2022 Year End Review: Alex Ferrario
As we come to the end of 2022, we here at Claibs Online want to take a look back at the year and recap some of our favorite, and not so favorite memories from the past 365 days. Over the next several days, you’ll get to read the thoughts from many of our Claibs Online contributors
Alex Ferrario
Best Sports Memory of 2022
For me, and I know I'm full of Blues here, but it was Kyrou's Winter Classic game. I'm not sure we've had a young player who has gotten as excited as what Kyrou did last season. He went only 9 streaks of not scoring a point in back-to-back games & only once went 3 straight without a point. Showcased being the fastest skate but the Winter Classic where he scored 2 goals and 4 points on the big stage. It's the first time since TJ Oshie that the I've been glued to one player on the ice, wondering what he was going to do next
Worst Sports Memory of 2022
This one is simple. Game 3 of the 2nd round between St. Louis and Colorado. That was as much of a heartbreaker as I can remember when Kadri took out Jordan Binnington. You knew a response was coming after Barbashev laid the massive hit on Samuel Girard and injured him for the rest of the playoffs. The problem was you didn't know who. Enter Kadri and Binngington. That moment you felt the air sucked out of Enterprise Center because every fan knew what it meant. The series just took a turn for the worse. I will die on the hill if Binnington doesn't get injured in that game, Blues beat Colorado in 6 games and make another Stanley Cup Final (because we all know the Blues wouldn't struggle against Mike Smith lol).
Most Influential Sportsperson of 2022
I think this has to be Albert Pujols for what he accomplished this season. Taking the St. Louis side of it out of the conversation, his year was as influential to any sports fan that you can ask for. A player who went from the best player in the game to a player that people asked, "what happened to him". He revived his career a bit with the Dodgers in 2021 but it just wasn't the same. He then comes to St. Louis and starts off slow in the chase for 700 but from the HR Derby on, he showed everyone to never give up on what you love to do and you can always go home.
Stone Cold Lock- Prediction for 2023
Although it looks bleak for how they're playing this season, my stone cold lock is that the Blues will have a successful offseason and quick turnaround back into a contender in 2023. I know there are many who look at this team as a lost cause with all the large contracts and aging players but I think it needs a bit of a tweak and Doug is a magician in that area. One hockey trade (let's not forget the Lehtera for Schenn trade) and a chance to draft a young talented player could be the secret sauce.
Bold Prediction for 2023
Is it outlandish to go bold with the Cards having a top 5 rotation this season? I can understand the amount of analysts who believe they are missing an ace but I'm bullish on Flaherty having a healthy season. Even if he doesn't, I think the Cards have the depth that pushes them towards the top with pitching with Mikolas' ability to be a #2 and Montgomery's flashes of excellence last season. I think, barring health, the Cards will be viewed as a dominant force when it comes to their rotation.
