Best Podcast in Baseball · St. Louis Post-Dispatch

7 things to watch during Cardinals' long home stand: No. 1 Yadier Molina's cameo at coach

·59 min·5 clips
Derrick Goold previews the Cardinals' final three-series homestand against the Rockies, Cubs, and Yankees.
This episode of Best Podcast in Baseball focuses on the St. Louis Cardinals' final three-series homestand of the season. Host and Post-Dispatch baseball writer Derek Gould is joined by sports columnist Jeff Gordon. They outline specific elements to monitor during this critical stretch of games. The homestand features series against the Colorado Rockies, the Chicago Cubs, and the New York Yankees. The panel discusses the recent return of franchise icon Yadier Molina to the Cardinals' dugout in a cameo role. They note this move was initiated by manager Oliver Marmol after prolonged discussion. Gordon describes Molina as an interesting case with managerial ambitions and a commitment to his family. He mentions Molina has been involved with an intriguing international pitching prospect. The conversation acknowledges the understandable desire for family time after Molina's long career as a catcher. One insight is the dual context of the upcoming opponents, with the Cubs fighting in the division and the Yankees seeking relevance. The hosts frame the entire homestand as a significant "doozy" for the team. Molina's situation is presented as balancing future professional goals with current personal priorities. His direct involvement with a specific player development case is highlighted as noteworthy. The episode quickly pivots from this news to analyzing the broader homestand outlook. The tone is conversational and insider-focused, driven by beat writers' immediate observations. The style is fast-paced, with Gordon noted for speaking quickly due to a busy media schedule. This episode would appeal to dedicated St. Louis Cardinals fans seeking timely, post-trade deadline analysis. Listeners unfamiliar with the team's current roster dynamics or the central NL Central race might find it less engaging.
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