Buffa's Buffet: 5 things on my mind

Let's get into the heart of the matter.

It’s been a few days, so let’s get into a few things as Thursday slows down. The weather has shifted from running in shorts attire to wind-powered cold chills; classic St. Louis musical weather chairs.

The Cardinals will be in spring training in less than a month. It’s right around the corner, so I would say it’s time to grab the brown bag and start breathing into it. St. Louis has a solid team, but “solid” doesn’t win championships. So, corners will be scraped and fans’ patience will be tested.

Please, don’t take a fan’s feelings for granted. While outsiders and some insiders like to kid the passionate Cardinal Nation, this game relies fiercely on the compassion of paying fans. Ones who walk in and buy merchandise, beer, food, and spend four hours at your house. The Cardinals filled a gap at catcher, but will enter the season with a wide array of starting pitching.

That’s not a bad thing, as long as the arms stay healthy. If Adam Wainwright bounces back after a disappointing end of 2022 and Steven Matz becomes a Joel Pineiro double, then the rotation could become a force. All of it is hedged against the potential dominance of Jack Flaherty.

If he’s golden and gives the team a true #1, the Cards have something. Miles Mikolas can be an innings/fly ball monster, and Jordan Montgomery provides that southpaw punch. Truth be told, the offense was statistically sound last year, but operated unevenly.

St. Louis relied too much on a two-man attack in 2022, so they need to stretch the lineup out. I think Willson Contreras can do that: give the lineup some thump, catch league average or slightly above, and produce an .800 OPS. The outfield isn’t as big of a worrisome asset if Contreras steps in and gives the team a bat that Yadier Molina couldn’t provide in years.

Yeah, I’m excited. It’s only Jan. 19, and the baseball juices are flowing. That doesn’t mean the Blues are boring. They’re hanging in the playoff hunt as the 2022-23 season roars ahead. Remember when the first puck dropped back in October? St. Louis has 47 points and needs to topple Nashville tonight in order to keep the door open visibly for a comeback.

Don’t get me wrong. They’re still sellers. The Blues can’t afford to search for the bottle of lightning into February. There’s no time for heroes. Cut a couple big assets, and then make a push with the youth and new faces. Look at Calle Rosen providing unexpected production on defense. He’s like Carl Gunnarsson supersized.

Jordan Kyrou is a fine young talent who is only getting started. He’ll fuck up a little bit, but give him time to become something huge. Tarasenko and possibly O’Reilly on the way out; Kyrou and Bob Thomas are definitely in. It’s sports, ladies and gents. Little lasts forever.

Except for Alexander Ovechkin. He could probably score 15-20 goals in a season at least until he was 55 years old. Some players just have “it” for an unlimited amount of time. For others, it dies. Hello, Paul DeJong. He’ll make $11 million this year to maybe be a decent part-time (or sixth) option for shortstop action.

Don’t get your hopes up. If you think another adjustment will help DeJong, explain it to me like a five-year-old with no launch angle swagger. Break it down like a welder next to a blowtorch. I’m not without all hope, but it’s getting close. Masyn Winn, take your time. But also, don’t take too much time. Thanks.

ENTERTAINMENT SEGMENT HAS BEEN INITIATED.

Check out that subject switch coolness. Nothing bold about it, right? (Takes a swig of Stella Artois and stares at The Joker.)

I am getting into the Showtime series, “Your Honor.” Bryan Cranston is phenomenal in 99% of his roles, and he carries this problematic yet intriguing drama series. He’s a respected New Orleans judge whose son hits a teenager with his car, leaving the scene of an accident. The teenager is a gangster’s son. Big problems ensue.

My problem is Cranston’s son on the show, Adam. He hits a kid dead-on with his car while reaching for his inhaler. Hey dude, pull over and take a big puff. Why keep driving like a moron? Movies/TV make believe land stupidity. But he walks over to the kid, and gets real close. He calls 9-1-1, but doesn’t finish the call or stay at the scene.

All Adam does is pour gasoline all over his dad’s life, and he continues to do stupid things for the next 3-4 episodes. He takes pictures of the crime scene, and also tells his girlfriend that he did it, after the hit-and-run was pinned on someone else.

The show rises and falls on Cranston, keeping it going. But I am not fully seated in the vehicle just yet. I need stability and a shred of coherence or brain power.

This just in. “Small Town Crime” is now on HBO Max. The indie thriller cruised over at Netflix for years, but now has a new home on another streamer. John Hawkes leads a loaded cast in a movie directed by the Nelms Brothers. Part-time comedy, part-time mystery thriller. Give it a shot.

Rest in peace, David Crosby. The man did every drug under the roof, started two mega-rock bands, and lived to 81. Raise your glass, and play the tunes. He lived a rollicking yet heartbreaking life. “David Crosby: Remember My Name” is a documentary worth checking out to get to know his life better.

One last thing. Spaghetti just rocks. A comforting dinner dish that acquires its persuasion differently in each kitchen. I got it started tonight, making the sauce. That’s the Ovechkin of your spaghetti. The Sauce. Watch “Goodfellas” and understand the concept. Meat, onions, spices, garlic, sugar, tomato, mushrooms, and a few other things. Pinch this, sprinkle that, and turn up the flavor.

Bread, pasta, and salad do follow. They’re just not as important. Goodnight.