As 2012 is about to roll in, I must say 2011
will be one year we will not soon forget as each of our sports
teams has been touched. With that said, I thought I would look at
some defining moments and the predictions (or should I say hope)
for 2012.
Let’s start with
the biggest news of the season, the St. Louis Cardinals. Left for
dead in August, the Cardinals pulled off on of the greatest
comebacks in the history of Major League Baseball to just get into
the playoffs. From that point they went on to beat the two best
teams (twice in their home ballparks in each series) in the
National League to get to World Series. Down two their last strike
on two occasions in Game Six to come back and you know the
rest. Some season.
Then came the
off season when Tony Larussa left and later their first baseman.
Mind you, it was not about the money but don’t let me get wound up
on that subject. What did the Cardinals do? They hired a person to
manage that has never managed before. Normally that would not be a
good thing but in this case it was the best thing they could have
ever done. Mike Matheny will make a mistake or two and he will not
always manage like Larussa but he is the man for the job. With
respect to the loss of the first baseman, the Cardinals elected not
to get caught up in spending that kind of money on a player who
will eventually decline like we all do; only we will not get 25
million a year for it. Instead the Cardinals reinvested in their
own players in Furcal, signed a reliever and stepped up for one
time Cardinal Killer Carlos Beltran.
Prediction and
Hope – If the
Cardinals can stay reasonably healthy and players play to what
their averages would indicate, the Cardinals will be back in post
season play. Mike Matheny will be fine. He has a good staff and a
good front office to support him. The Cardinals will be fun to
watch.
To say I would
be disappointed in the St. Louis Rams would be inaccurate. I never
thought this would be their year even though they were one game
away from making the playoffs last year. If you recall I thought
six wins would be all they could muster. I later changed that in
realizing they were far worse than I thought. With a good chance to
go 2-14 is beyond what anyone would have imagined. Spare me the
injury excuse. Green Bay won the Super Bowl with 17 players hurt
during their run. The problem has been the inability for the Rams
to draft and sign good players out of college and free agents. The
inability to score is beyond horror at this point. Sam Bradford is
still the player they need to have but he and Steven Jackson need
help and quick.
“font-size: 9pt;”>Prediction and Hope “font-size: 9pt;”>– This team has a long way to go and a short time to do it in St. Louis. The current regime has worked overtime to eliminate any resemblance of the past success of the St. Louis Rams, and we only have nightmares every Sunday night of what we saw earlier in the day. Blow the whole thing up. The Rams have to start over. They need the ultimate makeover and I am not sure if there is a reality show that would air this but it would be fun to see how the off season would go. They need help in every area. Kevin Demoff has his hands full as well as owner Stan Kronke. I know Demoff exists, I am wondering about Kronke.
The St. Louis
Blues have been more than a pleasant surprise in spite of shaky
ownership and upper level management. General Manager has done an
outstanding job considering the circumstances of who he has to
report to. He decided his coach was too technical and too
inexperienced for this team and he made a move. He hired Ken
Hitchcock to coach the team and all of sudden the Blues are a
discussion in the barbershop north of Lindell because they are
winning.
“font-size: 9pt;”>Prediction and Hope “font-size: 9pt;”>– They are sold as soon as possible to a local group whereas we could politely ask the current leadership to get the heck out of dodge ASAP. The Blues will make the playoffs provided they do not run into a rash of injuries. They may even win a round or two and as you know from what we saw in the Cardinals, once you get in post season, anything can happen.
So Mizzou
finally did it. They got out of a very shaky Big 12 conference. The
league was run by Texas which meant everything had to be OK’d by
them which meant Missouri was be on the outside looking in. Moving
to the SEC will be the best thing for them in the future. Mind you,
I said FUTURE. They may take some lumps early but there is a bigger
pot of gold at the end of this rainbow.
“font-size: 9pt;”>Prediction and Hope “font-size: 9pt;”>– Both Gary Pinkel and Frank Haith will take what they are building and enjoy greater success. As for athletic director Mike Alden more progressive years as the best Athletic Director they have had in the school’s history. Don’t think so? Check the budget as well how all of their programs compete at everything.
The Billikens,
Yes the Billekens of St. Louis University have gotten off to a
great start and Rick Majerus should be commended for it. It has
been a tough road for sure and there is finally light at the end of
the tunnel. The program is moving in the right direction. The
athletes are first rate kids that represent the school well. Before
you go back to last year’s incident, let’s just call that a sham in
every since of the word and those involved in the decisions should
be ashamed of themselves.
“font-size: 9pt;”>Predictions and Hope “font-size: 9pt;”>– Post-season for the Bills; my hope is that Father Biondi would have the notion to send the Atlantic 10 conference a letter saying that after this season St. Louis University will no longer be playing in the league. It has been the worst decision the school has made in at least 25 years. Well one of the worst for sure as I start to think a few more that time and space will not allow. Anyway this is all about a positive, fun and rewarding 2012 for our teams and readers of the St. Louis American. Let’s get started on it.
