I was lucky enough to attend blogger day again this year for the second time. Both events were really amazing and featured Q&A with John Mozeliak. He was asked about media transparency and he said I don’t know how much more clear we can be. If you want to ask a question, there are media events or even phone calls. He said the most misunderstood aspect of his job is how he interacts with 4 different departments. International signings being one of them. He’s a busy guy.
When asked about his biggest regret during his Cardinals tenure, it was the Ozuna trade. There were surprisingly few questions about prospects and the minor leagues, but there was one moment where Mozeliak gushed about Rainiel Rodriguez. There was no talk about Wetherholt, Mathews, or anyone but RR. As far as I can remember anyway.
Most of the questions were about the 30 year legacy of his Cardinals org tenure. He talked of tutoring from Jocketty on the business side, and of his experience with the Cardinals system earlier. He stressed being a fan of the game himself, and how much he loved his job.
I have always been impressed by how the Cardinals have taken care of the bloggers and podcasters at these events. I have only been to two of them but they were both really fun. This time the Cardinals won 2-1 because the Dodgers removed their left fielder. It really could not have been a more peculiar ending to a pitcher’s duel. Well, ok, it could have been weirder, I guess. But it sure felt random at the time. I was just glad it didn’t go into extras, because I ate enough at the buffet including pulled chicken nachos, bbq beef brisket, bratwurst with sauerkraut, and hot dogs plus dessert… to go into a food coma. And there was free beer a-plenty.
With this year’s team I am just as big a fan as ever, and I would like to share some photos I got of this game, player’s batting stances mostly.
Player Profiles
- Nolan Arenado April 16, 1991
Most hits in a game: 5 vs San Diego July 19, 2017
Also scored 4 runs vs San Diego on July 19, 2017
He’s hit 3 doubles in a game on 4 separate occasions
He hit 3 home runs vs San Diego on that fated July 19th night of 2017
He has had not one but two 7 RBI games in his career (guess which was one of the two games, yes 7.19.17)
He holds the Rockies hitting streak record of 28 games April 9 to May 8, 2014
He has hit 6 grand slams, the last of which was August 21, 2024 vs Milwaukee
Arenado has hit for the cycle two times in his career, once as a Cardinal in 2022 at Philadelphia, becoming the 17th player in Cardinals history to hit for the cycle: triple in the 1st, home run in the 3rd, double in the 6th, and a single in the 8th
6 platinum gloves, 10 gold gloves, 9 time Baseball America Best Defensive NL Third Baseman, 3 time Wilson Defensive Player of the Year, 5 Fielding Bible Awards
Has led the Major Leagues in some defensive stat at third base every season 2013 to 2024 except 2023
5 time All-Star
Among the top 4 players in bWAR since 2014: Mookie Betts, Mike Trout, Nolan Arenado, Palu Goldschmidt
Since 2014 Nolan Arenado leads MLB in extra base hits, total bases, RBI, go-ahead RBI, game winning RBI, home runs, and fly balls
Among MLB leaders in the first inning since 1974, Arenado ranks second in all time slugging percentage behind Mark McGwire (and second to McGwire and Bonds in OPS)
Owns two of the top four single season marks for extra-base hits for a third baseman!
Became the 5th player in MLB history to complete the cycle with a walkoff home run on Father’s Day 2017
Chipper Jones, Jose Ramirez, and Nolan Arenado are the only third basemen in history to log 4 seasons of 75 or more extra base hits
2017 Gold Medal winner for Team USA in World Baseball Classic, Silver Medal winner in 2023
Won the Gold Glove in his first 10 consecutive seasons of MLB play
Topps All Star Rookie Team for 3rd base in 2013
The only third baseman in MLB history to produce 3 seasons of 35+ home runs, 130+ RBI, and 80+ extra base hits
100 of his 106 Cardinals home runs have been pulled (dated stat)
Was a part of National Bullying Prevention Month in 2018
Grew up in LA as a Dodgers fan
- Alec Burleson November 25, 1998
Hits a staggering majority of his home runs against right handed pitching
Ranks among the best in putting pitches in play and not striking out
He hits offspeed pitches really really well
June 2-4 him and Gorman both hit home runs in this three game span to become the first pair of teammates ever to accomplish such a back to back to back feat
His first career MLB home run was vs position player Hanser Alberto at Dodger Stadium in September of 2022
Fastest member of Cardinals 2020 draft class to reach the Major Leagues in fewer than two full minor league seasons
Burly was the compensation pick for Ozuna signing with Atlanta
Struck out only 8 times in his last three years of high school
Burleson used to be a two way player and has a 3.47 ERA in college
Lives in North Carolina
- Willson Contreras May 13, 1992
Three time All-Star
Tied with Yadier Molina in catching shutout games: 51 games between 2016 and 2024, they are behind only JT Realmuto who caught 61 shoutout games during that timespan
Willson outdid end of career Yadi at picking off players at first base, with 29 since 2016… no one else even came close
14 game hitting streak in April last year
He hit a 115.3 mph single last year
Career .809 OPS hitter, 121 wRC+, .200 ISO
From Venezuela
Special Olympics Global Ambassador
I will return with many more player profiles in the coming weeks! Thanks for reading.