boo-YAH

The Cardinals and Yadier Molina have agreed to terms on a one-year contract to keep him in Cardinal Red through next season.

The face of the franchise.

The Arm.

The Captain.

The glue that holds this whole crazy thing together.

Going on 18 seasons and still a force to be reckoned with. Yadi has grown up so much since starting with the big club in 2004. He has worked/played with some of the biggest names in baseball. He trained under one of the best catchers in the world. Our pitchers and coaches regularly exalt his name and praise his contributions. 

There's not much to say that hasn't already been said. 

I'll just leave you with this...

Molina’s Legendary Career Began With 2004 World Series Altercation

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) – Major League Baseball learned of Yadier Molina’s greatness during the first postseason start of his career, in the 2004 World Series versus the Boston Red Sox.

The St. Louis Cardinals were down three games to none, and catcher Mike Matheny was benched for Game 4 in St. Louis. A rookie, Molina had played in only 51 games that season.

But early in Game 4, he came to Matheny for advice, after he noticed Boston slugger Manny Ramirez relaying signs to David Ortiz at the plate about which pitch was coming.

“I said, ‘When he comes up, make sure he knows that you’re on to it,’” Matheny said according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “I didn’t know that he was going to take his mask off and get in (Ramirez’s) face. I was sitting over there saying, ‘That’s probably not what I would have done … but that will work.”

Molina met Ramirez at home plate in the top of the fourth, and had no problem standing up to that season’s American League home-run champ.

Boston manager Terry Francona came out to squash the chances of the altercation becoming physical, and talked about the incident in his memoir “Francona: The Red Sox Years.”

When Francona heard what Molina was accusing Ramirez of, he turned toward plate umpire Chuck Meriweather: “Chuck, Manny doesn’t even know our signs.”

Francona then asked Ramirez, “You don’t know our signs, do you, Manny?”

Ramirez replied, “No.”

That’s just a hilarious “Manny-being-Manny” side note to the main story, that Molina demanded respect from his first moments in the big leagues. Ramirez had more home runs, than Yadi had hits in the 2004 season. And remember, this was before the steroid rumors surrounded Ramirez’s career.

Molina was 21-years-old, but wouldn’t let Ramirez, 32, break one of baseball’s unwritten rules.

Molina’s dedication to protecting his sport will certainly be remembered after his Hall-of-Fame career comes to a close.

Don't worry, it's all an illusion

I hope no one was too worried. 

Wow, has it really been that long?

Anyway, all is well. Things have changed quite a bit since I've been gone, though. Both in my life and in the baseball world.

Ups and downs doesn't quite accurately describe the intense losses and breath-taking highs that have defined the Cardinals these last 10 years.

We won in 2011. And what a win.

 

 

David Freese, everybody.

Oh, and I may or may not have sent Nelson Cruz a fruit basket after Game Six. 

Albert moved on. 

 

Greener pastures or whatever. I was angry. Hurt. Confused. Inconsolable. Then I got over it.

Chris Duncan passed on. 

 

He's playing left field in Heaven, I have no doubt. And if he isn't, then I don't want to go.

Tony spent a day in jail for "driving while entitled."

 

Maybe that wasn't the exact charge, but close enough. 

Anthony Reyes became an LA County fire fighter. 

And proved once and for all that he is the hero I always knew him to be.

Jason Isringhausen was inducted into the Cardinals HOF and the Missouri Sports HOF. 

*swoon*

 

The team barely looks the same and yet it's still the Cardinals we know and love. Life is funny. And sad. And millions of other adjectives depending on a million things. 

I only wish I could have some of those moments back. 

p.s.  I know there are maaaaany more significant things that have happened, these are just the ones that popped into my head first. 

Ontological pursuits

Oh, my.

How I want to write about baseball.

I know what you're thinking. "You have a blog," you're thinking. "So, write."

If only it were that easy.

See, until I know whether Albert is going to sign, I don't know if I can write.

Yeah, it's kind of a big deal. Albert may not be my personal favorite, but he is TBPIB, and the face of our franchise.

"We'll never find another Albert."

How true.

If the unthinkable were to happen (heaven forbid), life would go on, but would it be worth living?

a brief break from nothing

Well, the winter meetings are over. Pitchers and catchers report in approximately two months. Opening Day is still 15 weeks away (not that I'm counting). There's really no reason for me to pick back up with the blogging at this point, but still, here I sit, thinking, typing, and longing for baseball.

A few interesting things have happened thus far in the off-season. It certainly hasn't been uneventful.

I heard about the Lance Berkman deal while I had the stomach flu. I still haven't determined if there is any correlation.

Aside from a handful of imaginative nicknames and a vicious knowledge of NL Central opponents, I'm finding it hard to pin down exactly what this guy (don't get me wrong, I like him) brings to the team that's worth $8 million. I'm sure it will become apparent once the season begins, right?

My dad broke the news to me about Brendan Ryan.

"They traded Booger to Seattle," he said.

"Ryan?" I asked. "Who'd we get? Ichiro?"

Brendan Ryan has always been one of my favorite players. Yes, his offense was abysmal last year (and I do mean that), but he's just so much fun to watch. He is a ray of sunshine. A breath of fresh air. The court jester for a profession that generally takes itself far too seriously.

I'll miss him. I hope you will, too.

"The Cardinals traded for Ryan Theriot," my dad chuckled. He had also been the one to clue me in on this, shall we say, less-than-savory acquisition. 

 "Ugh," I replied. Nothing more needed to be said.

Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything personal against "the Riot" (unless you count the fact that his face makes me want to vomit). Nor was I ever Hawksworth's biggest fan (although I like his name). I just can't stand the thought of any long-time Cubs joining the Cards. It feels, well... wrong.

Additionally, we were able to retain Jake Westbrook, which is definitely a plus. Gerald Laird joins the team and will most likely see a lot of action warming up pitchers between innings. On reviewing the official roster, I was overwhelmed by the number of names I don't recognize, a fact which leads me to believe I need to spend a little more time paying attention to what's going on.

baseball is back

First, a question. What in the hell is in Yadi's mouth?

Okay, I know. You don't know. You're probably even thinking, "Huh?" Or, "What?" Seriously, though. It was not your run-of-the-mill mouth guard. Is he wearing a retainer?

What a beautiful day for baseball. Be sure to sit outside and soak up some vitamin D, sports fans.

Now, on to the game. (How exciting is it that we finally have real baseball to talk about?)

Good things about the 2010 Opening Day in Cincinnati:

• Yadi in the lineup (and, maybe more importantly, behind the plate).
• A-Rey, Jr. rocking the stirrups.
• The Best Player In Baseball. AB: 1. HR:1.
• The Wood-smith on the mound. "Screaming at Votto down the line." 
• Scott Rolen on deck. 
• End of the first, Cards up 1-0.
• Scott Rolen flying out to left field.
• Raspberry Tart going deep in the fourth.
• Lug-nut's base hit to left.
• The Penguin's RBI single.
• Rolen bobbling the ball, allowing Yadi to go to third.
• The Wood-smith's bunting stance.
• Carp powering through the fourth and keeping the lead intact.
• End of the fourth, Cards up 3-2.
• TBPIB now 2 for 3 with a single in the fifth.
• The Captain sliding cleats-first into the 2Bman.
• "The ball gets away and Pujols will score!" 
• End of the fifth, Cards up 4-2.
• Molina beating Rolen's throw to first.
• Raspberry Tart climbing the wall and taking a homerun away from Rolen.
• Realizing (during the interview) that my respect for Moze has grown exponentially since his start.
• TBPIB adding on 2 more with his second HR of the season/game following a Boog single.
• The Captain collecting his first hit with a single in the seventh.
• Carp leaving with a decent line. 6IP, 5H, 2ER, 3K, 0BB.
• End of the seventh, Cards up 6-3.
• End of the eighth, Cards up 6-4.
• YADI TAKING ONE YARD FOR A GRAND SLAM!!!
• "The Redbirds have pulled out the power sack." -Mike Shannon
• Cards win the first game of 2010 by a score of 11-6.

Not-so-good things:

• On 3-0, Matt Holliday lining out to Aaron Harang.
• Yadi hit by a pitch in the fourth. Holliday in the fifth.
• Stranding 2 in the fourth.
• Votto's solo shot in the fourth.
• Rolen's solo shot in the fourth.
• Batman booting an easy grounder.
• The Reds' circus act in the sixth to get Carp at first.
• Jason Motte.
• The ball through the legs of The Penguin.
• "That was stolen off McClellan."
• Ryan Franklin

Well, at any rate, there is one thing we can all agree on: the Cardinals are back.

Oh, and the Cubs are losing lost. *smile*

Ahhh, baseball. It's going to be a great year.

10 NDD points for Yadi. For his FIRST GRAND SLAM EVER.