The sports world is quite busy this time of year. The MLB is racing toward the playoffs. The NFL and College Football are getting underway. The NBA and NHL are getting ready to open training camp, and well, the wacky world of professional wrestling just keeps going and going and going. Being a longtime sports journalist, I am always thinking about some sport, so I figured, why not write my random thoughts down for your amusement?
Major Leage Baseball is approaching the final month and playoff races are heating up. While some teams are prepping for the post-season, other squads are just waiting to be led out to the pasture and put down like Old Yeller.
When thinking about Old Yeller, I think about the St. Louis Cardinals. The once proud franchise with the so-called Best Fans in Baseball, has turned into a dysfunctional, laughingstock of an organization. To put it bluntly, the Cardinals are a complete joke. The ownership has the makings of a group looking to sell. John Mozeliak has literally run the team into the ground. The team failed to capitalize on the load of young talent that trading aging star Paul Goldschmidt could have brought in. Nolan Arenado is a shadow of himself. The only bright spot is young shortstop Masyn Winn. It was thought that young outfielder Jordan Walker was going to be the next big star in St. Louis. That hasn't panned out and the Cardinals appear to be killing any little shred of confidence that Walker may have, by moving him up and down between the major and minor leagues. I can't help but laugh and the ineptness of how this franchise is being run.
While the Cardinals are slipping into the world of irrelevancy, if you go west in Missouri, you can not only find the back-to-back Super Bowl Champs, but also see a winning baseball team. That's right, the Royals are currently in first place in the AL Central. The Good Dr. actually predicted the Royals to win the division at the beginning of the season. I heard all the laughs and doubters. Time for all the haters to eat some crow. The Royals have a Bonafide superstar in Bobby Witt Jr. Nicknamed Bobby Baseball, the young shortstop is currently hitting .347 with 27 homers and 94 RBIs. By the way, he bats second in the Kansas City lineup! The Royals, who haven't been to the playoffs since winning the World Series in 2015, look to be a lock for the post-season. Longtime catcher/DH Salvador Perez is enjoying yet another fine season. With 25 homers and 94 RBIs, Perez is showing that he is a legit first ballot Hall of Famer. First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino is also having a nice season. The 26-year-old has 18 homers and 96 RBIs for the Royals. The Royals main weakness has been the bullpen, however over the last few games, it appears to be improving. Time will tell how far Kansas City can go, as the playoffs are going to be tough treading with teams like the Yankees and Orioles in the way. But, fans of the Royals can rejoice, as winning baseball is back in the City of Fountains.
Sticking in Missouri, I have to mention the Missouri Tigers. The Tigers are ranked #11 in the preseason poll and open on Thursday night at home against Murray State. This will definitely be a blowout for Mizzou, as the Tigers possess what should be one of the flashiest offenses in CFB. Wide receiver Luther Burden III is a definite top 10 pick in the next NFL Draft. The East St. Louis High School product is one of the most exciting players in all of CFB. Head Coach Eli Drinkwitz has the Tigers on the verge of something special. After beating Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl last season, the Tigers are primed for another huge season. There could be many special years to come for Mizzou with the way Drinkwitz and his staff are recruiting.
Finally, a thought on the WNBA. I'm glad to hear all the trash talk toward Caitlin Clark has passed. Hopefully the women in the WNBA recognize what her being in the league has done for them. Now, I'm not saying she's the only talented player in the league, but the fact is, she is the face of the league right now, whether it's wrong or right. The WNBA players make peanuts compared to their NBA counterparts, and even with a bump in pay, it's still no comparison, but with Clark, the league has enjoyed more success than ever. Clark's Indiana Fever are consistently selling out every game at home or on the road. Clark, much like Indiana native Larry Bird, experienced racism and double standards upon her entry into the pros. Hopefully, that has gone away for good, as the Fever star is breaking records left and right. Her final matchup with Angel Reese, another highly talented rookie, is selling for record prices on the secondary market.
Thanks for reading the first 'Diagnosis.' This will be a weekly, maybe bi-weekly column when the sports world is busy, so hopefully it brings a bit of enjoyment to your day. That's all for now, sports fans. Until next time, keep winning in that game called life.
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