Best Podcast in Baseball

<p>The Futures Game is approaching and with it the 2023 MLB Draft -- which gives BPIB an excuse to discuss if any talent is racing the Cardinals way and whether it's possible they run the table on their 2020 draft picks. (They won't.)</p> <p>It also is a chance for the Best Podcast in Baseball to introduce a new, regular feature for the podcast: Expanded coverage of the Cardinals minor-league system with St. Louis Post-Dispatch baseball writer Daniel Guerrero, co-host of the former BPIB spin-off shot, Best Podcast in the Minors. Guerrero joins St. Louis Post-Dispatch baseball writer Derrick Goold to discuss Tink Hence and Victor Scott II representing the Cardinals at the 2023 Futures Game in Seattle, and revisit some past draft selections, including how bountiful the 2020 draft could be.</p> <p>The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>From Mondo Beer + Pizza on the southbank of the Thames, a 5-minute walk from Shakespeare's Globe Theater on one side and London Bridge on the other, the Best Podcast in Baseball visits with Cardinals and baseball fans in London to discuss how they became Cardinals fans and how they chase the game with the time zones against them. You'll hear from, in order, Scott Seamons, Matt Benson, and Russell Eassom, one of the hosts of the podcast Bat Flips & Nerds, a UK-based baseball podcast. It's not Mark Twain, an Missouri innocent abroad, but there is witty banter. Promise. They talk with BPIB host and baseball writer Derrick Goold over pints about what the London Series could mean for baseball's profile in Britain. We also learn some new words. The podcast was organized with the help of the founders of Mondo Brewing in London. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold. </p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>What begins with KMOX/1120AM broadcaster Kevin Wheeler's disclosure that he's fascinated by aliens and perhaps Bigfoot turns into a discussion about something that is just as elusive to see at this point: The Cardinals' chances of contending in 2023. Wheeler joins Best Podcast in Baseball host and baseball writer Derrick Goold to discuss areas where the Cardinals have seen erosion, from defense to development, and whether there is enough time left on the schedule, talent in the system, and depth on the roster to pull off one of the biggest turnarounds ever by a Cardinals team. And who has to lead it. Sasquatch isn't walking through the door. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold. </p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>Cincinnati Reds rookie Elly De La Cruz, less than a week into his big-league career and already a certified sensation, makes his first visit to St. Louis for his first series against an NL Central rival. And he just might tilt the race in a division where no team has stood out, and the favorite to win, the Cardinals, has been down at the bottom. The Athletic baseball writer C. Trent Rosecrans rejoins BPIB to discuss the Cruz Factor, the awe other big-leaguers have in the 6-foot-5 shortstop who is hitting cleanup for the Reds, and whether a weekend series at Busch Stadium comes at a time when Cincinnati is heading up in the division race and the Cardinals are trying to stop sinking from contention. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closet by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold. </p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>Note: The planned Best Podcast in Baseball episode with author Will Leitch, of New York Magazine and MLB.com, begins at 18:20. While recording a conversation with Leitch about his new novel, the cameo in it by the Cardinals, and his beginnings as a sportswriter, Best Podcast in Baseball host Derrick Goold had to step aside to write a tribute and obituary for Hall of Fame journalist and longtime St. Louis Post-Dispatch baseball writer Rick Hummel. This episode begins with a memorial of Hummel from two people have shared a page in the newspaper with him -- one for a brief wonderful time as a Cardinals fan and forever reader of the Post-Dispatch and the other for 20 years as a colleague and sidekick at the ballpark. The previously recorded episode about Leitch's new novel, how sports writing influences his storytelling, and his view of the 2023 Cardinals, Willson Contreras, and if the recent upswing in their success is real -- or, like any novel, a red herring. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>Sit back and let Rick Hummel spin a yarn. In 2021, as Rick Hummel celebrated his 50th year at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and neared what would be the 41st of 42 consecutive Major League Baseball All-Star Games, the giant of baseball journalism was a guest on the Best Podcast in Baseball. Few writers appeared as often or were quoted as much on the podcast through its first decade, and it is an honor to represent this episode.</p> <p>From earlier: What started at a bicycle race and put him on the road with the Cardinals and in an elevator with the champ continues today in a press box carrying his name: Rick Hummel. The Hall of Fame baseball writer and member of just about every Hall of Fame for sports and sportswriting in the greater St. Louis area, Hummel began his career at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch 50 years ago this July 3. And he hasn't stopped. He'll cover his 41st Major League Baseball All-Star Game that same month and be back on the road to Pittsburgh soon after that. In a brand new edition of the Best Podcast in Baseball, recorded in the Bob Broeg/Rick Hummel press box at Busch Stadium, baseball writer Derrick Goold talks to his longtime colleague about his favorite stories, how his writing as changed, and just what changes the 2021 Cardinals need to break loose from the middle of the standings and .500.</p> <p>The Best Podcast Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, <a href="http://stltoday.com/">StlToday.com</a>, and Derrick Goold.</p> <p> </p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>In a first for the Best Podcast in Baseball, digital baseball producer Carter Chapley joins the show to introduce a new format. Chapley takes reader questions from the STLToday.com Monday live chats and asks lead baseball writer Derrick Goold. This week, the questions highlight the Cardinals' need to sign a pitcher, the Cardinals way and the future of business in baseball.</p> <p>The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design, is a production of StlToday.com, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>Where better to go for background and informed viewpoints on the Cardinals decision to reduce All-Star catcher Willson Contreras' time behind the plate than to two of the people who covered him the longest as the man behind the mask for the World Series champion Cubs? Patrick Mooney, baseball writer at The Athletic, and Gordon Wittenmyer, longtime Cubs beat writer for the Chicago Sun-Times and elsewhere, join the Best Podcast in Baseball, hosted by St. Louis Post-Dispatch baseball writer Derrick Goold, to discuss the Cardinals' choice, how the Cubs developed and managed Contreras at catcher, and how this while kerfuffle feels familiar around Wrigley Field, like a Cubby Occurrence. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design, is a production of StlToday.com, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>About to start a long road trip out west, the Cardinals have already encountered some jarring potholes at the beginning of their season, from a split series vs. Pittsburgh to a botched series opener vs. Arizona. Pitching is the leading culprit. The rotation's contribution of two quality starts in the first 17 games has compromised a bullpen. The recent handling of Jordan Hicks spotlights another question: How and why have the Cardinals struggled recently to develop pitching, particularly power pitching? Alex Reyes is gone having never reached his potential. Dakota Hudson is in Class AAA looking for his. Hicks is in a mopup spot. And now Andre Pallante is optioned. With highway traffic as both a soundtrack and a metaphor, St. Louis Post-Dispatch sports columnist Ben Frederickson joins the Best Podcast in Baseball to discuss the speed bumps behind and the road ahead. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>The season-opening home stand ended with sweep by Atlanta and the first true stress tests of the Cardinals -- one long predicted and the other completely unexpected. Once the cars had been returned to their sales lots and the Clydesdales to their stable, the Cardinals flashed a deep, persistent offense, as advertised. Jordan Walker, the 20-year-old rookie, punctuated his strong debut with his first career MLB homer. The Cardinals also had abbreviated, choppy, and messy starts from the rotation. The Cardinals leave for their first road trip of the season with rotation ERA higher than 7.00. They allowed 42 hits, and that includes five no-hit innings from Jack Flaherty. And that's not the only question lurking. Manager Oliver Marmol questioned Tyler O'Neill's effort on a pivotal play that yielded an out at the plate, and O'Neill was not in the lineup for the series finale vs. Atlanta. O'Neill defended himself, insisting it was not a lack of hustle, and he's eager to prove differently. It's not the first time Marmol has questioned a player's effort publicly, but it is the first time this season and it's earlier than ever, leading to a two-pronged test of the Cardinals: Who will lead the rotation through turbulence, and how will the clubhouse react to the O'Neill decision? St. Louis Post-Dispatch sports columnist Ben Frederickson joins baseball writer Derrick Goold at Busch Stadium to discuss. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>The pitch clock introduced this year by Major League Baseball has the potential to radically change the pace of games, the pulse of pitchers, and even how games are covered by broadcasters. Who better to talk about it than a former pitcher who is now a broadcaster -- and never had an issue working fast? Brad Thompson, Bally Sports Midwest color commentator and a regularly contributor to 101.1 FM/WXOS in St. Louis, joins the Best Podcast in Baseball to talk about the rule changes from a pitcher's perspective and how the countdown might stress relievers and alter the effectiveness of pitches. Thompson also discusses his own spring training experience as an example of how a player can make an impression on the back fields and ride that to the majors. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of StlToday.com, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and its host, baseball writer Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>Jordan Walker and Masyn Winn have been standouts of the Cardinals' spring training, and there have been other young players who have impressed. But if spring training has been a showcase for the future of the Cardinals, what about the present and the pressure to compete for a World Series championship now? Tom Ackerman, sports director at KMOX/1120 AM, joins the Best Podcast in Baseball to discuss what he's seen so far in spring training from the young players and what that means for the window to contend with a powerful nucleus of Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt. Is this collection of standout players in jeopardy of falling short what other strong cores have accomplished in St. Louis? The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.com, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>Entering spring training, the Cardinals promised competition. No really this time. Seriously. And maybe top prospect Jordan Walker is an example why. Manager Oliver Marmol and John Mozeliak, president of baseball operations, acknowledged that in past springs they've said there is competition but they start February with an idea of the roster. Actions are going to have to say otherwise this spring. St. Louis Post-Dispatch sports Ben Frederickson makes the case that there is competition this spring, while baseball writer Derrick Goold suggests it's the same verse, different spring. They've had competition in the spring before and yet find themselves circling back to the same situation. They perpetually open up ways for young players in the outfield, and annually look to the next generation to seize the job the previous players with opportunity did not. Walker could flip the script, and he is off to a powerful start. And he's not alone. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>In his new book 'Winning Fixes Everything,' author Evan Drellich details the corporate culture that led to the Houston Astros sign-stealing quagmire and probes how many of the leading executives got their start in baseball with the Cardinals. Drellich joins St. Louis Post-Dispatch baseball writer Derrick Goold to discuss new insight into the hacking scandal that will forever bind the Astros and Cardinals, the baseball operations approach that former Cardinals exec Jeff Luhnow created in Houston, and how organizational arrogance may have led to negligence. Drellich, a senior writer at The Athletic who along with Ken Rosenthal broke the story on Houston's trashcan caper during the 2017 season, explores the reporting on that story and the fallout from it, including how baseball clubs are reluctant to talk about their "trade secrets" and why that's bad for the game, bad for storytelling, and yet ignored because without the sign-stealing the Astros' winning would have lacquered over everything. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold. </p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>One of the game's greatest bards and gentleman, Tim McCarver made his big-league debut at 17, played for the Cardinals, won with the Cardinals, and in his final tour as a Hall of Fame broadcaster returned to the Cardinals to call games. McCarver died Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. He was 81. Back in May 2016, while on a road trip to Washington, McCarver sat in the stands with St. Louis Post-Dispatch baseball writer Derrick Goold to talk about his return, the role John Mozeliak played in it, and why there is still power in storytelling in baseball, even in a world accelerated by Twitter. This is a special rebroadcast of that episode that first aired May 31, 2016. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>Recorded in Jupiter, Fla., on the eve of the Cardinals' opening their 2023 spring training with the first official workouts, the 11th season of the Best Podcast in Baseball begins as it traditionally does: with 10 (or so) questions facing the Cardinals as spring blooms. St. Louis Post-Dispatch baseball writer Derrick Goold and sports columnist Benjamin Hochman go question by question in a preview of the decisions and dilemmas welcoming the Cardinals to Florida, from who plays center field to who wins lefty relief roles in the bullpen, who can make the most of the World Baseball Classic opportunity to what to make of prospect Jordan Walker's chances. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>In this bonus episode of the Best Podcast in Baseball, we bring you PlayBacks, an audio series that brings to life the archives of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.</p> <p>When Lou Brock first came to the Cardinals in 1964, a lot of St. Louis fans were unsure about the trade. But he made a splash in his first game with the Cardinals. Today we go to June 16, 1964, when Brock made a great first impression, and Ken Boyer hit for the cycle.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>After a discussion of Scott Rolen's election to the Hall of Fame and the coming parade of third basemen to Cooperstown, the Best Podcast in Baseball dives into a topic looming (huge) on the horizon. As spring training nears, one of the biggest storylines in Major League Baseball is how the game will be played. The bigger story may be how the game is watched. There are rising issues with the current broadcast model. Streaming has to modernize. And the gambling industry is becoming a major presence in professional sports -- and could be at any point for the teams in Missouri. That means betting, even micro-betting on individual pitch outcomes, could be part of the near future. There's a lot of money at stake. To make sense of this, Mark Saxon, baseball writer and former Cardinals beat writer and now reporter at Better Collectiv, joins the Best Podcast in Baseball to discuss how the increasing presence of the gaming industry at games and on broadcasts of games will shape how fans watch games and how reporters cover the games. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>Another year, another Hall of Fame debate. Each winter, the Hot Stove gives way to the Hall of Fame, and while there is a limited number of voters, there are numerous opinions for how they should vote. Continuing an annual episode here at Best Podcast in Baseball, host and baseball writer Derrick Goold discusses his ballot for the 2023 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductions -- the votes, the close calls, the concerns, and hopefully the consistently. Kevin Wheeler, host of drive time at KMOX/1120 AM, joins to share the ballot he put together for MLB Network Radio and quiz Goold on his choices with both questions and criticisms. A crux of the conversation is what to do with great players who were suspended for positive PED tests and whether it's possible to be a fan of a small Hall but a voter with a big ballot. Closing out its 10th year, the Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of StlToday.com, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and Derrick Goold. </p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>In this bonus episode of the Best Podcast in Baseball, we bring you PlayBacks, an audio series that brings to life the archives of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.</p> <p>On June 10, 1944, 15-year-old Joe Nuxhall became the youngest person ever to play Major League Baseball when he pitched in a game for the Cincinnati Reds. The Cardinals pounded out 21 hits and walked 14 times in the 18-0 victory, including five runs off Nuxhall.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>The New Year begins on the baseball beat at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch with a major acquisition -- Lynn Worthy, the former Royals beat writer for the Kansas City Star and a veteran baseball writer with years of experience covering minor-league ball, joins the Post-Dispatch and StlToday.com constant Cardinals coverage at the beginning of the 2023 season. In St. Louis to meet with other baseball writers (and scout out a place to live), Worthy joins baseball writer Derrick Goold on the Best Podcast in Baseball to talk about how he became a baseball fan, how he became a fan of baseball writer, his time playing football in college, and what appeals to him about coming to St. Louis and plunging into the Cardinals beat. Alas, the days of long debates about double switches in the Busch Stadium press box are over. But there is something that St. Louis assures that Worthy is eager to see. Oh, and there's talk about St. Louis pizza. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StLToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>Looking ahead to 2023 with Kevin Wheeler, of KMOX/1120 AM, and how what must happen for the Cardinals to challenge for a championship in the next year has its roots in one of the most remarkable things to happen in the past year. The biggest story of 2022 for the St. Louis Cardinals was an obvious one: Albert Pujols' homecoming and successful quest for 700 home runs. So captivating was Pujols' second half production that it surpassed an MVP season from Paul Goldschmidt and a division title as the leading highlight of 2022, but it leaves the Cardinals with a strikingly familiar offseason question: How do they fill Pujols production? It's 2011 all over again. Except it's not. It's 2022, and this is Steve Cohen's National League. The Mets' owner stunned Major League Baseball by continuing his free-spending and reportedly signing Carlos Correa to a massive, $300-million deal shortly after a massive, $300-million deal with San Francisco Giants dissolved due to the physical. This podcast was recorded before that news. But the comments and evaluations still apply. Just change the teams. And heighten the description of the Mets' spending. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>Keith Costas, a senior researcher at MLB Network and part of the network's weekday morning 'Hot Stove' show, visits the South Grand neighborhood in St. Louis for a slice of pizza, a cup of coffee, and a conversation about the Cardinals' pitching and their place in the National League. Costas, a St. Louis native, joins St. Louis Post-Dispatch baseball writer Derrick Goold to also talk about their first visits to ballparks, their fascination with robust spending by National League pennant favorites, and how fans can tell the difference between offseason speculation and entertainment for what teams should or could do and reporting on what teams will do. Costas also introduces the podcast to the term "aircraft carriers" and it will be used regularly henceforth. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>Willson Contreras, a three-time All-Star and long-time Chicago Cub, joins the Cardinals, ready, he says, the takeover for Yadier Molina at catcher and possibly hit fifth, where Albert Pujols last did. No pressure, right? How the Cardinals went from exploring trades to committing nearly $100 million to Contreras at catcher is the subject of a brand new Best Podcast in Baseball, featuring St. Louis Post-Dispatch sports columnist Ben Frederickson and baseball writer Derrick Goold. The two discuss the ways Contreras impressed the Cardinals, the first impression he made at his press conference, and how he changes the look of the team, from behind the plate as well as at the plate. There is also a brief tangent on how pitch-framing isn't going anywhere in baseball, even with an automated strike zone. What the signing means for the Cardinals and what the Cardinals must do next is also covered. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>In this bonus episode of the Best Podcast in Baseball, we bring you PlayBacks, an audio series that brings to life the archives of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.</p> <p>On May 2, 1954, baseball's "Perfect Knight" sent three baseballs over the wall at Busch Stadium in the first game of a doubleheader against the New York Giants. Stan Musial munched on a sandwich between games, washed it down with a glass of milk, then went out and hit two more in the nightcap.</p> <p>Never considered a prototypical slugger, Musial became the first player in major-league history to club five homers in a doubleheader. Modest to a fault, Musial said afteward: "I still can't believe it. You mean real sluggers like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ralph Kiner — men like them — never hit five homers in a doubleheader?" Nope.</p> <p>Eighteen years later, San Diego's Nate Colbert duplicated the feat with five homers in a twin bill in Atlanta on Aug. 1, 1972. Here's the rest of the story: Colbert, a St. Louis native and Sumner High graduate, was in the stands as an eight-year-old that day in 1954 when Musial hit his five at Busch.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>In this bonus episode of the Best Podcast in Baseball, we bring you PlayBacks, an audio series that brings to life the archives of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.</p> <p>Don Denkinger didn’t have the cushion of an instant-replay review on that October night when the Cardinals took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning at Royals Stadium, just three outs away from the championship.</p> <p>Pinch-hitter Jorge Orta led off with a slow bouncer to the right side. First baseman Jack Clark ranged wide to field the ball and flipped a high throw to reliever Todd Worrell covering the bag.</p> <p>Orta was still in the air on his final stride when the ball beat him by a half-step. Denkinger recounted he was standing too close to the play — by the time he saw Worrell catch the ball and looked down, Orta’s foot was on the base. Denkinger ruled him safe.</p> <p>“I wish I would’ve gotten it right,” he said. “But I didn’t.”</p> <p>The rest, as Denkinger said, is part of baseball lore.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>The Best Podcast in the Minors, the weekly show produced for StlPinchHits.com, invited Post-Dispatch baseball writer Derrick Goold to talk about the minors, review the season, and discuss development within the Cardinals system. In other words: Crossover podcast! BPIB is proud to give its listeners a peek at its cousin podcast, available at StlToday.com's StlPinchHits, and the conversations co-hosts Daniel Guerrero and Carter Chapley have weekly. In 30 episodes this past summer, they've had on coaches and prospects and given updates on top performers throughout the Cardinals' organization. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>What does it take to turn a World Series or a World Series champion into a Fall Classic? Well, Lance Berkman sure helps. New York Times national baseball columnist and New York Times bestselling author Tyler Kepner joins the Best Podcast in Baseball to discuss his new book, "The Grandest Stage: A History of the World Series." In it, Kepner plunges into the stories generated by World Series, revealing the history of Major League Baseball's championship through themes and personalities, not a linear retracing of box scores. With Post-Dispatch baseball writer Derrick Goold, Kepner discusses the Cardinals prominent place in World Series history, how this year's Astros fit with the all-time World Series teams and tales, and what to make of Jeff Luhnow's influence over their run of pennants under the shadow of a sign-stealing scandal. Oh, and Berkman's role in the 2011 World Series is not to be overlooked. Plus, stay to hear Kepner capture the risk the Cardinals run of not responding to fan pressure and then wow with one of his talents -- instant recall of the final outs of World Series. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>Should the Cardinals roll the dice on Willson Contreras? Should they hold to their defensive wishes at catcher? NBC Sports Chicago baseball writer Gordon Wittenmyer joins St. Louis Post-Dispatch baseball writer Derrick Goold to discuss the direction the Cardinals could go at catcher, including the former Cubs backstop. Plus, a discussion on NL Central competition and rising payrolls, and how the Cardinals can aim higher than a division chocked with rebuilding teams. They can play at the $25 tables. Oh, and Wittenmyer plays the slots. Whether it was the setting (Las Vegas), the proximity to the World Series, or the firsrt chance for executives and agents to meet after the cancellation of the 2021 MLB Winter Meetings, this year's GM Meetings had a different vibe. It was active. Or, at least, it felt like a prelude to action. The Cardinals went looking for options at catcher, and came away with a better sense of the trade market and a conversation with at least the representatives for free-agent Christian Vazquez. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>In this bonus episode of the Best Podcast in Baseball, we bring you PlayBacks, an audio series that brings to life the archives of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.</p> <p>It was at Ebbets Field and with begrudging respect that Brooklyn Dodgers fans began referring to Musial as "The Man." </p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>When asked at the end-of-season preview/review press conference whether he had any frustration with the Cardinals lack of wins and appearances in the National League Championship Series since 2014, John Mozeliak pushed back: "That's your narrative," the president of the baseball operations told St. Louis Post-Dispatch sports columnist Benjamin Hochman. So, let's discuss narrative. In a brand new edition of the Best Podcast in Baseball, Hochman joins baseball writer Derrick Goold to discuss the facts behind his "narrative" and what Mozeliak's comments about adding a catcher, adding a bat, and adding payroll say about the Cardinals' willingness to augment their time-tested strategy in order to hang with the high-spending contenders in the National League. One answer? Add a "shirsey-seller," says Hochman. That is a player who will sell merchandise the day after he joins the team. Is there a "shirsey worthy" player out there? BPIB takes a look before concluding with a conversation about the coming changes at coaches and whether it's a trend that should alarm the Cardinals. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold. </p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>What begins as an analogy for how a new rule punishes a team and players who use data, savvy, and athleticism to find an edge jumps into a much larger discussion on how a game guided by huge sample sizes tries to entertain on the small scale. Kevin Wheeler, co-host of The Show midday on KMOX/1120 AM, joins the Best Podcast in Baseball and baseball writer Derrick Goold to discuss the new rules that Major League Baseball will have for 2023. Which one is substantive? Which one is creative? Which one is cosmetic, at best? And what rule would make more of an impact. Also discussed is the beauty of baseball's "sustained tension" and how anecdotal style -- what a fan sees that one game they attend or 20 games they watch on TV -- maybe more valuable for selling the game than what two lifelong baseball think when focusing on the larger season. A new way to sell the game is also discussed, but is it snappy enough? The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>A season that contained such wonder (Albert Pujols' 700th home run) and such unexpected storylines (Albert Pujols' 700th home run) finished where so many seasons have recently for the Cardinals -- flat. Swept out of the postseason by the lower-seeded Philadelphia Phillies, at home, the Cardinals have an early start on the postseason. But will it be any different? Must it be? The retirement of Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols leave the Cardinals with significant holes to fill -- on the field, in the clubhouse, and as part of the offense. St. Louis Post-Dispatch sports columnist Ben Frederickson joins a brand new Best Podcast in Baseball to discuss with baseball writer and host Derrick Goold what went awry in the National League Wild Card series, what separates the 100-win behemoths in the National League from the Cardinals, and what to do next, other than just wait and "hope-cast." The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold. </p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>"And there isn't a Chris Carpenter walking through the door." A playoff preview with KMOX/1120 AM host Kevin Wheeler and St. Louis Post-Dispatch baseball writer Derrick Goold. After 11 years, the Philadelphia Phillies are back in the playoffs and awaiting them -- why it's the same team that eliminated them in 2011 and changed the course of that franchise. The Cardinals welcome the Phillies for a best-of-three wild-card series all played at Busch Stadium in the first weekend of Major League Baseball's expanded postseason. Wheeler and Goold discuss the top-end pitching edge the Phillies have with tandem right-handed aces and whether the Cardinals can counter with pitching depth. What are the matchups to watch? And what brutal rounds await the team that advances with Atlanta and the Los Angeles Dodgers looming as some of the best teams the NL has seen since, well, that 2011 Phillies team was really good, too. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>As a companion to the Post-Dispatch's Oct. 2 special commemorative edition celebrating the careers of Cardinals greats Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina, the Best Podcast in Baseball gathers several of the writers who contributed to that keepsake publication to discuss the Hall of Fame careers. St. Louis Post-Dispatch baseball writer Derrick Goold hosts the two conversations. First, from the seats at Busch Stadium outside the press box named for him, Hall of Fame writer Rick Hummel talks about Molina and Pujols at the beginning of their Cardinals' careers and all the way to the end, when Hummel argues Pujols stands on the pedestal beside The Man, Stan Musial. In the second part of the podcast, columnists Ben Frederickson and Benjamin Hochman join to discuss their stories in the special section, their experience covering Molina and Pujols, and how they've changed what it means to be a Cardinal and what's expected of the Cardinals. The Best Podcast in Baseball, after a brief unscheduled hiatus, will return with alacrity for the postseason. BPIB, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>In this bonus episode of the Best Podcast in Baseball, we bring you PlayBacks, an audio series that brings to life the archives of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.</p> <p>This episode looks at the Cardinals' Game 7 victory over the New York Yankees for their first World Series title.</p> <p>You can read more about about the game through with these related articles:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.stltoday.com/sports/no-1-oct-10-1926-world-series-game-7/article_333a1a02-6ec6-58ee-a0ad-abd3d7fee99e.html">No. 1: Oct. 10, 1926 — World Series Game 7</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/oct-10-1926-hero-with-a-hangover-gives-cardinals-their-first-world-series-title/article_0dc43b7e-0358-5f99-bf50-1dc9ff7fb325.html">Oct. 10, 1926 • Hero with a hangover gives Cardinals their first World Series title</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/birdland/how-in-the-world-did-he-make-that-play-a-look-at-game-7-winning/collection_5aeeab42-439f-5e60-85f0-886dca7e00f0.html">'How in the world did he make that play?' A look at game 7 winning moments in Cardinals history</a><a href="https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/birdland/how-in-the-world-did-he-make-that-play-a-look-at-game-7-winning/collection_5aeeab42-439f-5e60-85f0-886dca7e00f0.html"></a></li> </ul><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>Two teams, two of the sharpest teams in baseball, both leading their division, made trades at the deadline that slowed their season, and in one cause capsized their hold on first place. The Cardinals, meanwhile, took flight. Don't dismiss the old school nuances in the Cardinals' new-school look, says St. Louis Post-Dispatch sports columnist Ben Frederickson. At the same time, they revitalized the pitching staff, the Cardinals recast their lineup around matchups and ignited one of the best offenses in the game, buoyed by the trio of Nolan Arenado, Albert Pujols, and Paul Goldschmidt. What does their August tell us about their chances in October? Frederickson joins Best Podcast in Baseball host Derrick Goold, baseball writer at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, to discuss yet another second-half surge with the Cardinals and what, if anything, makes this different than a year ago. Also discussed is how Jake Woodford personifies the improvements the Cardinals made and the blunt explanations first-year manager Oliver Marmol has given. There is also a long discussion on his approach, how he's brought ball talk back to the ballpark, and what really connects with St. Louis. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored weekly by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold. </p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>There's more than hopping the pond for a series in London to the Cardinals-Cubs meetings in 2023. Start with this: There are few of them. Six games from one of the game's oldest rivalries have been shaved off the schedule as part of Major League Baseball's balanced scheduled. What does that mean? ESPN baseball reporter Jesse Rogers suggests it could bring even more intensity to the rivalry. Rogers, who will be part of the network's Sunday Night Baseball coverage from Busch Stadium on Sunday, joins St. Louis Post-Dispatch baseball writer Derrick Goold to discuss the changes to the 2023 season and when to expect the Cubs to be contenders again. Could be sooner than anyone thinks, argues Rogers. And they're going to start spending, too. Maybe the fewer games will benefit the Cardinals after all. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>"Our fans want to win today. But our fans want to win every year," says Cardinals vice president/general manager Michael Girsch as he joins the Best Podcast in Baseball for the first time to discuss his rise to becoming the 13th GM in organization history and the expectations ownership sets for the club. Girsch, a native of Chicago, joined the Cardinals before the 2006 World Series championship season, worked his way up through the baseball operations structure, and became general manager in June 2017. He's had the position since. With St. Louis Post-Dispatch baseball writer and BPIB host Derrick Goold, Girsch offers insight into how trades are made at the deadline, how the Cardinals' pitching depth has come up lacking two years in a row, and how there's been a Hall of Famer on the field for every generation, and that's something ownership expects. Girsch also discusses his entry into baseball, finding a door that opened in the wake of Moneyball, and the surprises he found once inside the room where things really happen, and not observing from the spreadsheet of an consultant. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design, is a weekly production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>Two longtime Colorado baseball writers, MLB.com's Thomas Harding and The Denver Post's Patrick Saunders, join St. Louis Post-Dispatch baseball writer Derrick Goold to discuss the brilliance of Nolan Arenado at third base and what, despite all the Gold Glove awards, he's yet to catch. And can he find that with the Cardinals? The three baseball writers recall Arenado's finest plays in the field, the legacy he left behind in Colorado, how he forced the Rockies to consider their direction and whether that will have a lasting influence on the organization. Plus, the two Denver baseball writers answer a question key to St. Louis: What does Nolan Arenado want in an organization, and is there a chance he opts-out of his contract with the Cardinals to seek it somewhere else? The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday,com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>Against National League rivals that got better at the deadline, the Cardinals will need to have the best bullpen in Octobers, argues Hall of Fame baseball writer Rick Hummel. Did they do enough at the deadline to assure that? That's the theme of a brand new Best Podcast in Baseball, featuring Hummel and his St. Louis Post-Dispatch colleague Derrick Goold, a baseball writer and host of BPIB. The Cardinals added two lefty starters at the deadline and a right-handed reliever. They did not make the huge splash of San Diego (Juan Soto, Josh Bell), the name-brand move of Philadelphia (Noan Syndergaard, David Robertson), or even the familiar savvy move of Atlanta Braves (Jake Odorizzi). What they did do is invite questions about a front office eager to expect the best from its roster, betting on it to maximize its ability and "get hot," while being more conservative when it comes to helping. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goodl.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>Within this brand new BPIB there are discussions about developing hitters, surviving the AL East, an AL view of the Cardinals, and how Stubby Clapp and Tyler O'Neill have come to represent Canada baseball. First, there is a discussion about the travel restrictions at the border that limit entry to Canada and the U.S. for visitors who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19. While so much attention is on the players visitors are missing, the Blue Jays are at a competitive disadvantage due to fewer players available and roster management. Are they galvanized by this disadvantage? Fast forward 5 minutes if you want to get straight to the talk about offense. The Toronto Blue Jays have another young group of power-packed hitters leading baseball's hottest lineup. It's a homegrown, augmented lineup the likes of which the Cardinals have long wanted to create, but lacked the same ability to develop and debut impact young hitters. So how do the Jays do it? Is there a Jays' Way? Shi Davidi, senior baseball columnist for Sportsnet and Sportsnet.Ca, joins the Best Podcast in Baseball to discuss offense and how to thrive in the AL East a team better 'bang.' The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>"The season of the front office." That's what St. Louis Post-Dispatch sports columnist Ben Frederickson called the 2022 season as it began, and more than 90 games in -- it still is. Frederickson joins St. Louis Post-Dispatch baseball writer and BPIB host Derrick Goold to discuss the Cardinals at the All-Star break. They're a good team, a team with a winning record, and a team in need of a significant pitching upgrade to remain in the hunt to be a playoff team, let alone a great team. That puts them in a pinch. The front office has proven it can rebuild a bullpen during a season, but to do so this season might mean adding a frontline starter, which they've been reluctant to do in the past, let alone at the trade deadline. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Stltoday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>A year ago, the Atlanta Braves had yet to see .500 and were scrambling to acquire outfielders in the same way the Cardinals tried to find starting pitchers. Through a series of shrewd moves, the Braves rebuilt their lineup at the trade deadline and everything clicked -- at the best possible time. As one executive said during the confetti-splashed celebration of the Braves' 2021 World Series championship: That is why you play to get in the playoffs and just see what happens. Dave O'Brien, the longtime Braves beat writer now at The Athletic, joins the Best Podcast in Baseball to discuss how a team struggling in July can become a champion by October. And, if Atlanta is now the team they imagined having -- and even better than they were before. The Cardinals troubles with the NL East are explored, and so is the skills of a manager rewarded for his devotion to the organization. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>Ten years ago, in the attic of a home in St. Louis, two St. Louis Post-Dispatch sportswriters had a great name for a podcast -- thanks to a reader! -- but little idea how to actually put one together, let alone run the tech necessary. And thus the Best Podcast in Baseball began, but needed time to live up to its name. Co-creators of the BPIB, columnist Bernie Miklasz and baseball beat writer Derrick Goold, hold a reunion for the 10th episode of Season 10 and discuss all things about the 2022 St. Louis Cardinals: What rookies have staying power for years to come? What is the Cardinals' greatest need to go from good to great this season? Is the offense really as good as the numbers suggest, and how did it get there? What's up with the 2-6 record in games with a chance to sweep a series? In the 10 years since the beginning of BPIB, what are some of the discouraging trends in baseball -- and encouraging trends, too -- and if the Cardinals' winning record has only been the constant, has that invited complacency? All of that and more discussed with Miklasz, former Post-Dispatch sports columnist and now host of The Bernie Show (590 AM). The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>Jeff Levering, broadcaster for the Milwaukee Brewers on both radio and television, joins the Best Podcast in Baseball to discuss this "Golden Age of Brewers baseball" and a four-game series between the Cardinals and Milwaukee in June that has a distinct September, maybe even October, feel. With St. Louis Post-Dispatch baseball writer Derrick Goold, Levering discusses the Brewers' quest for a fifth consecutive playoff appearance and whether past falls have heightened the pressure on this year's team to do more than reach the postseason. Isn't it time to win? Is the clock ticking on how long the Brewers can remain the class of the National League Central? The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>The New York Times national baseball writer James Wagner joins the Best Podcast in Baseball to discuss what happens when the writer tasked with covering the biggest story in baseball has the biggest story in baseball in his backyard. The New York Yankees and New York Mets have the best records in baseball -- and the Yankees are on a historic pace -- so can they keep that up, and have they shifted the balance of power in the majors away from Houston and Los Angeles? Wagner talks with St. Louis Post-Dispatch baseball writer Derrick Goold about the art of covering history, developing a nose for a good story (especially the most aromatic of stories), and what the view of the Cardinals is from the current center of the baseball universe. Are the Cardinals part of the industry elite, or have they been nudged to the periphery? The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold. </p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>Ben Verlander, FOXSports.com baseball analyst and host of FOX Sports' award-winning podcast 'Flippin' Bats,' joins the Best Podcast in Baseball to discuss how joy and personality are ways to promote the game of baseball, not grumbling and nostalgia. Nominated for two Hashtag Sports Award for his coverage of the 2021 World Series, Verlander also discusses his minor-league career, the imposing Ty Cobb picture in Lakeland, Fla., a change in June urgency in the 2022 season, and what it was like watching his brother, Justin, face the Cardinals during the 2006 World Series. He also recalls the scouting report he saw on Alex Reyes when the two played against each other in the Florida State League. Verlander, a top-rated player for MLB The Show, can be found on Twitch, Twitter (@BenVerlander), and his podcast (@FllippinBatsPod) is available where you found this podcast, plus it has a spot in YouTube. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>A year after their pitching staff came apart with two injuries and one abbreviated outing at Dodger Stadium to plunge into an innings crisis and June swoon, the Cardinals find themselves ... <em>right back where they were</em>? St. Louis Post-Dispatch sports columnist Ben Frederickson joins baseball writer Derrick Goold to answer that question and explore history repeating itself at Busch Stadium in a brand new episode of the Best Podcast in Baseball. As June arrives, the Cardinals are again searching for innings from their rotation to avoid a threadbare bullpen, a cascade of troubles, and a swoon that cost them the division a year ago. Have they learned from last year's slow move to address a need? Or, are they putting a lot of stock in the returns of lefty Steven Matz (in June) and Jack Flaherty (by July?). There are options out there. There is even an in-house option or two that the Cardinals continue to find reasons to avoid. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold. </p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

<p>Before plunging into his collection of classic Mimsbandz and his search for a Vince Coleman pair, Todd Rosiak, senior baseball writer at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, discusses how he describes this year's Milwaukee club as "the best team on paper in Brewers history." It's all about the pitching. So what is Derrick Goold missing about this Brewers club? The host of Best Podcast in Baseball and St. Louis Post-Dispatch baseball writer did not pick the Brewers to win the division because he felt the roster lacked the pitching depth to pull off an encore of what it did last year with three All-Star starters, two Cy Young Award contenders, one winner, and arguably the best left-right relief combo in baseball. Rosiak explains his premise, discusses the injuries facing the Brewers, and how they've become the model franchise in the division. And, then there are the sweatbands. Yes, the art and treasure of Mimsbandz is explored. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold. </p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>