Good morning.

1. Blues chairman Dave Checketts was a guest on my 101 ESPN radio show and again expressed support for Blues coach Andy Murray, who is under fire from some fans and media. “Andy hasn’t changed the way he’s coaching and he hasn’t suddenly lost his touch. It’s early in the season. He’s an outstanding coach. He’s a very intense guy. He’s a very good teacher. He expects a lot of from his players. He’s a very disciplined coach who runs terrific practices. When (team president) John Davidson came to us and said, ‘Let’s pick up his (contract) option,’ we were very supportive of that. And we remain supportive today. I think he’s very good at what he does.”

Translation: Murray will be given plenty of time to turn things around. But it will be good for the coach if the turnaround begins sooner, than later. The Blues have three games remaining on six-game run at home, playing Phoenix on Thursday night, the NY Islanders on Saturday night, and Boston on Monday night at Scottrade.

“I don’t want to have to go on some miracle run to get into the playoffs,” Checketts said. “They did it last year and I admire them for that, but this is a club good enough to be there all year.”

2. As for his attempt to purchase the Rams, Checketts couldn’t go into specifics but said a couple of things. He expressed confidence in his ability to land the team. “I’m bullish on our pursuits and I think we have a great chance,” Checketts said.

Checketts explained why he wants the Rams. “My real concern is to make sure this club stays in St. Louis because I don’t think any city in North America has done more to get a team than St. Louis did to get the Rams. They belong there and I hope they stay there,” he said.  

3. The best sports book I’ve read in recent months is “The Machine” by my friend Joe Posnanski. It’s a fun, engaging and fascinating look at one of baseball’s all-time great teams, the 1975 Cincinnati Reds. In 1975 I was 16, and living in American League territory, and being young and dumb I failed to appreciate just how great the ‘75 Reds were. I didn’t realize at the time that 2B Joe Morgan was having a season for the ages, or that the ‘75 Reds were stocked with so many colorful, diverse and obnoxious (in a charming way) personalities. I hadn’t realized that Sparky Anderson — and not Tony La Russa a decade later — dramatically changed the way managers utilize their bullpens. People like to blame TLR for being first to go bullpen crazy, but actually it was one of his mentors, Sparky, who initiated the hyperactive use of relief pitchers. Posnanski’s “The Machine” is great read. It would make a nice  Christmas present for the baseball fan in your life.  

4. If Tim Lincecum doesn’t win the NL Cy Young award today, some of my friends in the sabermetric community will surely howl. Lincecum grades out very well in the metric ratings, so I understand why there’s a case to be made for the Giants’ righthander. But a couple of things about Lincecum gave me pause — especially the fluctuations in his performance lines.

Let’s take a quick look:

* Lincecum was 10-2, 1.88 ERA at home … but 5-5, 3.21 on the road. After the All-Star break, Lincecum was 1-4 on the road with a 5.00 ERA. I don’t think that’s something that can be dismissed.

* Lincecum was 12-3, 2.04 in night games … but 3-4, 3.42 in day games.

* Lincecum was 10-2 before the All-Star break … but 5-5 after the break. That said, I don’t attach much significance to those records simply because his ERA in each half was very good.

* Lincecum went only 6-3 with a 2.81 ERA against the NL West. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but the games in the division had an added importance to the Giants. 

* Lincecum was 1-3 with a 3.60 ERA in September, with the Giants battling (and falling short) for a playoff spot.

Lincecum is a great pitcher. I don’t criticize anyone who voted him first. But the guy I voted 1st, Chris Carpenter, didn’t have these fluctuations. He was money whether it was home or road, day or night, etc.

By the way, here’s a view from San Francisco by baseball writer Henry Schulman

5. Very nice win for St. Louis U. and coach Rick Majerus, taking down Nebraska last night at Chaifetz. The Billikens are ridiculously young, all freshmen and sophomores, and they’re going to have a lot of wild, foolish and helpless nights this season. But the Nebraska win did establish something: Majerus is getting talent into SLU, he’s putting together a team, and there is a program in the works. Instant gratification? No. But by next season, when these kids are juniors and sophomores (and with new recruits incoming), Majerus should have something tangible going. This is his third season, and I realize some SLU (and other) fans think St. Louis U basketball should be more advanced by now. Understood. But I think next season will be a more representative barometer of where the program is. Just my opinion.

Thanks (as always) for reading …

-Bernie