I feel like it’s unlikely that you are diving in to this series here. I mean, how could you have stumbled across this one instead of the sixth other posts that we’ve put out this week? However, in case you have opened the book of this series and jumped right into the middle, here’s the links to the posts of the past:
121-170 (Write-Ins)
101-120
76-100
51-75
26-50
21-25
Now we’ll continue our work up the charts, counting our way down to number 1. In this one, we’ll look at a blog, two journalists, and a couple of distinctive Twitter personalities.
Number 20: TexasCardsFan
Cards fan since 1964.
I’m interested in Jennifer Anniston but have had no discussions. https://t.co/sXxUxqbQ1h
— Scott (@TexasCardsFan1) July 26, 2018
On Twitter since: November 2011
Number of Tweets: 115K
Following: 2,063
Followers: 3,661
Total points: 555
Average: 7.115
Number of ballots: 78
Maximum: 10
Minimum: 1
% that were 10: 20.51%
% that were 1: 10.26%
2017 rank: 13
As the bio says, Scott’s seen a lot of baseball. Which means he’s got a lot of opinions, many of them informed from watching the great Cardinals of the past. The good thing is that, at least when he’s been on the other side of my point of view, we’ve always been able to come to a mutual understanding. I mean, if I grew up watching Bob Gibson, I might have some different thoughts myself!
Number 19: vivaelbirdos
@cardinals news, notes, & analysis. editors: @curtis_josey, @lil_scooter93, & the Red Baron
Valuing Player Options: Part One https://t.co/4M5dut10c5
— viva el birdos (@vivaelbirdos) October 20, 2018
On Twitter since: November 2009
Number of Tweets: 24.1K
Following: 403
Followers: 21,926
Total points: 558
Average: 6.975
Number of ballots: 80
Maximum: 10
Minimum: 1
% that were 10: 21.25%
% that were 1: 6.25%
2017 rank: 8
If you spend any time on the internet, you know that Viva El Birdos is the biggest Cardinal blog out there and, unsurprisingly, this is the Twitter account dedicated to said blog. Typically, most of the tweets are links to their work over at said blog, which makes this a great place to keep up with everything that the site is putting out. There’s been changeover at VEB this year but they keep ticking along and putting out very interesting articles, so following this account can keep you in the loop.
Number 18: STLMattinals
if I quote you, you’ve either brought up a valid point or I’m definitely making fun of you.
Are we not gonna mention that Craig Counsell looks like an aged, semi meth addicted David Freese? https://t.co/4QXtcWbYEQ
— MattLand, USA (@STLMattinals) October 20, 2018
On Twitter since: August 2014
Number of Tweets: 56.3K
Following: 853
Followers: 2,958
Total points: 572
Average: 7.429
Number of ballots: 77
Maximum: 10
Minimum: 1
% that were 10: 22.08%
% that were 1: 2.60%
2017 rank: 80
Mattinals was a write-in last year, which helps explain the big jump. He’s a guy with a ton of memorabilia, often selling some of it, but the highlight of the year had to be his raffle he organized in May, with proceeds going to ALS in honor of Stephen Piscotty. Not only did he donate his own items but was able to solicit some other folks to donate as well. That raffle raised over $1,000 for ALS research. So a huge hat tip to Mr. Mattinals for this excellent work!
Number 17: hochman
Sports columnist: St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Author: “The Big 50 – Cardinals.” Get it here! https://www.amazon.com/Big-50-Louis-Cardinals-Moments/dp/1629375365
Will Dave Roberts now STEAL a World Series FROM Boston?
OK stop tweeting Benjamin— Benjamin Hochman (@hochman) October 21, 2018
On Twitter since: October 2008
Number of Tweets: 58K
Following: 9.683
Followers: 38,775
Total points: 588
Average: 7.443
Number of ballots: 79
Maximum: 10
Minimum: 1
% that were 10: 21.52%
% that were 1: 2.53%
2017 rank: 12
Most folks know Hochman and his tendency toward humor and high-energy hijinx. The P-D columnist can stir up folks both for and against him and covers everything sports-related in town, often doing it from a human-interest angle like here with Mark McGwire’s 62nd. He seems to have gotten off the podcast beat, at least no longer regularly appearing on Best Podcast in Baseball, but he still pops up from time to time on the airwaves and the pods.
Number 16: miklasz
Host of No.1 spoken-word morning drive show in STL market at 101ESPN, write many columns at http://101sports.com , and proud to contribute to @TheAthleticSTL
My latest for @TheAthleticSTL on John Mozeliak, the spinning wheel, and my takeaways from media briefing that was bewildering and bothersome. https://t.co/ytNcWi6fn5
— Bernie Miklasz (@miklasz) October 17, 2018
On Twitter since: February 2009
Number of Tweets: 38.9K
Following: 1,513
Followers: 143,935
Total points: 651
Average: 6.853
Number of ballots: 95
Maximum: 10
Minimum: 1
% that were 10: 18.95%
% that were 1: 7.37%
2017 rank: 5
I was surprised to see Bernie slide down the ranks like he did here. I mean, obviously 16 is a fine standing, but when he was in the top five last year, this spot is a bit unexpected. Bernie joined The Athletic this year, just adding to his output, plus he started a podcast with Will Leitch called Seeing Red, so he’s out there maybe more than ever. Maybe there was a little fatigue with all this, maybe it’s just a different makeup of voters. Anyway, it’s Bernie and odds are you are already following him, so I’m not really telling you anything you don’t know.
Three more posts to go. The excitement is palpable, right? Right? Hey, wake up over there!
