2023 StL Game #88: Friday, July 7 at White Sox

Didn’t Mo just ride somebody else’s coat tails to some good seasons early in his tenure and then, as his thumbprints on the organization gained sway, the results got steadily worse until we went over the cliff this year?

I kind of think Billy Jr. created his own momentum for his investment after buying the team from the brewery. He’s an enormously astute business guy who obviously knows how to make money. The Cardinals had been struggling for quite a while and baseball had taken an enormous hit after the stike in ’94. I don’t think either the Redbirds or Big League baseball enjoyed much momentum at the time. As an investment guy he recognized a golden opportunity to buy low. He bought his team and hired an adept baseball guy in the form Jocketty to shine it up and replace some key components. LaRussa was immediately hired as field manager and the Cardinals traded for the guy who hit all the HR’s to surpass Maris and his investment began to pay some nice dividends. He also realized some incredibly good fortune in the form of both a 13th round draft pick who proved to be one of the greatest sluggers of all time and a HOF catcher who along with a supporting cast would assist Billy Jr. in creating the sort of momentum that would vault the team to four NL Pennants and two WS Championships. Billy Jr. certainly has momentum now and he’s going to ride that momentum in the form of placing it on autopilot and watching his investment grow exponentially every day. That’s what shrewd investors do, so I really can’t fault him for that. I like to poke fun at him because his appearance reminds me of President Merkin Muffley, but he’s no patsy and I think he’s really good at what he does which is to create the sort of momentum that builds vast fortunes.

I think you’re dead on right, Bling. I’m sure that’s their mindset. I also think that when the time approaches when it’s obvious that there’s not much meat left on the bone, they’ll sell and the next guy will start all over again with the process. That’s what they do.

The alternative to that is wring it dry and sell the desiccated carcass.

Yeah BW, I’d guess you’d have to agree that Billy Jr. certainly bought the Cardinals low and straight out of the bargain aisle from the brewery. And I strongly suspect that he, or more probably the son that he spawned, will sell at an extra special high premium price once it’s become evident that the bone’s been gnawed bare, and at that time they’ll require a fleet of heavy duty forklifts to load up and deposit the paper into the vault. In essence, I expect something similar to the events that unfolded once team ownership was inherited by August lll with the passing of his dad, August Jr. The only difference being, that the Busch family’s area of expertise was producing beer. Billy Jr’s. area of expertise is in the area of producing valuable paper in the form of very profitable and nearly risk free holding companies. So, I fully expect either he or his boy to realize a premium price when they make the decision to cash out on the tremendously lucrative investment in their baseball team.

I’m in Indianapolis today and going to go to see the Redbirds tonight as they are in town.

Haha!…Honestly the pine tar rattle can doesn’t bother me too much and that’s surprising because I like to poke fun at the latest fashionable trends. You know, bow ties, yellow cleats and fluorescent elbow pads that would blind a deer, camo unis that make it impossible to see a guy lurking in the OF grass, sparkly trinkets around a players neck while on the playing field… And what about some of these adorable hairstyles that a lot of guys like to sport?… I just hope none of these hitters ever inadvertently shoot a stream of that tacky stuff into their eyes while preparing for a trip to the plate as I’d have to imagine it could really have an adverse effect on their PA…An old rag seems not only easier, but also a lot more conducive to safety. Another thing to consider is that a pitcher would have a difficult time trying to surreptitiously conceal that rattle can out there on the mound…

Silent George was the first guy I recall who wore the pants down to the ankles. Then it caught on with other guys. I keep thinking that look will fade out and look “so ‘90s”, but it keeps going.

The best uniform era was the ‘60s. Clean, well tailored uni’s with the classic stirrups. Late ‘60s and into the ‘70s the stirrups were pulled way up so there was just a line on each side of the ankle and lower calf. The uni’s also got a bit more wild and “mod”.

The last 15-20 years teams have gone back to their classic look, and we have had a migration towards alternate jerseys and hats. But the pants style has stayed either the long look, or the overly pulled up style like the early 1900s.

I haven’t seen the White Sox in a while and I’m reminded that they have a nice looking uniform that definitely takes on a look that I would describe as classic and Big League, whatever that means. At any rate, I also notice the absence of a shoulder sleeve ad patch and I’m wondering why in the world they haven’t latched on to that money grab.

I recall being really surprised when the White Sox swept what I thought was a very good Astro’s team in the’05 WS. I had closely watched Houston defeat an excellent Cardinal team in that year’s NLCS and I was reasonably certain the Astros would over match the White Sox in the WS. I sure didn’t see a 4 game sweep to be forthcoming, but that’s baseball.