Buffa's Buffet: 5 things on my mind

Everything in my mind that is fit to write about starts next.

Weather warnings in St. Louis, especially snow-related, are tricky. The forecast reads 2-4 inches, and you’re wondering what the real amount will be. A strip of U.S. soil that is usually reserved for the humidity carries endless intrigue whenever winter storms step into the equation.

All hell is breaking loose in Colorado at the moment, a place well known for being buried in snow. That storm is making its way east with each hour of the day, getting all set to hit St. Louis and the Midwest today. Local newscasts stress against traveling, and the local grocery stores sell out of eggs and milk.

Also, a bulletin about those two items selling out. For me, it should be beer and cheese, but maybe that just speaks to my unstable diet. If you’re low on the essentials, get out TONIGHT because TOMORROW will be full of empty shelves and shattered French toast dreams.

We could leave work this afternoon to overturned cars in the streets, trash can fires in the front yards, and a trail of breadcrumbs in their wake. Or, it could be a bunch of wind and *some* snow. In this corner of the country, you just never know until the sky opens up with its bag of tricks.

Here’s the bottom line: Give yourself time on the road to get there. Drive slower. Drive defensively. Bad drivers only get worse when bad weather strikes. Get home to your dogs.

Imagine waking up in Carlos Correa’s shoes this morning. A matter of days after the San Francisco Giants offer you 13 years and over $350 million, the deal is voided due to a mysterious medical red flag. Suddenly, the Mets signed him for 12 years and $315 million. He’s set until age 40. Whoa.

The former Houston Astro and Minnesota Twin infielder joins a highly competitive New York team hellbent on not playing second fiddle to Aaron Judge’s Yankees. The Mets payroll puts the luxury in the payroll tax, eclipsing $380 million with the acquisitions of Justin Verlander and Correa. Along with Max Scherzer and Francisco Lindor, their roster should be formidable enough to win 100 games.

And then, lose in the first round of the playoffs. I KID, maybe. Correa woke up today a very rich and set-for-life man. I just want to know what that sensation feels like. How does acquiring a cup of coffee from Starbucks feel after signing that contract? It must feel like throwing a rock into a pond.

The Blues lost Tuesday night to the Kraken. I checked my notes, and I found out these things happen to sports teams. They’re zigging and zagging so far this season, and I don’t see a real big shift in their play. St. Louis could lose next three of their next five, or win their next three games. The better idea would be to win more consistently. Score more than the other team.

DO NOT pull goaltenders so early, Craig Berube. It’s as wise as bringing in a reliever with the bases loaded, and two walks already being issued. It’s as useful as bunting with a six-run deficit. It’s as fashionable as pushing the “walk sign” before crossing a street, and then just deciding to cross when cars are approaching.

That’s all I got on the hockey team today. They’re exhausting, but play will continue. Whatever Chris Kerber said works for me.

Here’s something for morning radio purveyors. I am getting a kick out of the new lineup on 101.1 ESPN. Randy Karraker, Carey Davis, and Matt Rocchio make for a nice trio on the Morning Drive. Michelle Smallmon is impossible to replace, but the morning show essentially adjusted speeds.

Karraker is a radio pro with decades of experience under his belt, and one of the best point guards on the sports microphone. Davis, a former NFL player, can dish on multiple sports and brings the “voice of the fan” perspective to the show. On a recent show, he broke down a few NFL plays from a player perspective, something you don’t hear every show. Rocchio, a veteran board operator, offers a unique perspective and holds the fort down. Having a knowledgeable operator who can chime in is a BIG plus.

Good radio doesn’t have to offer the hottest takes or the most bristling perspective; it just needs to entertain and get you thinking about a POV that otherwise may have alienated you.

What else? Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we all could die--or at the very least, freeze our asses off.

I hope you enjoyed this brief buffet. One more thing: Why aren’t batteries sold out when bad weather approaches? That’s what I’d be acquiring ahead of a storm.

That, and some fresh cannabis. When I leave work in a few hours, there will be some Ice Cream Cake waiting for me. But it’s not the kind you would think, one that carries extra sweetness and lots of calories. This indica strain is carb-free until the munchies kick in. At that point, it’s a battle between you, Chuck Norris, and the mind to not eat the entire pantry.

Be safe.