The Musial Funeral TV Ratings Are In!

The ratings are in...and according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Stan Musial's funeral wasn't a hit (get it?) for the local stations in St. Louis that opted to cover the event Saturday.

Wait, hold on. 

You mean to tell me that a televised funeral for a baseball player, albeit one that was universally loved, wasn't a ratings smash? 

I mean, regardless of how much St. Louis loved "The Man"...he hasn't played in the bigs since BEFORE President Kennedy was assassinated and, it's likely, that people living in the shadow of the Gateway Arch had better things to do on a Saturday, right?

Ugh.

In all seriousness, this is what kills me about the television sometimes.  You don't air something like Stan Musial's funeral to get ratings...you do it to sell advertising.

Correction. 

You do it because it just might be the right thing to do for your viewers.  It's called "viewer benefit" and my guess is that all of Cardinals Nation (or whatever they call themselves) had Musial on their minds.

Matter of fact, getting ratings "wasn’t (the) focus" for local stations KTVI and KPLR.  The news director for the FOX/CW duopoly pointed to wall-to-wall coverage being the main focus and, if you've been paying attention...that's pretty much been the marching orders for every station in St. Louis.

But, back to those numbers.

The Musial proceedings were shown live on five local television outlets...with a combined rating of 12.7.  What does that mean?  It means that 12.7 percent of the homes in the St. Louis DMA tuned in to watch the funeral as it happened.

In case you were wondering, KTVI was tops with a 6.0 rating.  Now, across the Mississippi River (and nearly the entire state of Illinois), Comcast SportsNet delivered its highest regular season ratings for a Chicago Blackhawks broadcast on Sunday night.

That rating?  6.31.

So, really, were the Musial numbers all that terrible for a Saturday afternoon?  And, really, does it matter?

Now, forget everything I just wrote so you can watch the great Bob Costas talk about a true legend.

Reliever (Sorta) Has Ties to Sitcom

When the St. Louis Cardinals agreed to terms with free agent Randy Choate earlier in the week...little did they know they were getting a reliever with ties to sitcom royalty.

Sort of.

I'm not really sure when the 37-year-old lefty's Wikipedia page was hacked (for lack of a better term), but the result is awesome.

It just goes to show you that you can't believe everything you read on the internet.  That said, I always enjoy the opportunity to go back and watch some classic "Seinfeld" clips.

***UPDATE*** 

Choate made an appearance on the “Bob and TJ Raines Show” on 1380AM in St. Louis Friday afternoon and, well, confirmed what we all knew was not true.

 

Randy Choate is NOT the son of fictional television character Mabel Choate and sadly...his Wikipedia Page has been updated.

 

 

You can hear the entire interview with the newly signed reliever over at StLSportsPage.com or if you want to hear just the "Seinfeld" related bits...visit our friends over at JoeSportsFan.com.

 

(h/t @mattsebek)

David Freese Unhurt After Car Crash

Thanksgiving night, word hit the Twittersphere that St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese slammed into a tree while attempting to avoid a deer.

According to police, Freese was on his way to his parents for the holiday and walked away unscathed.

Freese, 29, was south on Wildhorse Creek Road near Rieger Road in Wildwood when he crashed his 2011 black Range Rover into a tree to avoid a deer, said St. Louis County Police Officer Randy Vaughn. The crash occurred at 2:30 p.m.

Freese did not hit the deer, Vaughn said. Freese was already out of his SUV when police arrived. Freese refused medical treatment, and his SUV was towed from the crash scene.

Investigators say alcohol was not a factor in the crash and "no other investigations are underway."

But back to the Twitters. 

Even though it was ruled that alcohol was not a factor...people were super skeptical that the 2011 World Series hero had been drinking.

You see, Freese has quite the history...this from his Wikipedia page.

In December 2009, Freese was arrested for driving under the influence in Maryland Heights, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis.  Freese blew a .232, which is nearly three times the state's legal limit of .08. It was the second such arrest for Freese, who was also arrested in November 2002 in Maryland Heights for driving while intoxicated.  The 2009 arrest was a violation of Freese's probation, due to a September 2007 arrest for resisting arrest (amongst other charges) in Lake Elsinore, California

.
So, naturally, you can see how/why people were skeptical when they heard Freese wrecked his rig, but if the cops aren't investigating dude...we shouldn't either.

Oh, no word on the condition of the deer.  My sense is that he made it to his Thanksgiving dinner with time to spare.

(h/t @Mattylight777)

Legendary Cardinals Organist Passes Away

According to our good friends over at Obit of the Day, longtime St. Louis Cardinals organist Ernie Hays passed away on Thursday.

For 40 seasons, beginning in 1971 and ending in 2010, fans of the team would listen to the marvelous organ playing of Hays. Hays, who left the team after a change to recorded and non-traditional music, was 77.

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Ernie Hays," club chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said. "Ernie’s music shaped the soundtrack of Cardinals baseball for nearly four decades. He was one of the premier sports organists in the country, and a valued member of the Cardinals family. The entire Cardinals organization extends its sincere condolences to his wife, Loreta, and his entire family."

Hays was probably the only sports organist with a degree in electrical engineering. He was certainly the only one to help calibrate test components for the Gemini space missions.

The longtime organist also played for St. Louis University, the St. Louis Spirits (ABA), the St. Louis Blues (NHL), and the NFL’s St. Louis Cardinals (now in Phoenix). He is best known for his rendition of the Budweiser jingle, “Here Comes the King,” which he would play during the seventh inning stretch at Cardinals games.

For decades the Cardinals were owned by the Busch family, who also brewed Budweiser beer. However Hays first played the song at an indoor soccer game.

St. Louis Mayor Takes Issue with Fans

For some reason, St. Louis Cardinals fans are known as being the best in the world.  I'm not sure how the voting shook out, but if @BestFansStLouis is any indication...there needs to be a re-count.

By now, you've seen what the Twitter account is all about, right? 

Basically, as Deadspin put it, "one brave soul is keeping tabs on the temporary insanity for us and retweeting all the troubled Cardinals fans"...and it is glorious.  I learned more than I could've ever imagined about the city of San Francisco and its inhabitants during the NLCS.

Enter St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay.

That's right, the Mayor of St. Louis has gotten involved.  Kinda.  Slay didn't tell the "fans" to stop with the hate speech...he, well, basically said "that's not how Cardinal Nation thinks" even though, apparently, some of it does.

Come on, man, flex your internet muscles and take these tweeters to task like WREG in Memphis did.

Wait, hold on...did that story really include a soundbite from a guy who actually defends the actions of the St. Louis fans by saying "Come on. They’re from San Francisco. What are we supposed to say?" 

And, did it, basically, report that they, the station, is upset because Giants pitcher Matt Cain went to high school in, gasp, nearby Germantown, Tennessee? 

Wow.  Nevermind.

Tweet what you want, Cardinals fans, apparently no one is going to tell you to shut up...you're the best in the world.

David Freese and Erin Andrews an Item?

Alright interwebs...it's time to fire up the rumor mill.  Apparently there's a power couple coupling up during the playoffs right under our noses.

And, no, I'm not talking about Justin Verlander and Kate Upton.  That's old news.  Heck, you can't even search for the Detroit Tigers ace on Google without being inundated with pictures of the two.

Remember last year, when whispers about David Freese, the then-newly minted World Series MVP and Erin Andrews were swirling because they appeared together at the Country Music Awards in Nashville?

They're back.

According to Terez Owens, the St. Louis Cardinals third baseman and FOX Sports reporter have been enjoying one another's company this postseason.

Of course, if the two are indeed an item...that might explain why she's stationed in the San Francisco Giants dugout and not across the diamond.

Sergio Romo agrees.

Sitcom Star in Altercation at Dodgers Game

Typically, it's rappers and musicians that get in fights to drum up interest for their upcoming projects, but, on Saturday, it was "Modern Family" star Eric Stonestreet getting into the act.

Well, not really.  Probably.

According to The Thirty Mile Zone, Stonestreet got into a verbal altercation (video HERE) with a rival fan while the two took in a Los Angeles Dodgers-St. Louis Cardinals fan.

The video doesn't really show what was said, but, I can't help but wonder if the Emmy-winning actor might not have been simply discussing the cultural divide between his native Kansas City and his I-70 neighbor from Missouri.

Subsequently, both fans were asked to leave, or, as Stonestreet tweeted, they were simply escorted to the top of the stairs by security.

No word as to whether or not Stonestreet was back in his seat (or any seat for that matter) to see the Dodgers thrilling comeback in the ninth inning.

Wanted: Scrappy Baseball Players

Not long after the St. Louis Cardinals sent Tyler Greene to the Houston Astros, this ad popped up on Craigslist.

The St. Louis Cardinals are currently looking for a man to fill their 25th roster spot.

Some baseball abilities are required, including pinch-running, sliding headfirst, getting your uniform dirty and pandering the local fan base with boilerplate cliches such as "these are the best fans in baseball" and "this is where everyone wants to play". Failure to comply with the aforementioned requirements may lead to immediate termination.

Applicants must be willing to get spot-starts on Sundays after the Cardinals have won the first two of a series and/or pitch a mop-up inning during games where the opposing team is winning by more than 10-runs.

What...no mention of the applicant being "scrappy"?  The ghost of David Eckstein does not approve.

***Tip o' the cap to @JoeSportsFan for the Craigslist link.***

Carlos Beltran Reaches Elite Milestone

During the St. Louis Cardinals’ loss to the Kansas City Royals Friday night, Carlos Beltran pulled off what no other switch hitter ever has.

But, really, the milestone has little to do with his bat.

With a stolen base in the second inning (his seventh of the season), the outfielder became the first switch hitter in Major League history to accumulate 300 steals and 300 home runs.  And, overall, he became just the the eighth player overall to achieve the feat.

Incredibly, there are only nine switch hitters who have 300 career home runs (Beltran has 321), and of those nine, only Mickey Mantle had any sort of history on the base paths.

He finished his career with 153 career steals.

Dave Henderson Talks Steroids, Mark McGwire

Oh, steroids...it's funny how we still talk about you.

A couple of weeks ago, Jack Clark blasted Tony LaRussa, saying he was "responsible for a lot of the cheating that went on".  Meaning, in a nutshell, the former skipper knew about the rampant steroid use in his clubhouse.

Sour grapes from a former member of the St. Louis Cardinals who was, in his estimation, not allowed to hang out with the club when LaRussa was in charge?  Maybe.

But where there's smoke, there's, well...more validity.

Enter Dave Henderson who played for the LaRussa-led Oakland A's from 1988 to 1993.  The former outfielder recently told the San Jose Mercury News that he, too, knew of steroid use while with the A's.

"I think it was pretty obvious that when a guy gains 40 or 50 pounds of muscle, he is on steroids," the 1991 All-Star said.  "Throughout my career that guys started hitting the ball 20-30 feet farther. It wasn't fair but I couldn't do anything about it."

Henderson also went on to call out former teammates Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco and anyone else who used steroids.

"I think it's pretty simple..none of them get in,'' Henderson said. "If you cheated, you are not a Hall of Famer."

Why anyone would randomly ask Dave Henderson about someone's Hall of Fame credentials is beyond me, but , I suppose, there are only so many times you can talk to dude about the 1986 playoffs, right?

Former Cards Slugger Critical of "LaRussa's Regime"

Former St. Louis Cardinals slugger Jack Clark is nothing if not outspoken.

In the past couple of years, "Jack the Ripper" was ousted from his gig with Fox Sports Midwest for, alledgedly, calling his former team quitters.  Not long after, he publicly blasted steroid users, calling them "creeps"...saying they have no place in baseball.

So, when Clark joined the boys over at Joe Sports Fan for their weekly podcast, it should come as no surprise that he ripped (see what I did there?) the "LaRussa Regime".

In a nutshell, Clark (who now works with KTRS in St. Louis) is critical of LaRussa for not allowing any of the 80s Cardinals players to associate with his squad, firing longtime team personnel and hiding steroid use by bringing in his own medical staff.

Tony was responsible for a lot of the cheating that went on.  And, as a result, he hid it with his own medical people.

I've gotta hand it to Matt Sebek and Josh Bacott for getting "the Ripper" to open up.  Sure, Clark is never really shy, at out call one of the game's greatest managers a liar.

Ouch.

Click below to be taken away to a land of wonderfulness!  The juiciest stuff starts at the 33:30 mark. 

The St. Louis Streaker is on Twitter

By now you've seen video of the flapping ding dong that raced across Busch Stadium Thursday night.

Unless, of course, you got your news from KSDK who, for some reason...added cargo shorts to the St. Louis Streaker. 

***UPDATE: According to Punching Kitty, the photos weren't Photoshopped, dude was given shorts. The videos don’t show that however.***

But here's my favorite part of the whole ordeal, the streaker (real name...Collin Grundstrom) is on Twitter.

Okay, okay...that's probably not really the guy's account, but this one is. 

Oh, and Grundstrom's last, and probably the most prophetic thing he's ever written.

Just deactivated my facebook

Probably a good idea.

Something tells me that when this thing is all said and done...Grundstrom won't get the same love that scrappy squirrel did last season.

Hakuna matata, bruh.

Cardinals Retire Tony LaRussa's Number

Well...that didn't take long.

A little more than six months after Tony LaRussa led the St. Louis Cardinals to their eleventh World Series title, the team retired his number.

''It's not something you think about, or expect,'' the team's longtime skipper said.

LaRussa took to the podium at Busch Stadium wearing all three of his championship rings...the two he won with the Cardinals and the one he brought home while with the Oakland A's.

Joining the 67-year-old for the celebration were more than a dozen of LaRussa's former players, coaches and front office peers.

''Tony made a name for himself,'' Dennis Eckersley said. ''He deserves this honor and he's going to go to the Hall of Fame, so I'm going to have to do this over and over again.''

LaRussa managed for 33 seasons overall and is third on the career list with 2728 wins...trailing second-place John McGraw by just 35 victories. The future Hall of Famer is the 12th former Cardinal to have his number retired by the team.

"Minor League Guy" Makes an Impression

Oscar Taveras might just be the most popular "Minor League Guy" left in Spring Training...and he's got a Major League gaffe (see below) to thank.

You see, during Saturday's St. Louis Cardinals game against the New York Mets, the CG Operator for Fox Sports Midwest falied to update the lower third graphic when Taveras entered as a pinch runner.

Ooops.

But Taveras is more than just a "Minor League Guy".  I mean, sure, he's a Minor Leaguer, but dude is ranked as one of the top prospects in the Cardinals organization.

This past season, while playing A-ball, Tavares hit .386/.444/.584 in 78 games for the Quad Cities River Bandits.

Pitcher's Daughter Still in the Mix on "Idol"

In a shocking twist..."American Idol" cut people who already thought they were safe!

Apparently.  I don't really know to be honest.

What I do know is this...former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Joe Magrane's daughter Shannon is safe and on to whatever the next round is.

Remember last month during the auditions when judge, Aerosmith frntoman Steven Tyler told the lefty that his daughter Shannon was "hot, humid and happening"?  Well, more disturbing might be how she's described over at Idol's homepage.

She's a teen with a size 11 shoe! Meet Shannon Magrane, who has a funny story about her baseball playing father.

Really?  That's the best way to describe the 16-year-old wannabe singing sensation?

And in case you were wondering, no, this isn't the first time the spawn of a former Major Leaguer has made it on to the show. Heck, it isn't even the first time a family member from one of the 1987 National League Champion Cardinals has made the show.

During Season Four, Niko Smith, son of Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith, made the cut and sang his way to ninth place and a recording deal.

Restaurant Ditches Pujols Name...Keeps Statue

Remember a few months ago when it looked like Albert Pujols staying in St. Louis was promising because the Pujols 5 Westport Grill erected a 10-foot tall bronze statue of the slugger?

Well, the statue stayed...even though the three-time National League MVP did not.

And now, it looks as though restaurant owner Patrick Hanon is abandoning Pujols, who signed a gigantic contract with the Los Angeles Angels back in December.

Business at Pujols 5 has slowed since Pujols signed with the Angels, and Dan Lozano, Pujols' agent, said "it didn't make sense" for Hanon to continue his relationship with the slugger.

The restaurant will retain its sports theme, but all Pujols-related items have been removed from the menu. According to a radio report in St. Louis, the new name of the restaurant will be the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame grill.

So let me get this straight.  The restaurant is removing all traces of Pujols inside their digs but keeping the half ton statue outside of it?

They might want to remind their webmaster.

Former Pitcher's Daughter Wows American Idol

Oh, "American Idol"...thank you for bringing a familar face back to my television.

No, I'm not talking about Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler, J. Lo or Ryan Seacrest...I'm talking about former big leaguer and MLB Network analyst Joe Magrane!

In case you missed it, the one-time St. Louis Cardinals hurler was on hand at the Savannah auditions when his daughter, 15 year-old Shannon, belted out an Etta James tune.  But it was the exchange between the elder Magrane and Aerosmith frontman Tyler that left a bigger impression.

"How's Beantown," the lefty pitcher asked.

Tyler's response?  "Hot, humid and happening...just like your daughter."

Yes...his fifteen-year-old daughter.

And, no, this isn't the first time the spawn of a former Major Leaguer has made it on to the show.  Heck, it isn't even the first time a family member from one of the 1987 National League Champion Cardinals has made the show.

During Season Four, Niko Smith, son of Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith, made the cut and sang his way to ninth place and a recording deal.

But back to the younger Magrane.  Shannon got her ticket and is "off to Hollywood!"...but it won't be her first time performing in front of a crowd.

This past May, she sang the National Anthem before a Tampa Bay Rays game.

Stan Musial is Stumping for a Pujols Return

Add Stan Musial to the long list of Cardinals fans who are hoping slugger Albert Pujols returns St. Louis.

On Thursday, the Hall of Famer took to Twitter (yes, "Stan The Man" is on Twitter...kinda) and posted his support for the three-time MVP.

Your move, Pujols.

Ryno to the Cardinals? "It's a Possibility"

Almost as exciting as the eventual hot stove action is the talk of what skipper is going to end up where.

The St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs all have managerial vacancies and, depending on which way the tide is flowing...each have a frontrunner to take the top job.

While, the Red Sox and Cubs seem to have some of the candidates in the mind...the World Champion Cardinals is looking at a former rival to help lead them back to the postseason.

And according to, well, everyone, Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg might have the inside track.

This from the Chicago Sun-Times:

Sandberg, 52, was contacted almost immediately by the Cardinals after manager Tony La Russa announced his retirement Monday. The Cardinals sought permission to interview him and were granted it by the Philadelphia Phillies, who hired Sandberg to manage their Class AAA team last fall after former Cubs general manager Jim Hendry let him go.

“I’ll be interviewing with the Cardinals,” Sandberg said Wednesday. “It’s on the calendar in the near future, so that’s the next thing for me. As of right now, that’s been the only call.”

So, on this, the 10,000 "day-versary" (props to Chris Jaffe of The Hardball Times) of "The Sandberg Game" (look it up, people), it's fitting that the Thirty Mile Zone caught up with "Ryno" in Malibu.

Enjoy.