he is most comfortable at and that’s right field. The next man up mentality will persevere here.

Why should fans not worry? Remember that great pitching. The pitching that the Cards have built their success on this year didn’t lose an arm today. The starters may have lost some run support with the Grichuk injury but the performance doesn’t expect to be diminished.

After all, look at the losses this lineup has faced this season. Matt Adams since late May. Matt Holliday, except for 10 games, since early June. Jon Jay for the past two months(or all season). Peter Bourjos…oh I forgot, he just doesn’t play that much. Grichuk is the latest blow to a team that knows how to roll with the punches.

While the hottest theme park ride in town heads to the disabled list, guys like Heyward and Piscotty can step up and take over now. Aging AAAA talents like Tommy Pham can rise to the occasion. Kolten Wong, rest or not, can hopefully find comfort in the #2 spot. An offense that struggles to score runs no matter who comes or goes will soldier on top of the best pitching in baseball.

Randal Grichuk isn’t gone for good, folks. He’s just hurt and needs time. Keep your head up and enjoy Cardinals baseball. If any team knows how to endure, it’s the Birds.

The Randal Grichuk Experience

August 1, 2015July 25, 2015 · Leave a comment ·

A 23 year old well built baseball player steps to the plate. He waggles the bat, digs his feet in around home plate and dips the bat over his shoulder. The bat slowly points back towards the umpire as if to say, “Watch this!” The pitch comes in, and the body engages like a fighter jet. The bat head springs towards the sky and starts to whip around towards the pitch. It may touch the ball or it may miss it completely. If contact is made, the baseball goes an extremely long way and quick.

Welcome to the Randal Grichuk experience, open 7 days a week in this St. Louis Cardinals lineup. All he does is hit extra base hits and strike out. He’s an action film. An experience. His defense in the outfield(he plays all three positions) is not too shabby but it’s his bat that creates the most attention.

Grichuk has 17 doubles, 6 triples and 11 home runs on the season. You won’t find many players in this league with those kind of extra base hit splits. He’s got speed, loads of pop and can spray a ball to any field. Good luck shifting this kid. He hits a ball off the end of the bat and it looks like a solar eclipse running out of the park from a building across the street.

The knock on Grichuk is that his bat has too many holes in it to sustain success in the majors. Yes, his 33 percent strikeout rate(72 in 216 at bats) does leave questions at the door and will make a person look at the directions to this action figurine a few extra times. However, when you carry this much BOOM in your stick, the setbacks can be handled.

Grichuk is fun for all ages. To young kids, he’s the knight with the big sword, slicing juicy fastballs up. To teens, he’s the young stallion making his dream come true. When he comes up to the plate, my wife stops and watches. Now, that may be due to the fact that Randal isn’t terrible looking and is built like a Ford truck, but also there’s a good chance he may launch a baseball towards outer space and you want to be able to tell your friends where you were when it hit the astronaut in the back. Husbands can’t complain about that. Respect, son!

All I know is Grichuk is holding up quite well, and helping the Cardinals in a time of need. Ever since Albert Pujols left, the Cards lacked a potential 30 home run guy. A show stopper. Soon, Grichuk could be that big stick. While he may not be multi-faceted like Pujols, he is once again, only 23 years old.

One thing Randal Grichuk is these days is exciting. Buy a ticket to this ride sometime soon. See it in person. Where it is going, nobody knows. There’s a decent chance it may get better.

Before the action starts against Atlanta Saturday night, Grichuk has 11 home runs, 36 RBI, and hitting .278. His on base percentage is a respectable .326 and he is slugging out of his mind at .551. His WAR(via Baseball Reference) is a solid 2.1 and growing. He has slowly increased his walks(1 for every 5 strikeouts) but fans don’t want to see the kid keep his bat towards the umpire and still. They want action! Baseballs fear Randal so don’t let them off the hook! As a man once said in an M. Night Shyamalan flick, it hurts not to swing.

With Matt Holliday missing time due to injury and Jon Jay on the decline this season, Randal Grichuk has given the outfield a boost. A breath of fresh air! When I think of an outfield of Holliday, Grichuk and Jason Heyward in 2016 and beyond, a smile appears on my face. It’s a pleasant thought and not far fetched.

Extra note. Grichuk is a reason fans should be patient with Stephen Piscotty. When Randal first got here last summer, he struggled. He whiffed once every other at bat. It looked like a kid swinging at wire brush at the plate. Eventually, he improved and found a timing and comfort at the plate. Look at him now.

Randal Grichuk turns 24 on August 13th so he is just getting warmed up folks. Be sure to attend the next show.

Is Chris Davis an option for the Cardinals?

July 28, 2015July 28, 2015 · Leave a comment ·

In case you missed it on STL Sports Minute….

According to @CubsCardsCast, MLB analyst Jim Bowden mentioned on satellite radio this morning that the St. Louis Cardinals could be a landing spot for Baltimore slugger Chris Davis. Is this plausible? What would it take? Is this a good idea? After talking with my Cardinals cohorts, Let’s dig into the conversation on this Sunday morning. As I gulp the coffee..we run.

Is it plausible? Sure it is. The Orioles aren’t exactly sellers or buyers but they aren’t sure about keeping Davis past this year, where he has a 12 million dollar deal. Davis is 29 years old, is slugging well this season but may not be a part of the plans in Baltimore. Instead of offering Davis a qualifying offer they don’t want him to accept, the Orioles can get something for him now. Possibly rebuild at the position or gather young players. Davis also fits the Cards needs at first base in solving a short term fix without being attached long term. Davis will be looking for a long term deal so he will be playing like a man on the hunt.

What would it take? The return wouldn’t be light according to my fellow STLSM scribe Corey Rudd, due to Davis’ power raking ability, young age and the Cards need. Stephen Piscotty may be a conversation starter but it could also be a guy like Marco Gonzales and Tim Cooney. Jacob Wilson is a solid hitting 2B prospect with a huge roadblock in front of him. The Cardinals biggest problem in finding help is not having a ton of pieces to work with. Also, does Mo leverage a huge piece like Piscotty or Gonzales to find a guy who could be gone by this winter? With the way the team is playing, my guess is not. (more…)

Carlos Martinez: Pitching with Oscar on his mind

July 24, 2015July 20, 2015 · Leave a comment ·

Nothing makes you feel more human than when you lose someone in life who is close to you. It’s not fair. It’s too soon. And it really hurts. For St. Louis Cardinals’ pitcher Carlos Martinez, losing his best friend and teammate Oscar Taveras may never wear off. Everywhere Martinez goes and whatever success follows him, the legacy of his friend will follow along.

Every time Martinez climbs the mound, he draws an #18 into the mound. Whenever something great happens, such as Friday’s announcement that he was an All Star, the 23 year old mentions “representing” Oscar at the festivities. 2015 may be an extended tribute show dedicated to his fallen friend, but something tells me Carlos will be pitching with Oscar in mind for a long time. Maybe his whole career. That’s the way it goes with legacies. They never drift. They stick with you.

Also, I need to address the moral police. The people who see fit to slam Carlos or anyone who mentions Taveras in good graces. Unless you have NEVER driven under the influence or know anyone who has, please stand down on breaking out your little moral badge here. Carlos lost a friend dear to him. Nothing changes that, circumstances or not. Oscar made a mistake many of us made at 21 years of age. Why dog his best friend for that honoring him after his death? I don’t walk around with my shiny fake moral badge on slapping people for remembering an exuberant young man who made a tragic fatal mistake. Let it be. (more…)

The Ozzie and Willie Effect on Cardinal Nation

July 20, 2015September 6, 2015 · 1 Comment ·

On August 3rd, the St. Louis Cardinals are hosting another legendary speaker night as the television voice of the Cardinals, Dan McLaughlin, will speak to legends Ozzie Smith and Willie McGee and fans can be right there for the action. When I heard about this event, I started thinking about what made these two players so indelible and defiant to Cardinal nation. It’s easy. They were people’s champs. In the 1980’s, when you talked about Cardinals baseball, these two were always a part of the conversation.

Smith’s nickname, The Wizard, was made famous by the fans who adored his defense and all around play. Smith made 15 appearances in the All Star Game, and was well respected around the league. He redefined what great defense looked like. When a modern shortstop like Andrelton Simmons makes an insane play at short, people instantly compare him to Ozzie and think of the Wizard’s work back in the day. While Smith’s lifetime average was only .262, he stole 580 bases over his career and cranked 69 triples. He has speed to kill and was old fashioned on the basepaths. He didn’t have much power but everyone and their grandchildren know he made St. Louis go crazy in 1985 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was a people’s champ. He also won 13 consecutive gold gloves. (more…)

Jack Buck meant something to all Cardinals fans

July 3, 2015September 6, 2015 · 2 Comments ·

I never saw the press box at old Busch Stadium that quiet. Something was wrong. I was working on the Manual Scoreboard on June 18th, 2002, the day the music died for St. Louis Cardinals radio. Jack Buck passed away and the usually raucous press box was chillingly silent. I took a seat and thought about the last time I remembered interacting with Buck.

Living in Brentwood, I saw Buck often at Carl’s Drive In and said hello and spoke to him in the press box many times. He would extend his arm, flash that million dollar smile and ask you how you were. If you were in front of him, Jack Buck gave you respect. It was granted the minute he laid eyes on you.

Sitting at the first table in the red suit and black undershirt, Buck was Elvis sitting easy in a room full of manic obsessive writers, broadcasters and employees. If Stuart Scott had an easy human interpretation for his famous saying, “as cool as the other side of the pillow”, it was Jack Buck every night at Busch right before game time. (more…)

Cards Game Reaction and More

August 23, 2013April 12, 2017 · Leave a comment ·

When Ben Affleck was announced as Batman in the 2015 sequel to Man of Steel, this addict’s radar went off and I had to depart a very good game. I did return from Gotham in South Boston to rewatch the highlights and report that tonight’s game produced a stream of thoughts. Here is a quick rundown of what happened tonight.

My Take From the Cards Win-

*Pete Kozma still has 3 hits in August, yet continues to start. Unlike Dan Uggla, this .219 hitter can’t bash home runs out of the yard. Daniel Descalso came into the game early and got a hit in 2 at bats. Kozma is .057 for August. He needs to go and it’s finally the hour for a Ryan Jackson appearance. He has the defensive skills and might have a slightly better bat than .219.

*Joe Jelly Kelly provided another solid start. Solid if not great work from a guy who continues to impress. He has pitched 12 innings and allowed 2 runs total against the best team in baseball(record wise at least). He went 6, allowed 2 runs on 7 hits, and struck out 3 batters and walked 2. He delivered what was expected. The base line for the opportunity to win. He’s as good as bottled water right now.

*Quiet down about Matt Holliday losing some production back in the #3 hole. He was 2-3 with a walk tonight including a huge RBI double in the 6th. He will hit anywhere. Just let him be. Sometimes Holliday haters just talk so they can be seen, like annoying umpires in a game of rivals.

*Mike Matheny didn’t receive much wrath from Twitter tonight and it seems like every time Kelly starts, the young skipper makes better decisions. It must be nice knowing your starter will deliver what is expected. I didn’t see that many bunts tonight. Fact.

*Carlos Beltran is heating back up at the right time. In his last 10 games, Beltran is hitting .341.

*David Freese continues to starve off desperation with a hit and 2 RBI tonight. I still say he needs to light it up to get starts because Kolten Wong offers you a little more but the Imos Boy faithful is still strong.

*Matt Carpenter continues his wickedly hot table setting ways. 2 hits, his 42nd double, and 2 runs scored. He is hitting .312 and looking mighty confident doing so. Where did we find this guy? 2 years ago he was nowhere on the depth chart and boom, now he is our leadoff guy for the foreseeable future. It starts and ends with his ability to work the count and play solid defense.

*Trevor Rosenthal is showing some signs of wearing down but he has appeared in 58 games and still gets the job done. He allowed a hit tonight yet threw 10 pitches and finished off the 9th inning. He has allowed 5 earned runs in his last 10 outings but is still a strong reliever. I trust the guy.

*Paul Maholm is an average pitcher and Atlanta’s worst starter. He no hit us for nearly 4 innings before we woke up and scored 5 runs off him. This series was set up perfect because we got their worst to start and don’t face their best, Mike Minor, until Sunday.

*Add to that The Braves are walking wounded. Jason Heyward got beaned with a pitch in the jaw and will miss 6 weeks. Dan Uggla may return this weekend but who knows what his eye sight will yield. B.J. Upton is struggling. Justin Upton hits a home run(as seen tonight) or is a quick out. This team is already without its ace, Tim Hudson. This is a time to get the best of them.

*There are only a few things better for a Cards addict than finding out the game you are going to see live tomorrow night features Adam Wainwright. The true Carp. Jr takes command of a game and will help a dad trying to get at least 6 innings in with a 2 year old in attendance.

*The Pirates jumped SF’s Matt Cain and won tonight. The Reds won. No worries. All we have to do is stay close. The next 16 games are crucial. Braves, Reds and Pirates. We get through that with at least 9 wins then we are solid for the final stretch.

*The Reds lost Jonathon Broxton and Johnny Cueto for at least the regular season today, so their fragile pitching corps took a huge hit. I am not afraid of that team at all, especially at Busch Stadium. The advantage is ours.

*Edward Mujica is fine. It’s just a muscle in his back, located near the traps and lats near the mid section. With therapy and meds, he will be fine. Judging by the way he finished off his game on Wednesday, I have tons of faith in him getting the job done. The solo home run he allowed on Wednesday was his first earned run allowed in August, spanning 8 outings. He also pitched 2 innings three separate times last week, which can lead to a back spasm or two. He has recovered from a rough July and returned to stellar form. He is 33-35 in save opportunities which is quite incredible when you take into account his history and this team’s sudden need for a fix in April. Without Mujica, this team may not sit as pretty. Team MVP goes Molina, Carp Jr., Mujica, Craig.

*Most errors on the Cards. Carpenter and Descalso each have 11 errors.

*Mike Shannon’s heart surgery was shocking but hearing he is out of it and recovered and ready to roll is great news. Radio calls without Shannon wouldn’t seem right.

The Random Bits-

*My son Vinny turns 2 years old on September 14th and I can’t believe its been that long. I’ve become a diaper changing ninja, car seat specialist, and overall hands on mechanic with this kid but he throws me curveballs every day. I may not Hollywood’s idea of a superhero, but to this kid I am just that and I am cool with it.

*The Spectacular Now and Drinking Buddies are very good movies. Each are 95 minutes or less. One you can watch at home.

*Ben Affleck already played a tortured superhero, portraying George Reeves in the underrated crime film Hollywoodland. He was excellent in that film. He wasn’t my first choice but I understand the move and like the bold flavor of it. Affleck will throw little Henry on his shoulders and make sure its done right. All he has to do is step on set and say, “Argofuckyourself”.

*One advantage of having my own site/link/domain is owning that particular name and being able to build an actual site off it one day. I do plan to build a site around my material and make it legit. First step was securing a domain. You can type dose of buffa into google and my words will hit you at the top. Small if solid accomplishment.

*The word, Buffa,means an Italian comic opera, according to google. This is what happens when you google yourself. Madness.

Alright, I am bringing this wildly unplugged and slightly less than spectacular entry to a close. Thanks for reading and goodnight.

-DB

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