Derrick Gould, Post-Dispatch Cardinals beat writer, wrote Tuesday that Redbirds GM John Mozeliak wants more speed, better (defensive) range and “a more exciting club.”
“I think kind of rolling out what we did last year and thinking we’re going to get a better outcome is harder for me to accept. … I think the timing of this and the additions we’re looking to do are going to make for a more exciting club,” Mozeliak told Gould.
The leading candidates for this infusion of energy include free-agent outfielder Dexter Fowler and Kansas City outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Jarrod Dyson.
Not counting their baseball skills, what do these three men have in common? They are black.
Since the days of Jackie Robinson, “excitement” has meant “black” when it comes to baseball rosters. I’m not saying that is a bad thing. Either of the three players would bring an enthusiasm for the game missing from the Cardinals roster – but there is a catch.
Manager Mike Matheny must allow them to be themselves, something he would be uncomfortable with as the season began. The Cardinals’ so-called celebrations have always seemed concocted, not natural. That starts with the head man in the dugout.
If the 2017 Cardinals are indeed going to be more exciting, the manager must let guys be themselves and not let Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina quash spontaneous moments of thrill, laughter or giddiness.
Latest follies from L.A. Rams
Is there a more incompetent organization in the NFL than the L.A. Rams?
At 4-8, the team is almost guaranteed to finish under .500 for the 13th year in a row.
It traded a slew of draft picks to Tennessee to select quarterback Jared Goff with the first pick in the NFL draft – and Goff did not start until the season’s 10th week.
The Rams confirmed this week that the leader of this pack of lost souls was awarded a two-year contract extension before the season began. Congratulations, Jeff Fisher.
The icing on the cake is Fisher’s ongoing feud with former Rams superstar running back Eric Dickerson.
Last week, Dickerson said during his radio show that Fisher told him that he would not be receiving any sideline passes and is not welcome on the Rams sideline because he has been critical of the team’s performance.
Dickerson said he had a lengthy telephone conversation with Fisher, which ended with him telling the coach he would never attend another Rams’ game while Fisher is at the helm.
Naturally, Fisher said that’s not what occurred, and Rams COO Kevin Demoff tried to calm the troubled waters by meeting with Dickerson last Thursday night. Fisher’s rumored extension was part of the conversation.
“I asked Kevin Demoff point-blank last night, I say, ‘So are you bringing Jeff Fisher back? Does he have an extension?’” Dickerson said on Cowlin Cowherd’s radio program.
He said, ‘We’re talking about it… what do you think?’ I said, ‘My honest opinion? No, I’m just going to be honest. He’s had five years; five years of losing … enough is enough.’”
Dickerson added some humor to the tense situation by saying to Demoff, “Where are the naked pictures at? He must got something on someone. Because five years is enough, I mean it really is. You can’t subject all the Ram fans to this another year.”
Demoff, whom I like and respect, added fuel to the foolishness wildfire by telling NFL.com, “Everybody will want to judge Jeff through the prism of just the record, but that’s totally unfair when you look at the set of circumstances he was handed this year. It was different than any team in the NFL.”
As usual, there is no word from owner Stan Kroenke as to how he feels about the latest embarrassment his football team and/or coach has created.
If you want a few laughs, Google “Fisher Dickerson Snoop Dogg” for the entertainer’s profanity-filled take on the situation. It’s hysterical.
St. Louis’ childish reaction to Kroenke’s successful bid to relocate the team continues to be a smudge on the region’s collective image, but the ball of confusion that left here is still spiraling out of control in L.A.
As for the contract extension, it is an obvious “thank you” for being part of the L.A. relocation. The Rams hold the option for 2018, and Fisher won’t last 16 games in 2017 before he is finally fired.
Forget state aid for soccer
Any chance that SC St. Louis had of getting state help in its bid for a publicly funded soccer stadium was erased when Gov.-elect Eric Greitens’ wife was robbed at gunpoint Monday night in the Central West End.
Three suspects – two of them minors – were arrested, and Greitens praised the rapid response of city police.
St. Louis has much greater uses for $80 million than devoting it to a soccer stadium, and that could not have been made clearer with this latest chilling episode of criminal activity.
As for David Peacock, Jim Kavanaugh and the other SC St. Louis fraternity members, there is good news.
President-elect Trump and his economic team are going push for unprecedented tax cuts for the wealthy and corporate America. My guess is that Peacock and company are going to reap the benefit of these tax cuts, as will the businesses they either run or hold stock in. This money could replace that which they can personally put toward the stadium and effort to attract a MLS franchise.
