Gateway to Baseball Heaven: A St. Louis Cardinals Podcast

GTBH 1/28/18: In Which We Figure Out Technology

Every week, two of the Best Fans in Baseball (TM) bring you all the news and analysis you need about the St. Louis Cardinals.  After a technical malfunction ate last week's show, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Tara (Bird Seeds, @tarawellman) are back to hit some of those high points yet again, discussing the trade that sent Randal Grichuk to the frozen north while bringing a couple of flamethrowers back.  They also chat about the state of the NL Central now that the Brewers have acquired two new outfielders and how interesting it is to have the best left fielder in the game, per MLB Network.  All that and more on this week's show!

GTBH 1/14/18: The Mane Event

Every week, two of the Best Fans in Baseball (TM) bring you all the news and analysis you need about the St. Louis Cardinals.  It's Winter Warm-Up Weekend in St. Louis when the players hit town, everyone talks to the media, and we get a little real baseball to pour over.  The biggest news from the weekend was the fact that the bullpen seems to be more constructed than everyone thought, with Luke Gregerson being named the current closer.  Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Tara (Bird Seeds, @tarawellman) voice their disappointment in the missed opportunities of this offseason.  While the Marcell Ozuna trade was big, there are still a lot of questions for this team, questions that might have gotten some different answers with a more active winter.

Then they spend 20 minutes on John Gant's hair.  Because, really, have you seen it?

GTBH 12/10/17: Doors Closing, Windows Opening

Every week, two of the Best Fans in Baseball (TM) bring you all the news and information you need about the St. Louis Cardinals.  It's been a newsworthy week for the Redbirds, even though it wasn't always what the team was hoping for.  Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Tara (Bird Seeds, @tarawellman) talk about the end of the Giancarlo Stanton pursuit and how much credit the front office should take for making the attempt.  They also talk about the new pitchers on the staff, Luke Gregerson and Miles Mikolas, as well as trying to decide just what might happen this week at the winter meetings.  It's (probably) your last Gateway for 2017, so plug in and give it a listen!  Then go rate and review us instead of sending us a Christmas gift!

GTBH 12/3/17: All Stanton, All The Time

Every week, two of the Best Fans in Baseball (TM) bring you all the news and analysis you need about the St. Louis Cardinals.  That title is not entirely true, because the Cardinals did do a little more than just continue to circle the Stanton saga.  Aledmys Diaz is no longer a Redbird, getting shipped over the border right at the non-tender deadline.  Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Tara (Bird Seeds, @tarawellman) discuss why he got moved and what it might mean for Diaz.  Then the two get into the Giancarlo Stanton drama and all the twists and turns that go along with it.  How frustrating is it that St. Louis might make the best deal and have the best situation and still not get their guy?  What happens if the deal doesn't happen--what is plan B and will it make anyone happy?  Listen in and find out!

GTBH 11/12/17: Goofy About Giancarlo

Every week, two of the Best Fans in Baseball (TM) bring you all the news and analysis you need about the St. Louis Cardinals.  This week there wasn't just a ton to talk about as the Cardinals still haven't really kicked into any sort of offseason activity (save coaches and cut players--best to ya, Rosie).  That meant Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Tara (Bird Seeds, @tarawellman) were left to their own devices, which is not always a good thing.  Plenty of talk about Giancarlo Stanton and what missing out on him or a pivot to run prevention would mean.  However, it's not exactly the sharp, focused show you might be used to.  Pardon a bit of silliness but these things happen in the winter!

GTBH 11/5/17: Departures and (Potential) Arrivals

Every week, two of the Best Fans in Baseball (TM) bring you all the news and analysis you need about the St. Louis Cardinals.  The Houston Astros are World Champions, reliving us from having to continue to call the Cubs that.  Tara (Bird Seeds, @tarawellman) talks about her time covering some of those Astros as they were taking their first steps in the minor leagues.  Moving on from there, she and Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) talk about the extension of a qualifying offer to Lance Lynn and its rejection, the likely non-tendering of Trevor Rosenthal, and the rumors surrounding Giancarlo Stanton.  It's a lot of stuff so we made it an extra-long show just for your baseball withdrawal!

GTBH 10/29/17: Back Into the Mess

Every week two of the Best Fans in Baseball (TM) bring you all the news and analysis you need about the St. Louis Cardinals.  Well, "every week" is a bit of a stretch in the offseason, as real life and the lack of regular news sometimes interferes with regular recordings.  However, Tara Wellman (Bird Seeds, @tarawellman) is back and raring to join Daniel Shoptaw (C70 At The Bat, @C70) to talk about all the changes to the Cardinals' coaching staff.  What exactly did they promise Jose Oquendo to get him to return?  What does Willie McGee bring to the club?  What should we expect from Mike Maddux?  And how do all of these changes impact the future of Mike Matheny?  All that and a little postseason baseball talk as well!

GTBH 10/1/17: Those Three Words

Every week, two of the Best Fans in Baseball (TM) bring you all the news and analysis you need about the St. Louis Cardinals.  Time has run out on the Cards and the 2017 season will end with them heading home for the winter.  Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Tara (Bird Seeds, @tarawellman) talk about what it was like to have meaningless baseball this weekend, what Adam Wainwright's surgery and Matt Carpenter's lack thereof mean for the 2018 squad, and Tara breaks down the responses she got on Twitter when she asked how folks would sum up this season in three words or less.  Just wait until you hear her response!

GTBH 9/24/17: Danging Hope Before Tearing It Away

Every week, two of the Best Fans in Baseball (TM) bring you all the news and analysis you need about the St. Louis Cardinals.  After a run through Cincinnati and a comeback win against the Pirates, the Cards looked on the brink of adding another chapter to their incredible history by surviving a sweep by the Cubs and still getting into October.  Two losses against Pittsburgh took care of much of that and while the thread is still there, there are strong odds no playoff baseball will be in the cards, pun intended.  Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Tara (Bird Seeds, @tarawellman) talk about the frustration that was this series, including Seung-hwan Oh coming into a crucial situation and the fact that John Gant was starting a game in a playoff race in the first place.

Beyond that, the two discuss the recent Q&A that team owner Bill DeWitt had with Derrick Goold and what to make of Adam Wainwright's outing against Pittsburgh.  What does that mean for the 2018 rotation?  All that and much, much more!

GTBH 9/17/17: Swept Out of Chicago

Every week, two of the Best Fans in Baseball (TM) bring you all the news and analysis you need about the St. Louis Cardinals.  After some hopeful outings, Daniel (C70 At The Bat, @C70) and Tara (Bird Seeds, @tarawellman) come crashing down to earth with the rest of the Redbirds after the Cubs won all three over the weekend, pushing the Cards to six games out of the division and 4.5 behind the wild card leading Rockies.  June Daniel and Tara would not be surprised that winter was coming so quickly, but hope had returned with some recent good play.  Now the questioning and second-guessing really kick in.  Where would they be if they played the Cubs better?  Does this recent surge save Mike Matheny's job or does this weekend jeopardize it?  What is there really to look forward to over the next couple of weeks?  Your intrepid (not to be confused with The Intrepid STL, which has its own podcasts) bloggers are here to commiserate, if not solve the problems!