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Opening Day: 5 things I am looking most forward to
WE HAVE MADE IT! It is officially here, Opening Day 2023. The pregame party at Ballpark Village, the gates opening with giveaways, and the bright spring day shining down onto the fresh green grass of Busch Stadium. It doesn't get better than this. With the excitement of baseball being back in St. Louis, let's talk about the 5 things I am most excited about!
Nolan Gorman
Everyone is BEYOND excited to see the debut of Jordan Walker, as you should be. I have the blessing of watching these prospects in Springfield every summer, and Walker is the real deal. Enjoy him, Cardinals fans. But I am very intrigued with Nolan Gorman and what he will do this season. He is arguably the MVP of the 2023 Grapefruit League champs, with a slash line of .288/.379/.538 with 4 HR, 13 RBI, and 28 TB in 59 PA. That folks is exciting. He also mashes baseballs and we haven't had that from the left side since……..Matt Adams? Jim Edmonds? Gorman is about to remind us why he was once a top prospect like Jordan Walker
Opportunity for Jake Woodford
With all the speculation about starting pitching and what the team will do by the trade deadline, I am excited to see Jake Woodford turn people's heads. He looked great out of the bullpen last season and he dominated this spring. He quietly has risen his way to the starting rotation and I would not be surprised if he rises to a regular starting position in the rotation. Let's see if he forces the team to not trade for starting pitching
Schedule Realignment
This news made me very excited when it was announced. Rob Manfred announced after the CBA agreement that interleague play will be utilized more going forward. Prior, the schedules were dominated by inner-division play and close rivals. Now it is open to any market. This will explain why you are watching the Cardinals play the Toronto Blue Jays this weekend. So what is so significant about this? The greatest fans in baseball will now have the chance to witness greatness that you have not before. Mike Trout has played one series in St Louis in his 11-year career. Now you get to see him as soon as May of 2023. How awesome is that!?
The Roster Depth
From 2018 to 2022, we have witnessed competitive starting lineups each season with a trend going upward for the quality of players and team wins. One thing that always slacked has been the depth of the rosters. The bench players used have not been great at all. For example, we have seen (I am sorry): Justin Williams on opening day, Corey Dickerson used during injury spells, Ben Deluizo, Max Moroff, Jose Rondon, Austin Dean, and the list can go on. These players will make Cardinals fans’ eyes roll in frustration with challenging the competitive mindset of this organization. But now………..we have insane depth. Alec Burleson, Dylan Carlson, Jordan Walker, Nolan Gorman, and a resurgence from Taylor Motter. This team is exciting if you only look at the backups!
Uncle Charlie’s Closing
How can this not be the finale of my post? Adam Wainwright has meant more to the city of St Louis than most players who have had the chance to play here. Not only is he one of the most dominant pitchers in Cardinals' history. He is also one of the best humans who has ever represented this city. Get yourself a Budweiser, grab a buddy, grab a couple of seats at Busch Stadium, and enjoy every start this man makes during the 2023 season. It has been a ride, and we all should be thankful for being a part of it.