5 things to know this week
Cardinals are back and so is Michael Bay!
If tomorrow and the rest of spring could be like this afternoon, I would be happy. 59 degrees with a slightly brisk wind and completely sunny without a cloud in the sky. Bugs to a minimum and not sweating profusely or reaching for a hoodie. That’s heaven to me, the guy who prefers winter dread over a summer melt. Here’s a few things on my mind.
~Jordan Hicks will be the St. Louis Cardinals’ 5th starter when the regular season opens tomorrow afternoon at Busch Stadium. More like an opener. Hicks has only thrown ten official innings since the midway point of the 2019 season, when he hit the Injured List with an elbow ailment that led to Tommy John surgery and recovery. He opted out of the 2020 pandemic-shortened season, and got hit pretty hard while being very erratic on the mound. He struck out ten and also walked ten batters, hitting three and allowing six earned runs.
This spring, the plan was to be stretched out so he could handle multiple innings, but that has evolved into this new assignment: opening games. Until he builds up stamina, don’t expect Hicks to go deep into games. He’ll throw 2-3 innings tops, unless magically his arm becomes a harder-throwing Jeff Suppan type.
Is this a good plan?
For a team already down two potential starters while obviously not being impressed enough with Drew VerHagen or Jake Woodford, it’s one of their only options--especially since the free agent market is bare and other teams would request one too many of John Mozeliak’s prized collection of untapped yet promising prospect talent. But for a 25-year-old kid with a powerful arm who does want to start, this is a way to figure out where he’s at. It’s exciting and wildly out of nowhere, which is kind of how you’d describe this offseason.
Here’s more from Derrick Goold on the move:
If it works out, Oliver Marmol is a genius. If it doesn’t, the rotation remains a patchwork group of potential and dismay. Here’s a real cool tidbit about Hicks’ first ever MLB start on Tuesday:
~Four stars for Michael Bay’s new film, Ambulance? I’m not sure about that, but it is one of his better films in the last ten years. Action-packed and engaging from start to finish, this relentless assault of the senses is self-aware and has a nice cast topped by Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. But it’s Eiza Gonzalez as an EMT and Garret Dillahunt as a SIS Captain in charge of stopping the two bank robbers from speeding out of Los Angeles. Like a B-side Heat.
~Two MAJOR franchises I have never fully watched or have a real desire to any time soon? Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. Save your comments and pleas, because this fantasy-jacked duo will always sit near the bottom of my must watch list. Why? Ask yourself why a certain film or franchise doesn’t appeal to you. Certain film pals of mine haven’t watched a single Fast & Furious film. Whether or not you can handle Vin Diesel’s saying “family” all the time and wearing tight tank tops, it’s my jam.
I’ve simply never gotten into them, or been blown away enough by what I saw to continue. I feel like punching whiny Frodo and telling Harry to stop causing so much trouble, and for everybody to take off the element. Starting with my only mild liking for the Star Wars series, the stories of a land and/or galaxy far, far away are overcooked and boring. A good reason I thought Dune: Part One was only okay and not Best Picture worthy. How many times do we need to hear and see this story of the One, a destined hero? Snooze.
~St. Louis sandwich lovers, when you are finished reading the final two bullet points, head over to Jovick Brothers Deli in Westport Plaza. Stationed right next to Trainwreck Saloon (JB Deli is better!), the recently opened local shop features unique lunch options, including a Voodoo Dip sandwich that puts an impressive twist on the French Dip special, subbing in Cajun turkey for the beef and adding hot pepper cheese, trinity remoulade, and fresh parsley. It’s quite honestly one of the best sammies I’ve tasted in the past year or so, and I never turn down a deli visit.
Casey Jovick used to serve up the savory BBQ at Sugarfire before deciding to go out on his own, and so far the results and reviews are all promising. It’s the kind of place where you can meet Casey as you eat your lunch. Personable and tasty. Hat tip to my pal Ashley Raines for the alert. If you do visit, she will greet you first.
~A piece of advice. You know nothing about someone else’s marriage, especially a high profile couple. When Albert Pujols put out a statement earlier this week that he had filed for divorce from his wife of 25 years, Deidre Pujols, Cardinal Nation swapped out their caps and jerseys for Dr. Phil clothing. They either cut down Albert for divorcing his wife so soon after she had surgery to remove a cancerous tumor, or blasted her for things she said back in 2011.
You know nothing, Jon Snows. He released the statement to get ahead of the certain storm, and he probably anticipated this reaction. Better to do it now than in the middle of the season. Just stop commenting on the details, because none are available to anyone outside of that house.
It’s the same advice I’d give to the STILL-bickering Will and Jada Pinkett Smith commenters. While they invited outsiders into their lives with her podcast comments and his slap, it’s what is really going down inside their home that defines the fate of their marriage. Let it be. Forget Pujols’ divoce proceedings. Let’s instead hope he divorces from the notion that right-handed pitchers have his number. That’s news.
Until next time.