Buffa's Buffet: Bader, Blues, Chiefs, Wrexham, and losing your sports passion

Former Cards flourishing elsewhere is nothing new, but it still stings.

It's not a new thing for a baseball player to leave St. Louis and flourish elsewhere. Terry Pendleton is the first example I can think of, going from STL to Atlanta and remaining a solid third baseman. The latest example being Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara, who could contend for or win the Cy Young award for the next 5-10 seasons. 

TALENT FOR TALENT

After all, you can't acquire talent unless you give some back in return. Sending Alcantara and Zac Gallen to Miami for Marcell Ozuna seemed ideal back in 2019, but it looks sour now that one side delivered big time and the other side was just okay.  

Back in early August, fans weren't thinking about Harrison Bader's bat when he was sent to the New York Yankees for Jordan Montgomery. The latter helped the team overcome their starting pitching woes and lock down the division; it's too bad that wasn't enough to climb over the Phillies. 

At the time of the trade, Bader was recovering from plantar fasciitis, a debilitating injury that could have zapped his postseason. He made it back in time for October, and has hit three home runs in the Yankees' playoff series with the Cleveland Guardians. The third gave New York all the offense they needed in Sunday's win to even the series at two games apiece. 

It's easy to feel good for the former Gold Glove-winning centerfielder as he excels in his hometown with high stakes baseball--but there's also a slight stinging feeling that wonders if he could have helped the Cards through the Wildcard series. It's a stretch to say Bader could have provided a spark against Philadelphia, who left the defending champion Atlanta Braves eating dust in the Division Series. 

However, he hit three more home runs than any Cards regular could muster, including more RBI and timely hits. When Bader is slapping dingers and Arenado/Goldschmidt can't muster more than a combined hit, it leaves a sinking feeling in the "what if" department. As Goldschmidt himself said, this one is going to sting for a bit. 

I still like the trade. After the sting clears, it's important for me to state that what a player does elsewhere can't be duplicated in a different stadium, league, and opponent. Montgomery gives the team a head-start planon designing the 2023 rotation. It may just be rough if Bader ends up smacking a few more homers for the Yankees.

He is the second Cardinal to find his way after being down and out in St. Louis; Bader's teammate in New York, Matt Carpenter, was the first. 

THE BLUES MARCHED IN

Vladimir Tarasenko wasted little time in starting his free agent campaign, netting two against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the St. Louis Blues' season-opening win at home. A 5-2 win punctuated by a Ivan Barbashev tally late that broke a 2-2 tie. With the Colorado Avalanche looming large over the Western Conference again, St. Louis can't mess around in accumulating points early and often. 

St. Louis would like a team to not only reach the playoffs, but advance into the latter rounds. Yes, it's spoiled talk and I should be more appreciative of a playoff appearance. Around these parts, that's a given and not a dream. Hate the game, not the player here. 

The honest truth is I didn't watch a TON of hockey last year. Freelancing and hustling around town doesn't leave a lot of extra playing time, and I found myself more interested in movies, riveting TV shows, and baseball. Hockey, unfortunately, just got shoved out of the convo. I aim to be more active this season in keeping up with the team, even if I offer no promises. A day job makes one be more prudent on what they decide to spend their time with. 

MAHOMES LOSES, PEOPLE LOSE THEIR MINDS

I am beginning to understand that teams and leagues don't make dynasties; regular fans exercise and enhance this practice. Championships help and build up the rep of a dynasty, but fans create these entrapments where their team isn't allowed to lose. 

For instance, every time Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs lose a game these days, people go nuts. They break down Mahomes' every move, gesture, head movement, throw, leg switch, meal choice, and keep going. They talk about wind factors, bad tackles, missed throws, penalty trouble. 

NO WAY CAN THE CHIEFS LOSE A GAME! 

HOW DID THE OTHER TEAM SCORE MORE POINTS?!

MAHOMES ISN'T A GOD??

He's not. Tom Brady isn't a god. Peyton Manning and Brett Fave weren't invincible either. Dak Prescott has to stay healthier in order to be god-able. They are humans with flesh and bones protecting their futures, just like us. 

The Chiefs lose just like any other team. It'll be okay. 

WREXHAM ENJOYMENT

The Ryan Reynolds-led international football club FX show is worth watching, but I can already tell you 18 episodes is going to be too much. The show got off to a quick start, got bogged down in some half-baked comedic efforts, and then found some air again in episodes 8-10. I had the idea in my head that it was going to be 10-12 episodes, but then I saw the 18 episode count on IMDB. I'd like to state right now that 95-98% of TV shows shouldn't not be more than 8-12 episodes. 

If you need that much to tell a story that presumably will include more seasons, you're not doing a good job of storytelling. It's more like a story-and-mind-stuffing. 

DO SPORTS PASSIONS CHANGE?

I think so. For example, I didn't watch all of the Cards games this year or last. Who has time to sit down for 3-4 hours a night and watch 162 games? Unless you're a die hard fan or have nothing else to do, or enjoy a hitman-type job where you're not working 40 hours a week, there's just no time. 

A few years back, I was more die hard. Every game was watched and dissected. 1,000 word rants were frequent. I didn't become an internet sensation overnight, nor did I ever feel like I was right on top of it either. Without my constant sportswriting, I don't think there would be 75-90 Twitter accounts to block. 

When people ask me why I don't do it more often or care as much, I will say the attitude around sports as a whole has changed. The sea of writers grew larger than expected, and the toxicity on any social media site over plain old sports talk is a real, ugly thing. All of this pushes one away, or at least it has me. 

Don't get me wrong. I can dish and talk about these Cardinals, but I don't need to watch the game as badly as I used to. What is very intriguing about watching less is how much healthier my lifestyle and overall mind is. 

In other news, it's Monday morning and I feel like crap. Since one starts at a new job and doesn't get any sick time for 90 days, I am stuck here until 5pm. May the day be swift, ladies and gents.