BERNIE BITS
Good afternoon!
Good evening!
I was in the mood to get to the keyboard to manufacture some Bernie Bits for you today …
1. The St. Louis Blues are off to a good start at 4-2-0, and while it’s too early to put a hard focus on the state of the NHL standings, The Note’s .667 points percentage is tied for 10th best in the NHL. It was important for this evolving team to be quick out of the gate and develop confidence and cohesion. It’s also the best way for coach Drew Bannister to get a more complete understanding of individual players and the roles that best suit them.
2. Again, it’s early, but the Blues have reduced their average of goals allowed per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 play, at even strength, and at all strengths. This is important. And a lot of the credit goes to the Blues’ goaltending blockade put up by Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer. Through their first six games, the Blues rank seventh in the NHL with a .932 save percentage at even strength and are eighth with a .911 save rate in all strengths.
3. This is not a slap at Binnington, but Hofer has been the early-season star for the Blues. He has the NHL’s fifth–best save percentage (.947) among goaltenders that have clocked at least 100 minutes at 5-on-5. He’s also fifth in even-strength save percentage (.953) and eighth in all-strengths save rate at .932. Hofer also ranks fifth overall in Goals Saved Above Average during even-strength action. And Hofer gives the Blues the added advantage of puck-handling skill and passing accuracy. It can make a difference offensively. The Blues have scored 10 goals in Hofer’s three starts and seven goals in Binnington’s three starts.
4. Doug Armstrong’s clever, ambitious pickup of defenseman Philip Broberg in the offer-sheet attack on Edmonton is looking better by the game. (And we’re impressed with center Dylan Holloway, the second addition from Edmonton via Army’s offer-sheet mischief.) As STLtoday pointed out, Broberg is the first Blues defenseman in franchise history to record a point in his first six games with the team. But there’s more to it than that …
5. The Blues have outscored the opposition 6-1 (all strengths) with Broberg on the ice. That includes a 5-0 blanking of the other side when Broberg is deployed at 5-on-5, and the Blues have outscored their foes 6-0 when Broberg is on the ice at even strength. The goal differential for Broberg is tied for No. 1 in the NHL at both even strength and 5-on-5 scenarios.
6. Broberg has been superb in his defensive pairing with Justin Faulk. They’ve been a tandem for nearly 100 minutes (all strengths) so far, and the Blues have allowed just one goal in 96 minutes of ice time. The Faulk–Broberg duo has outscored opponents 2-0 at 5-on-5 and even-strength setups … and that margin is 2-1 at all-strengths. In limited trials, Broberg has done well playing alongside just about every other Blues defenseman – including Nick Leddy.
7. The 2024 World Series will have three former Cardinals in the competition. The Dodgers have utility defender Tommy Edman and starting pitcher Jack Flaherty, and Luke Weaver is the closer for the Yankees.
8. Over the last five postseasons, World Series rosters have included 12 Cardinals – six pitchers and six position players. I remember when the Cardinals had their own players — an entire team of them — in the World Series … 2004, 2006, 2011 and 2013. But not now. Not for a long time.
9. As for the 2020 through 2024 World Series, here are the six former-Cardinal position players: Tommy Edman, Randy Arozarena, Adolis Garcia, Aledmys Diaz, Tommy Pham and Edmundo Sosa. Marcell Ozuna played for the 2021 Braves, who won the World Series, but was suspended by Major League Baseball in May of that season following an arrest for domestic violence.
10. And here are the six former-Cardinal pitchers that have made it to the World Series over the last five seasons: Jack Flaherty, Jordan Montgomery Zac Gallen — plus relievers Weaver, Joe Kelly, and Chris Stratton.
11. Consider this: Tommy Edman had 11 RBIs in only 27 at-bats in the six-game triumph over the Mets in the NLCS. And in 72 career postseason at-bats for the Cardinals, Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado produced only five RBIs … all five knocked in by Goldy. But Goldschmidt and Arenado haven’t had an RBI in the three postseason games they’ve played as St. Louis teammates.
12. Consider this: Over the last five postseasons three former Cardinals have won an MVP award for their outstanding performance in a league championship series: Edman (NLCS) for the 2024 Dodgers, Adolis Garcia (ALCS) for the 2023 Rangers, and Randy Arozarena (ALCS) for the 2020 Rays.
13. The “Brady Cook Game” will be a fond memory for Mizzou fans, an uplifting tale to be mentioned repeatedly as program loyalists tell stories through the generations about the day Cook reappeared out of nowhere after leaving Saturday’s game against Auburn. Gimpy and barely able to walk upright because of a debilitating ankle injury, Cook disappeared for a good while, maybe two hours. And then, with Mizzou down 17-6 and sinking, Cook rushed back from the hospital – with a stop in the team’s facility for extra treatment that may or may not have included a syringe – and raced through the Mizzou tunnel in broad daylight to save the day. The only thing missing was the cape.
14. Cook slinged the football and pressed the button on his repaired speed to pass-and-run Missouri down the field on two long touchdown advances to pull out a 21-7 victory for MU. Put together, the two scoring drives covered 175 yards in all … and required only 4 minutes and 4 seconds of game clock. These two marches had desperation, drama, moments of doubt … and delirium. What a show. It will never be a Hollywood movie script. But Cook gave us a thrilling show … and a helluva movie.
15. The win elevated Ol’ Mizzou to a 6-1 record overall and 2-1 in the SEC. As much as I admire what Cook did for the Tiger faithful on Saturday – he saved homecoming, and saved MU’s season – his passing accuracy must improve for the offense to take flight. It’s been a struggle. Just a couple of stats for you …
Passing attempts of 10 yards or longer, which covers medium and deep throws:
– 2023: 72 for 136 for a 53% completion rate, 13.75 yards per attempt, 85.2 NFL-standard passer rating.
– 2024: 33 for 78 for a 42% completion rate, 9.25 yards per attempt, 111.6 NFL-standard passer rating.
– Last season against FBS teams, Cook had an on-target rate of 72.3 percent, and a catchable-ball rate of 83.4%
– This season against FBS teams, Cook has a 64.7 percent on-target mark, and a 78.4 catchable ball rate.
Mizzou’s remaining games: at Alabama, Oklahoma, at South Carolina, at Mississippi State, Arkansas. It will be difficult for MU to avoid a second loss, and there are hazards along the way that could lead to a third loss. The games at Alabama and South Carolina won’t be easy. Well, it isn’t supposed to be easy. Just ask Brady Cook and his extreme-swing Saturday afternoon against Auburn.
Thanks for reading …
–Bernie
A 2023 inductee into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, Bernie has provided informed opinions and perspective on St. Louis sports through his columns, radio shows and podcasts since 1985.
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Stats used in my baseball columns are sourced from FanGraphs, Baseball Reference, Statcast, StatHead, Baseball Savant, Baseball Prospectus, Brooks Baseball Net, and Sports Info Solutions unless otherwise noted.
