Scoops Sports Network

My visit this morning with former Cardinals pitcher and my broadcast partner, Brad Thompson. We talk about this weekend's series against the Pirates, performances by pitchers and the offensive situation. His thoughts on the debut of Kodi Whitley, Kim as the closer and Hudson's start. We also chat about the positive test situation for the Miami Marlins. Listen here:

Opening day for the Cardinals is here. We visit with Ben Frederickson of the Post-Dispatch today about how the road to get here has been. Just 5 short months ago, one player testing positive meant an entire league shut down. Last night we saw the Nationals roll on with their game after finding out one of their top stars in Juan Soto test positive for Covid 19. How is this situation different now than it was then?

We talk about Kim as the closer. Also, Ben Fred's opinion of the way the roster shook out officially yesterday and when Dylan Carlson will join the team. Will the offense stand up while the outfield figures itself out? What about Gomber and Ponce de Leon in the bullpen? They would be starters on most teams across the league. We get into how short the leash will be for players as well. The sprint to the finish starts tonight. Listen here:

Mark Saxon, senior MLB writer covering the Cardinals, joins me to talk opening day for baseball. How well does he think the Cardinals are positioned for wins this year? What will we see from teams this weekend that will be different? How about the players who have recently tested positive? His opinions on if how far we can get into the season. We also get an update on what the Cardinals may do as a game-day message regarding social justice. Listen here:

A visit with Brian Walton about tonight’s exhibition game against the Royals and the Cardinals officially starting the 2020 season. His take on Carlos Martinez as a starter, Kim as a closer, who makes the roster as a hitter and what the taxi squad could look like. Listen here:

Joel Goldberg, analyst for the Kansas City Royals, joins me to talk about their exhibition game versus the Cardinals this Wednesday. Great stuff here on Mike Matheny, John Mabry, Cal Eldred and Trevor Rosenthal all with the KC ball club now. Listen here:

Pitching is again today's hot topic with Ben Frederickson of stltoday.com. The Cardinals are still dancing around the 5th starter position but both Ben and Dan agree that Kim is a wise choice. Although Martinez, Gomber and Ponce de Leon have made their best cases for a spot too. Ben points out that Carlos Martinez is the smart choice for the closer because he has experience and it may actually be a more important than a 5th starter. We bat around defining the line-up too. It seems fairly set with a few interchangeable parts. Ben is optimistic about Paul Dejong, Kolten Wong and the thinner, stronger Molina. Where do Bader, Ravelo and Fowler fit though?

The Blues are back on the ice and Ben says "beating each other up." He says the practices are intense, players are fired up and they're bought in. Ben feels good about Berube's feel for this team and Tarasenko looks great coming back.

What are the chances of college football's return as we near time to decide? Seems the discussion surrounds larger conferences verses smaller conferences. The NCAA may get involved to standardize testing and player protocols but is it too little too late?

Great to have Cardinals baseball back in the screen last night. This morning we talk about the good pitching from Jack Flaherty and Austin Gomber. Are there questions still about the offense? Will we see the same mediocre production from the Cardinals hitters?

We get into Jordan Hicks opting out and where he’s able to get treatment. Plus how the roster lines up. Where will Carlos Martinez fit this year? Whitley, Oviedo and more pitcher debate here:

Ben Frederickson of the Post Dispatch visits with us each Friday and today we talk baseball. We're inching closer to a season and, so far, with a few big bumps to jump over, the teams have done an ok job handling the virus trouble. The testing problems over the holiday weekend should have been managed better but hopefully MLB has learned. The Cardinals have had intrasquad games this week and some players are more in the spotlight than others. Is Carlos coming back right? Or will we see stamina and shoulder issues as in years past? So far, he's looked good. Ben Fred argues that a 6-man rotation is a better idea than five. Kim was making guys look "foolish" in spring training so Dan points to him as a starter as well. He thinks Paul Dejong will have another stellar year flying under the radar. Where does the team stand in identifying the closer?

Switching to college football talk, ben Fred is not confident that it will happen this year at all. There are so many negatives on both sides that it is difficult to say exactly how these schools will get over the danger of kids contracting the virus. The money is the biggest driver to make it happen but is it worth it? Stanford cut 11 sports this week due to the virus and that shocked many. How do other schools, like in the SEC/BIG 10, make it happen?

We wrap it up with talk about the NBA and MLS "bubble" plans so far... Ben Fred is encouraged by how its progressed so far. How can these other sports trying to come back learn from their success? We talk CBA agreement success and failure too. Listen here:

News on Carlos Martinez, Brett Cecil's new delivery and the Cardinals rotation with Brian Walton of thecardinalnation.com We get into the issues with testing, the likelihood of a season and the players who may be used as reserve. What does Nashville have to do with that? Also, is there truth to losing the home-field advantage with the schedule as it stands now? Is it about the field, fans or about being with one's family at home? Listen here:

Larry Walker joined me to talk about his election to the Hall of Fame, his experience with the pandemic thus far and the latest on the inauguration ceremony being postponed. Listen here to some great memories from one of St. Louis’s favorite Cardinals.