Buffa's Buffet Vol. 103: A surging Bob Thomas, a sorry Jack Flaherty, picky Cardinals fans, and 'Wick' paradise on Netflix
St. Louis hockey isn’t dead yet. Its contention is merely on hold.
Thursday night at dinner, my wife asked me what was going on with the Blues. Earlier, I had mentioned they weren’t doing too well, basically stating their playoff hopes aren’t promising even if the pulse is still there. However, answering a question without thinking deeply about it can lead to a puzzling path later on.
After a couple wins that night and Saturday as well, St. Louis is 20-17-1, meaning the last tally is an overtime/shootout loss and their all together record is 20-18 with 41 points. They are currently tied for the second wildcard spot with Edmonton and Seattle, who have respectively won seven and six games in a row. But things could change quickly, since six teams are hovering around the second wildcard spot in the West behind Nashville.
Consistency is key with the Blues as they navigate the playoff bubble. Normally, for such a long period of time, they would almost be assured of a spot to run at Lord Stanley. Since last year’s miss and this season’s head coach firing mess, it’s not a sure thing.
Hello, Bob Thomas Express
But they have Robert Thomas, and that’s exciting. Whatever is kind of streaky with Jordan Kyrou’s talent translates to smooth and easy with Thomas. He keeps getting better and better as a team that used to be Ryan O’Reilly’s shifts closer to his grasp. While Brayden Schenn is a strong captain, he’s a mere placeholder for Bob Thomas.
He’s having his strongest season yet, on pace for his highest goal and point total of his potent young career. He’s a plus player on the ice who will easily surpass 20 goals and 75 points in a season that is shaping up to be another turbulent run for a once postseason assured franchise.
I don’t think Blues fans have to worry about Thomas staying strong for many years to come. He has a high hockey IQ that doesn’t make it look like maximum effort on the ice while making his teammates so much better.
When Kyrou came under fire for his comments regarding Craig Berube and heard boos from the crowd, Thomas didn’t hesitate to defend his teammate and mend the bridge. That’s the kind of work that a leader does that is vital to a team like St. Louis transitioning their roster on the fly. On or off the ice, Bob Thomas is money and should only get better with age.
Play The Violin for Mr. Flaherty, Mr. Pink
Jack Flaherty, on the other hand, got worse with age. Maybe “more average” is the better way to put it. The former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher was a guest on a podcast recently, and was asked about the controversial early 2023 season situation that led to Willson Contreras being benched. Flaherty’s whiny comments when it happened left little room to the imagination; he basically threw his catcher under the bus. Something he couldn’t do with Yadier Molina was tried and achieved with the new guy.
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But Flaherty’s season followed the rightful path of his previous underwhelming injury-plagued campaigns, and he was traded to Baltimore. Contreras finished the year very well in and behind the plate. Flaherty’s answer on the podcast carried a different, more sage tone. He was misinterpreted last year, with his comments about pitch selection really saying he wasn’t executing his own pitches. Yes, Jack, we all could tell that from afar.
Flaherty’s lightbulb didn’t just suddenly flash on; he’s trying to make himself look better, even if it circles back to his “I’ll never be the 2019 Jack again” mantra that I’ ve sung for years. His injuries aside, the attitude has always been a shade too proud for a guy who hasn’t really made a huge dent in the game. Coupled with that is an inability to dominate hitters like that half season portrayed.
Will he find it elsewhere in older age? Don’t hold your breath. Flaherty is a whiny little sports brat who thinks his right arm is the sweetest thing to touch down on dirt since Bob Gibson’s left foot. All of his comments from the past few years reflect a guy who talks louder than he pitches. I’m glad he’s gone, and Contreras is still here.
Please a Cardinals fan, I dare you
Imagine if the Cards signed Blake Snell, and he was a huge disappointment. The fans who clamored for Mozeliak to sign him would be roasting the President of Redbird Operations until the grill was hot enough to roast a pig. Imagine if the team signed Jordan Montgomery and he was only okay instead of great? Fans would burn it to the ground.
Mo did sign Sonny Gray, a very good starter who finished above every pitcher in the A.L. except for Gerrit Cole to win the Cy Young. He did that playing for the Twins, but he has also had success pitching in the National League. BUT WHO CARES, says a moderate portion of Cardinal Nation. He’s not enough, and they don’t care about the multi-league success or the Cy Young finish.
Since old man Adam Wainwright fared so poorly in his last season, older pitchers are now considered damaged goods upon arrival. That’s the correlation made by fans. Give me all the Flahertys of the world instead of the Lance Lynns, Kyle Gibsons, and Grays. They want a younger, wish-upon-a-star-for results arm instead of a proven innings-eating machine. Wasting time on arms like Jack is why the team is in this position of dire need.
Just respect the work done, and finished in a proper format. While Montgomery decides his future, Mozeliak has signed four pitchers for four specific roles. The acquisition of hard-throwing reliever Andrew Kittredge on Friday gave a solid boost to the bullpen. Coming off Tommy John surgery is never easy, but this Kittredge doesn’t mess with Tom Cruise; he strikes out batters. Kittredge averaged ten strikeouts per nine in the seasons wrapped around the injury.
But no, HE’S NOT ENOUGH. For a guy who has ripped the MoWitt machine enough to have Mozeliak himself call me “Mr. Second Guesser,” please don’t think I’m carrying their water. What I will do is acknowledge quick, diligent offseason work that leaves this team in a better position than they were on Oct. 2. So why all the negativity?
Yes, we all want more. I’d like Heat 2 to be shot, wrapped, cut, and released by my birthday in four weeks. Beggars can’t be choosers, even Cardinals fans. Practicing optimism is my speed right now. It wasn’t like the market was stuffed with 1-2 starters. It was not, but the team snagged Gray and a couple semi-risky bets. Being happy is just a state of mind, but try it on.
Wick-Flix
Everyone needs a good action film to decompress a hard day’s night, but the John Wick franchise offers that in top tier form. You won’t get a fight scene where the camera work and cutting is so confusing, no one can tell who hit who. Chad Stahelski, who has directed the last three Wick films, pulls the camera back and allows the audience to see that it’s indeed Keanu Reeves doing the stunts in character. That’s an extra boost to a film fan.
Add to it the exotic shooting locations, layered story that packs more of a punch than most casual observers think (don’t fuck with a grieving widow’s dog) and a very impressive cast--and you have a franchise four movies deep that gets better with each entry. How many other movies achieve box office success, critical approval, and leave the fans asking for a fifth round?
An Oscar-worthy John Wick franchise that is now on NETFLIX. Well, all films except for the award-contending fourth entry. You’re welcome.
Bet on this Bookie
Sebastian Maniscalco is a good comedian, but he may end up being a better actor. It’s leading role comedy turns like *HBO* Max’s recent television series, Bookie. From the creative comedy mind of Chuck Lorre (Kominsky Method, Two and A Half Men) with a bevy of cameos from veteran players like Ray Romano and Charlie Sheen, the 30-minute episode show provides laughs and comfort.
It also shows the versatility of its star. When you couple this with his supporting work in indie films like Romano’s Somewhere in Queens and more menacing turns like Joey Gallo in Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman, he’s building something. While Kevin Hart makes it a dual weapon and Bill Burr does his own fair trade in the two entertainment arenas, Maniscalco is doing his thing.
He’s the sympathetic bookie with a sports book in Los Angeles trying to make his wife happy while collecting more cash than broken bones. Whether he’s taking a beating from a transexual who spent her money on an operation instead of paying to chasing his own debts, Maniscalco’s Danny isn’t your normal bookie. It’s fun to watch him jump through the hoops of a dangerous profession.
Eight episodes, basically a four-hour movie. Bookie is a nice little show to turn the brain off to and just enjoy. Don’t sleep on the supporting cast, either. You’ve seen Omar J. Dorsey in a crap ton of roles, but few as expanded as this one, where he’s an ex-NFL player protecting Danny. Jorge Garcia made his career on Lost, but I would love to ride around with his Lyft driver with a bunch of hidden skills for a few hours. Vanessa Ferlito is simply fierce.
