In the span of three days at the start of the 2017 season, there were three major commitments made in St. Louis: A three-year extension for Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, a six-year contract for right fielder Stephen Piscotty, and one a little closer to home for BPIB co-host Benjamin Hochman. With that as the narrative thread of this full-length episode, recorded at a St. Louis-area coffee shop (roll that beautiful bean grinder audio), explores the core the Cardinals have committed to and how it compares to the supernova-laden core the Cubs have. Can the star of a team not be a star at all, but a stat? Introducing your MVP ... OBP. And why does it seem we -- media, fans, culture -- are so consumed by What's Next when what really matters for the 2017 Cardinals is What's Now. Can't stand the rain? Take the Best Podcast in Baseball with you to the river, to destination anywhere, even to the dark end of the street. This podcast will post in the midnight hour.