Scoops Sports Network

Some bad feelings surrounding baseball these days as sides continue to fight over terms to come back. Both owners and players are manipulating social media and press to swing sentiment their way. Ben Fred says he’s turned off by some of the noise surrounding  the ordeal and he’s not the only one. So what if there’s no deal this year and then the same bad blood resurfaces at the end of the CBA in 2021?

Most fans would say they never would have thought to call NHL’s Bettman a beacon of light but that’s what he seems like this week as hockey has progressed with a plan to return. We now wait to see if the NBA can do they same to get brought their playoffs. Ben says there’s no asterisk needed by championship titles be this could quite possible be the hardest titles to win with totally rested teams. Listen here:

Brian Walton of thecardinalnation.com joins me every Wednesday and the latest news looks as if players and owners are quite far apart on return terms still. The owners plan seems to essentially say they want the highest paid players to take the biggest hit in pay. It’s also reported that health and safety concerns aren’t resolved yet. Minor league play is still a big challenge as well. We get into how scouting staff may be affected and/or poached by opportunistic teams. Which MLB teams are buyers if any? Cardinals Hall of Fame election talk and more. Listen here:

Well, we still have just as many questions about baseball’s return as we had last week but today we’ll look at them with (maybe a little) optimism. We know the owners have submitted a health and safety proposal to the players, so now they’re hashing out what is realistic or not. Ben is somewhat impressed with the level of safety/testing that the league plans to implement so hopefully that’s a step in the right direction. The biggest speed bump is still the financial agreement.

In Bens opinion, the NHL and NBA are likely doing better in their negotiations for return because it’s behind closed doors and out of the media. With the latest news being that 24 teams could make the NHL playoffs, how will that play out?

The Battlehawks Could make a comeback if Vince My Mahon plays his puppet strings and pocketbook properly. But is that a good thing? Ben Fred says it’s hard to look at the situation as a positive with how shady McMahon is being

Mizzou basketball has a small reason to celebrate with Xavier Pinson returning instead of potentially going pro. If the Illini and SLU get the same good news with their players all staying put, it could make for some really great  college basketball in our region.

We talk a little more about the embarrassing NFL stadium costs coming out of LA and what it means for the lawsuit pending in St. Louis. Listen here:

Brian Walton of thecardinalnation.com joins me every Wednesday and, as players and owners go back and forth about terms for a 2020 season, we take a look at their possible decisions. The owners have laid out a very detailed health and safety plan and it’s up to the players to decide if it’s enough. If so, then it could all come down to money. So far, we know a 50/50 revenue split won’t cut it.

We take a look, too, at who would make the expanded roster or designated for the taxi squad. Where does Carlson land? Listen here:

We are one step closer to having a 2020 baseball season. We talk it all over with Ben Frederickson of the Post Dispatch this morning. Will the hang up be health or money for the players association? Maybe both as Ben says the owners screwed up by putting their proposal in public before the players could even see it. He says it shows a real distrust between the two sides and he’s wondering how these negotiations will bring ripple effects for years. Will there be enough tests and what about players with underlying condition concerns?

Ben says the NHL could actually return before baseball because he thinks their negotiations are quieter and more amicable. They’ve got so much to lose on post season revenue that it seems almost guaranteed that the league will try to return to finish the season.

Ben’s recent article on Drew Lock shined a light on what could be a great year for a Mizzou grad. Elway and the Broncos went into the draft looking to build offense for Lock so we’ll see how that potentially pans out for the former Tiger. Ben says it would be nice for the college program to have such a successful ambassador since the last few before him didn’t pan out.

Nascar and PGA are returning without crowds so Americans will see how these live event broadcasts look very soon. That and more here:

Mike Shildt, manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, talks to us about ramping up for a 2020 season start. His thoughts on a 6-man rotation, extended roster, taxi squad and starting a runner at 2nd/3rd in extra innings to speed play. What is the thought on Miles Mikolas' return as well as others injured? Also, the DH and how players have stayed in shape during the stoppage here:

We now know details of the proposal agreed upon by MLB owners and headed to the Players Association. The revenue share seems like it could be the point of contention and teams have just a few weeks to negotiate if they want to get Spring Training II started in June. Brian Walton of thecardinalnation.com takes us inside the deal and how these next few weeks could unfold. Also, he's heard that owners have talked at length about health and safety. Are the plans enough for players to take the risk? We talk too about roster expansion, the 5 round draft and the effects on minor leagues.

Former US Men's National Soccer Team player and MLS All-Star, STL native Brad Davis discusses his new role as Club Director of the Missouri Boys division of St. Louis Scott Gallagher. Davis will lead the boys program as well as the Saint Louis FC Academy Program. He talks to us about the effort to get kids back playing soccer with proper precautions and also about the energy surrounding St. Louis' new MLS team.

Is a proposal for an MLB baseball season on the horizon? Sources have said there are serious discussions angling toward a mid June start for training camp and a July 1(ish) opening day. The same hurdles still loom though... what about enough testing and what happens when someone tests positive? Also, what will the players make for salary? Ben Frederickson tells us this morning that negotiations better be swift because the public has no appetite to hear arguments over millions and billions at a time like this.

NCAA teams face tough decisions regarding how athletes will be compensated fairly going forward. How will the division punish teams like KU while redrawing the rules for players as cash cows? Ben hypothetically serves up the question “Why would a Chicago athlete be moving to Lawrence, KS is there’s no incentive?”

Ben Fred talks about MLS practice challenges too as they attempt to get players ready for games. Could other professional sports go the same route?

Also, his thoughts on Albert Pujols returning to the Cardinals in the future. Listen here:

Great potential questions and line-ups pitched by Brian Walton this morning. Could Dylan Carlson or Dexter Fowler be the DH if American and National leagues combine? Also, we talk about Yadier Molina's comments about playing for two more seasons. We get into the likelihood of minor league baseball contraction and hypothetical situations for getting at least some MiLB playtime for 2020. Brian talks about his all-time best Cardinals team too. Listen here: