Baseball conversations

If you're a St. Louis Cardinals fan, you know what today is.

It's opening day at Busch Stadium, the day the Sea of Red celebrates the history of baseball and the game that bonds fans of multiple generations. This editorial is not intended for you, Cardinal fan.

This editorial is a service to the non-baseball fan. We're going to help you navigate that water-cooler conversation, that networking moment or that client ice breaker. Here are five notes and five conversation starters that will help you engage with those of us who are a little obsessed with the Cardinal Way.

Talking points

1. Prediction. The Cardinals could go any number of ways this season. They have a team with a lot of young talent, but sometimes it takes a while for that young talent to develop. The team also has some older veterans who are good ballplayers, but probably can't be counted on for an entire season. They've already lost one of their top pitchers, Chris Carpenter, and starting shortstop, Raphael Furcal, to injury for the entire season. So when someone asks what you think the Cards will do this season, simply tell them it depends on how quickly their young players develop and how healthy the team is. They could miss the playoffs. They could go to the World Series. There's really no telling.

2. Youth. The Cardinals have the top-rated farm system in all of baseball. The team is set up to be successful for many years to come. A name to remember is Oscar Taveras, who could be the best hitter since Albert Pujols. Michael Wacha is a pitcher who could be an ace very quickly. He did not allow an earned run in all of spring training. Both are starting the year in the minors.

3. Cubs. If any Cardinals fan starts lamenting a losing streak or team slump, simply reply by saying "Well, at least you're not a Cubs fan." That works in almost any situation. Remember the year 1908. It's the last time a Cubs team won the World Series.

4. Favorite. If someone asks you who your favorite player is, tell them Yadier Molina. They won't even have to ask you why.

5. Reds. While the Cardinals and Cubs are longtime rivals because of tradition and geography, over the last several years the Cincinnati Reds have been the rivals on the field. Cards fans view them as a nasty bunch who talk smack and fight dirty. There was a nasty brawl a few years ago ...

Conversation starters

1. "So what do you think of Mike Matheny?" He's the second-year manager for the Cards. He seems to be a stand-up guy who has written a Little League "manifesto" aimed at addressing parents' poor attitudes. The skipper was beloved when he was a catcher for the team.

2. "Do you think the National League should adopt the designated hitter?" Now that interleague play is more prominent, many believe the National League, which requires pitchers to bat, should institute the designated hitter -- also called DH -- rules of the American League. Everyone has an opinion on this. After the fan voices his opinion, simply say you agree 100 percent.

3. "What do you think of the second wild card?" This rule was instituted last year. It allows an additional team into the playoffs, but the two wild card teams must play one winner-take-all contest to advance. The Cardinals had the second wild card last year and almost made it all the way to the World Series.

4. "How do you feel about that Wainwright contract?" The staff ace received a $97 million contract over five years. Wainwright is a beloved figure for Cards fans, but there is some concern whether he can return to the elite form he was at before his elbow surgery two years ago.

5. Know a good Cubs joke. There are hundreds on the Internet -- at least one for every year they've been irrelevant.) If you're a history buff, you can be creative here.

Now a note on what to do: If you're trying to build a relationship or start a conversation, don't talk about how boring baseball is. Baseball fans acknowledge their sport is not rough and tumble. It requires attention span. It is a game of subtleties, a game of inches. If football is whiskey, baseball is wine.

So today we raise the proverbial glass for a great summer of Cardinals baseball.

Let the conversations begin.