Buffa's Buffet: 5 things on my mind

Judge, Turner, Blues, The Whale, and a bald man with takes.

I’d like to know what making $360 million in less than a decade to play baseball feels like. Aaron Judge can tell me all about it, signing a nine-year contract this morning for that amount to split time between the designated hitter position and the outfield. Oh, and he hits a lot of home runs.

In fact, Judge has a LOT better chance at breaking the all-time home run record, or the single-season mark, by signing long-term in the Big Apple. He’s young, can slug, and works in a smaller-than-most office 81 games a year while spending time in Fenway (Boom Town) and Toronto (HR alley).

He joins Trea Turner and Justin Verlander as newly minted rich dudes this past week. Major League Baseball’s Hot Stove was turned to high in December, with major talent falling off the board. Verlander, fresh off a World Series win with the Houston Astros, takes his talents to the Mets for two years and $86 million. Yes, Max Scherzer and Verlander will make around Verlander’s entire contract just to pitch in 2023. Meanwhile, some people are homeless and freezing here in St. Louis.

Turner leaves Los Angeles and becomes a Philly shortstop for $300 million spread out over 11 years. According to MLB Trade Rumors, there was a reported $342 million offer from the San Diego Padres, but Turner isn’t blind. He saw what Philadelphia did this year, and did so at the right time.

What does this mean for St. Louis? It certainly knocks the Cardinals down from the Turner/Carlos Correa tower of desire. There’s no way or historical reference that shows the Cards standing toe to toe with big teams in a free agent bidding war. We saw it with the David Price offer years ago. St. Louis went heavy; Boston went heavier. In the end, that worked out for the Cards favor. Price opted out of 2020, and hasn’t started many games in the last two seasons for the Dodgers.

You win some, you lose most, and try to cut even in the end. The Cards will focus their strength now on acquiring a catcher. If it’s Willson Contreras, it has to be for two years only. More so and you are going to despise the final stages of that deal. A trade with Oakland for Sean Murphy is the best option, even if it is the priciest. The Cards DO HAVE young players to spare, ones that are unlikely to find room to make a real dent with the team.

For example, Nolan Gorman is going to have a harder time finding playing time than Juan Yepez. Gorman strikes out a ton and has more development in store than Yepez, and he is limited defensively. If there was a deal for a catcher of Murphy’s caliber, you have to think long and hard about making that trade. Am I saying a straight up player-for-player deal? No. There’d be other players involved.

Gorman is a top prospect, but Murphy is established and fills a direct need for St. Louis. Maybe, John Mozeliak can feed the Oakland GM what he fed the Colorado GM when the Nolan Arenado heist was pulled off.

Speaking of big heists and loud shower celebrations, “The Cocaine Bear” trailer got me thinking about the great, late Ray Liotta. The reason that he was such a special performer was the guy did EVERY kind of role. Big, flashy ones like “Goodfellas” and “Narc.” The supporting work in wild films such as “Smokin’ Aces” and “Killing Them Softly,” and playing two different characters in the “Sopranos” movie, “The Many Saints of Newark.”

Liotta could add so much to a character, the screen time didn’t matter. What I loved about him, outside of the steely fox eyes or that unforgettable voice, is that he did it all. Look at him in January’s “Cocaine Bear,” where the late actor sports long, brown hair and “Tiger King” outfit. He’s among the many in the “inspired by a true story” tale trying to corral or contain a bear who has sniffed a ton of coke. If it was wild, Ray was in it.

I hope he finds proper representation at the Emmys for his amazing work in the Apple TV Plus series, “Black Bird.” I’m saddened we won’t get any more original works with him at least not after a few more are released. The finality of an actor is met with a bittersweet alert that their shop is closed for good, but the reminder will be that he has TONS of projects in the past for us to appreciate again.

The St. Louis Blues made fans appreciative last night with a daring 7-4 win over the Islanders. Now, they come home to face off against the likes of the Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche, two teams that won’t allow the Note to take their foot off the gas pedal. The Blues are 12-14 and contend in a very good conference.

St. Louis is 12th in the Western Conference with 24 points. They need to reverse the losing ways and find another long winning streak. If not, they’ll be hanging in the desert with the Coyotes and Blackhawks. Ducks could show up to the party too. By the end of the winter, you may see #91 out of town and possibly Craig Berube’s seat becoming very hot.

It’s Doug Armstrong’s mess, but he isn’t going anywhere. The head coach and/or high-priced player on the roster will be sent packing first. It’s not happening this month, or even January, but the Blues must turn this around. If not, a small rebuild is in order.

IN THE BUFF is back, podcast lovers. Or, maybe it’s a video cast? Whatever the proper name is, I’m casting over on the YouTube channel, which is called In The Buff. It may change to “In Da Buffa” if there’s copyright issues, but no one is banging on my door with his mom waiting in the street yet.

I’m using this outlet to create an avenue of brand new video content that you can get on my social channels and websites. Testing it out is a more apt description. But when it really gets down to it, I.T.B is a way for me to tackle topics and ideas in my head when I don’t feel like writing all of them out.

For example, it’ll become a big time “multiple movie review spot.” When I recorded on Sunday night, there were four new movies covered: The KNIVES OUT sequel, SR., AFTERSUN, and BONES AND ALL. Sports and lifestyle were added in.

There’s also the idea of seeing me and getting that connection that a newsletter or blog doesn’t cover with words. The office at the Buffa Estate is great, and the microphone I have is precise. Give it a look and tell me how I’m doing. You’ll find 12 episodes on the page at the moment, spread out over the summer and fall.

You can subscribe on the home page as well by going right here. I AM EVERYWHERE.

Moving on, can we talk about how mean people are on the road. Anywhere, any street. It’s just bad out there for the common soul using the road to decompress and stop panicking. But then there’s Jackass McGee flying down Hampton Avenue like he’s being followed by Michael Bay’s film crew or trying to grab a chicken sandwich like it’s the last day to do so on this Earth.

It must be real hard for everyday folks to keep their shit together while operating heavy machinery. Dan McLaughlin, the Cards play-by-play guy for Bally Sports Midwest and a 24-year veteran, was charged with his third DWI this week. Being tagged with the “persistent offender” charge with driving while intoxicated carries up to four years of prison time and some considerable self-shame.

So, we don’t need to pile on him. Yes, driving drunk puts people in danger and Danny Mac has no excuse with the available options for transportation home. Dunk on him, and then let it go. It’s not your fight, doesn’t affect you right now, and will be something that sits on his shoulders for a long time.

He’s sitting in a jail cell now. Only a $25,000 cash bond can get him out. Court date is in February. Trust me, the walls are closing in and that includes his big, lovely family. He probably won’t drive a car legally again. He could face *some* more jail time, especially after the arresting officer said he was a danger to the community in his report. There’s no world an upstanding franchise like the Cardinals can forgive a THIRD offense.

He lost his job, license, freedom, and it’s only getting started. This is the sinister version of making your bed and having to sleep in it.

That’s all for now. Be well and safe, friends.