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Episode 89: Taking On All Comers

Another week, another slew of wins for the St. Louis Cardinals.  August has seen the club go 17-4 with all of those losses by one run.  It's a run that has Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) both amazed and to the point where they never believe the Cardinals are going to lose.  The two talk about the last week, specifically the sweep of the Dodgers in LA, then get into some other points like Jack Flaherty's development into an ace, the return of Matt Adams, and the remarkable pitching in general.  Plus they get into what sort of moves might be made when rosters expand and whether that means the end of Matt Bowman.  Plenty to chew on as you get ready for the big series with the Rockies!

Episode 88: Flying High

The Cardinals' eight-game winning streak might have snapped on Thursday night, but the good vibes and feelings about this team are still with us.  Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) talk about all the fun that watching this team provides, including seeing Harrison Bader flying around the basepaths or seeing the pitching staff continue to be impressive.  Postseason baseball is back in the picture as a series win this weekend against the Brewers puts the Cardinals in one of those wildcard spots in the middle of August.  Can they keep it up?  How does Carlos Martinez to the bullpen and the pending returns of Dominic Leone, Michael Wacha, and Adam Wainwright impact this team?  All that and much more in a rare morning edition of Meet Me at Musial!

Episode 87: Don't Look Now, But.....

Is October baseball really out of the picture?  With five straight series wins, the Cardinals have not only gotten much more involved in the wild-card race but also have somewhat closed the gap inside the division.  Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) talk about the tightening race and look ahead to the important series to come, most notably this week as the Nationals and Brewers come to Busch.  There's also chatter about the much-improved bullpen and what that has done to the mindset of the fans watching the games, plus the additions of Adolis Garcia and Patrick Wisdom start some speculating about who actually is still in Memphis.  A good solid week of Cardinal baseball and that makes for a pretty upbeat show!

Episode 86: A Solid (But Not Phamtastic) Week

The trading deadline has come and gone and the roster looks....a lot like it did last week.  One glaring difference, of course, is the fact that Tommy Pham is now a Tampa Bay Ray.  Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) discuss the trade of Pham as well as the other deal of the deadline, Oscar Mercado to the Indians. (Though, of course, for more on the return from both trades, we recommend Colin Garner and Kyle Reis.)  Pham moved, which was a surprise but shouldn't have been, but Jose Martinez and Bud Norris are still on the roster.  Is that a mistake?
The guys also get into the improved play as of late, at least from an interest standpoint, and talk about how Harrison Bader and Tyler O'Neill are both going to get playing time.  How long can you run with Dexter Fowler?  Where does the pledge to his playing time end and the expectation that Bader and O'Neill can push this team begin?  Where does Mike Shildt and the front office draw the line.
There's also Carlos Martinez talk and various other tidbits (and hopefully a softer intro) so we hope you enjoy!

Episode 85: Pour One Out for the Patron Pitcher (and Other Moves)

Ever want to hear a couple of Cardinal bloggers react to news in basically real time?  That's what you've got this week as Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) sit down to record right as the Cardinals completely overhaul their bullpen.  This wasn't just getting a couple of tires rotated, this was reworking the whole engine.  (Please note, I am not a car guy so this is as far as I can go with the analogy.)  Sam Tuivailala?  Traded.  Greg Holland?  Nice knowing you.  Brett Cecil?  Conveniently spared by the DL.  Then there was Tyler Lyons.  #70.  The #PatronPitcher, going the same route as Holland.  Somehow, Daniel was able to hold back the tears.
Plenty of new faces as well.  Luke Weaver returns, as does Daniel Poncedeleon from his short trip back after his no-hit debut.  This weekend will also see the first Cardinal apperances by Tyler Webb (not quite the same, Cardinals) and Dakota Hudson as the Cards mull what else to do before the 4 PM Tuesday deadline.
The guys also give their thoughts on whether some Cardinals will be still here on August 1 and what the news about Chris Archer being a target means.  It might be a bit jumbled, but it's a thorough look at everything that's happened!

Episode 84: What Shildt The Cardinals Do?

We're a week removed from the most earthshaking news to come out of St. Louis in years and the repercussions are still being discussed and observed.  Last week, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) were talking about the problems with the Matheny era.  This week, that era is history and the Mike Shildt era is through its first week.  What's changed with the new skipper?  Was this a move that's going to make a difference?  How stunning was the firing of Matheny mid-season?
The guys then talk about the series in Chicago, with the Cardinals rallying to pull out a doubleheader split right before they start the show.  Is it too little too late?  Is the front office already in sell mode, just waiting for the opportunity?
Also, Daniel and Allen give a hat tip to the scorching Matt Carpenter.  The hat gets a little too close to Carp and goes up in flames.

Episode 83: The Midseason Blahs

Technical difficulties might have cut this one short, but that's probably not a bad thing.  Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (Red Dirt Redbird, @amedlock1) had trouble coming up with new things to talk about as the Cardinals continue their back-and-forth ways.  Well, Mark Saxon provided some new content as his story on Bud Norris's relationship with Jordan Hicks got everyone stirred up for a bit.  The more disturbing aspect of that story, however, could be Norris's oversight of the bullpen as a whole and his relationship with Mike Matheny there.  Then there's a little more Dexter Fowler talk, the return of Luke Gregerson and the Patron Pitcher, and why Tommy Pham is hitting ninth.  An early release just in time for pregame listening!

Episode 82: Neither Fish Nor Fowler

There have been a lot of things happening on the field, but there's one issue that has dominated all of Cardinal Nation this week and Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (The Redbird Daily, @amedlock1) dive right into it.  Can Dexter Fowler and Mike Matheny co-exist?  Should John Mozeliak be making comments about hustle, even indirectly?  How does this situation ever resolve itself?
Plus Paul DeJong comes back and Yairo Munoz stays while Austin Gomber goes to be a starter in Memphis.  Someone that might come in to relieve Gomber?  Matt Bowman, who was sent down this week.  So much already happening and the trade deadline is still weeks away.  What will this team look like in a few days?

Episode 81: Are The Trade Winds Blowing?

As the Cardinals slide down the roller-coaster track that this seasom seems to have them on after an upswing earlier in the week, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Allen (The Redbird Daily, @amedlock1) get together to talk, again, about what can be done.  With July right around the corner (and the temperatures have already arrived), the trade talk starts forming.  Should the club go after Mike Moustakas?  Ken Rosenthal says they have renewed interest in the third baseman.  Will they really trade off Jose Martinez?  And what under-the-radar (or, more likely, wild wishing) move does Daniel want to see the club make?
Plenty of talk also about the bullpen and other issues relating to the Redbirds and a little talk about The Redbird Daily crew heading over to The Cardinal Conclave.  Enjoy!

Bonus: A Solo Shot

No, we aren't talking about the Cardinals' propensity for bases-empty homers.  No, it's the semi-regular trip to a galaxy far, far away, this time talking about Solo: A Star Wars Story.  Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) is joined by regular Star Wars contributors Tina (@Erdrick Storm), Steven (@SMcNeil_87) and Ron (@CardsNation247) as well as newcomer Brad (@StatsStlcards).  The gang discusses their expectations for the film, what they liked and disliked about it, how that certain cameo came across to them, and what the box office really means and why it is so disappointing.  Plus they talk a little about the future of Star Wars in the theater.  You might want to buckle up, baby!  This one's going to light speed.  (And our apologies for the noise in the middle that makes it sound like we really are taking off!)