John Denton
@JohnDenton555
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https://t.co/FOHrq2zUXZ beat writer covering the St. Louis Cardinals. Formerly: @OrlandoMagic, @UCFAthletics , @FLORIDATODAY & @JSunNews
St. Louis, Mo.
Joined March 2009
The arch is mowed back into the grass at Busch Stadium for this weekend and the playoffs. #STLCards
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One of Matt Holliday's first orders of business once he gets started as the #STLCards new bench coach: "I think I'll make Adam (Wainwright) take a lap the first day I'm on staff to reestablish that I'm on the coaching staff now and he's a player," Holliday said. @UncleCharlie50.
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#STLCards Adam Wainwright on Pujols: “I think he’s going to help our team in a lot of ways. Some of these young guys were showered & about to leave & him & Yadi went to the cage to go hit & they got dressed & went to hit with them.”.
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#STLCards C Yadier Molina on Albert Pujols’ return:”He’s happy to be back. We have one thing in mind — to win another World Series championship.”.
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No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. #STLCards rising star Jordan Walker — all 6-foot-6 and 259.4 pounds of him — looks huge in the batter’s box. His arms and shoulders are significantly bigger and he’s crushing BP pitches.
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Apparently I'm supposed to "defend" my Cy Young ballot. I must have missed that memo and the one that said only starters were eligible to win. Alcantara was easily the winner. Some wonder why I voted Diaz second. Have they looked closely at how historically great he was? (1/2).
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#STLCards SS Masyn Winn said in the postgame that he recently purchased a home in the Jupiter, Fla., area, where he hopes to spend most of his offseason while working out at the Cards ST HQ. He wants to improve on a rookie season where he hit .267 with 15 HRs, 57 RBI & 11 SBs.
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Workout Day hijinks from Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols. It’s like they haven’t missed a day apart the last 10 years.
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#STLCards LF Tyler O’Neill, who is back with the MLB team and starting in LF tonight, bought all his @memphisredbirds teammates a Texas Roadhouse meal last week that included a 16-oz ribeye, baked potato and salad.
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#STLCards RHP Jack Flaherty on the come-backer off his left forearm: . “My hand’s fine. I didn’t get taken out because of my hand. I got taken out because I sucked.”.
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#STLCards CF Dylan Carlson just admitted that Team President John Mozeliak pulling him aside last weekend in Washington, DC, and ensuring that he wouldn’t be traded relieved lots of stress and worry off his shoulders. Carlson homered tonight and he had two stellar catches in CF.
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How about this stat? Not only did #STLCards slugger Albert Pujols hit home runs 699 and 700 tonight, he hit his 200th home run off a lefty (vs. LHP Andrew Heaney in the 3rd) and his 500th off a righty (vs. RHP Phil Bickford in the 4th).
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Jon Jay, who helped the #STLCards win the 2011 World Series, is throwing out the first pitch tonight to former teammate Albert Pujols. Jay recently announced his retirement.
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.@Raptors G Kyle Lowry hit @OrlandoMagic PG Michael Carter-Williams in the nose, causing blood to pour out. It's the first thing Lowry has hit all game. He's 0 of 7 from floor, 0 of 6 from 3 and 0 of 2 from FT line.
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BREAKING: #STLCards star Albert Pujols tells MLB (dot) com how he seriously contemplated retirement in June when he was struggling badly. Ultimately Pujols stuck it out, found his stroke & bashed his way to 703 HRs. Now he has a World Series in his sights.
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The #STLCards pulled veteran Matt Carpenter before the start of the bottom of the third inning. If that's it for the three-time All-Star and likely Cardinals Hall of Famer in the future, his MLB career will end, fittingly enough, with this opposite-fit single in his final AB.
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Willson Contreras said one of the most surprising elements of a rocky few days is the support he’s gotten from #STLCards fans. “I’ve been getting [direct messages] and messages that I never thought I’d get. Those are really special to me.”.
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#STLCards RHP Adam Wainwright on meeting with Willson Contreras: “What we did was we sat down yesterday and just poured into him. We love this guy. We're glad he's here and we want him to be our guy. I think he took it well. Honestly, I don't know if anyone's ever told him that.”.
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#STLCards star Paul Goldschmidt on boos from fans: . “One thing that I like about our fans is they have high expectations. I've said that before when things are going good and bad, too. Look at the performance; it doesn't lie.”.
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#STLCards DH Albert Pujols almost apologetically approached Brendan Donovan & assured him the team still had faith in the rookie after he was pinch-hit for in the 3rd. Said Donovan: “He said, ‘I have faith in you,’ & I said, ‘I’d rather watch you do that! That was fun to watch.’”.
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Clearly overcome with emotion after winning his 200th game as a #STLCards cornerstone, Adam Wainwright waves to an adoring crowd at Busch Stadium.
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The Lars Nootbaar effect is already hitting Japan. The #STLCards young star has apparently spread the “pepper grinder” mantra to superstar slugger Shohei Ohtani.
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#STLCards pitcher Adam Wainwright lets the tears flow when it is announced that Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina are in attendance for today’s retirement ceremony.
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Hall of Famers Ozzie Smith, Whitey Herzog, Ted Simmons & Bruce Sutter & #STLCards HOFers Mark McGwire, Scott Rolen, Tom Herr, Tim McCarver, Jim Edmonds, Jason Isringhausen, Ray Lankford, Mike Shannon, Vince Coleman, John Tudor & Willie McGee are scheduled to attend Opening Day.
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#STLCards 3B Nolan Arenado: "I think our lineup is deeper than we get credit for, but at the same time we weren’t that great last year, so I can see why we haven’t gotten that respect we believe we should have. We have to go out and prove it. Today was a good start.”.
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#STLCards rookie Jordan Walker on his relationship with SS Masyn Winn, his roommate last year in Double-A Springfield: “He’s pretty much my brother – about as close as we can be without being blood-related. He’s always been so supportive of me. " (1/2).
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Here is 90 seconds of video from #STLCards top prospect Jordan Walker talking about hitting a 430-foot home run, tracking a deep fly ball to the wall and then legging out an infield single with unusual speed for a 6-foot-5, 250-pound player.
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#STLCards slugger Albert Pujols just insisted he isn’t “chasing” 700 home runs and he scoffed when someone mentioned his “power surge.” Said Pujols: “The only thing I’m chasing is another championship.”.
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.@OrlandoMagic F Jonathan Isaac is walking and bending his left knee and feels his MRI on Thursday in Orlando will come back clean. He is confident that he avoided a major injury and might not have to miss any time of game action.
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#STLCards RHP Lance Lynn, 37, has pitched in pain most of this season and Tuesday’s gem might have been his last outing of 2024. “If it’s my last start as a Cardinal, I’d like it to be in St. Louis,” Lynn said.
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Former #STLCards LHP Jordan Montgomery spent time with CF Dylan Carlson and they rode in to together. Monty: “It’s weird being on the other side [of Busch Stadium.] I rode in with D.C. and I almost walked in [the clubhouse] with him. He was one of my best friends over there.”.
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#STLCards manager Oliver Marmol on Paul Goldschmidt & Nolan Arenado remaining unvaccinated & being unavailable for Toronto: “I completely respect it – if I’m being quite honest. I’ve talked to all of them, and I respect and agree with their decision. I’ve got zero issue with it.”.
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The beautiful part of this video was #STLCards rookie SS Masyn Winn making a sliding stop from deep in the hole & using his stellar arm strength to throw a one-hop strike to first for the out. The funny part is the amazement (and words mouthed) by Cards reliever Andre Pallante.
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Hall of Fame sports writer Rick Hummel always believed managers should wear their full uniform & he let #STLCards skipper Oli Marmol know it several times. Tonight, Marmol (37) is wearing his jersey — and not a hoodie — to honor The Commish, who passed away this weekend.
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Just 20 years old, Won-Bin Cho is the No. 13-ranked prospect, per @MLBPipeline , and one of the fastest-rising players in the #STLCards Minor League system.
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#STLCards OF Lars Nootbaar showing off the bat sped and exit velocity gains he picked up in the offseason.
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Second-year outfielder Jordan Walker just crushed the hardest-hit ball by any #STLCards player this season by roping a 115 .5 mph double down the third base line. The three-run double cleared the bases and put St. Louis ahead 10-5.
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As #STLCards slugger Albert Pujols was conducting his media session, catcher and close friends Yadier Molina started chanting, “One more year! One more year! One more year!”.
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Masyn Winn, the No. 2-ranked player in the #STLCards org, experienced a wide range of emotions today. He celebrated friend Jordan Walker making the STL Opening Day roster. After he had 2 hits & a diving stop for a double play, he knew he's headed to Triple-A Memphis. (1/3).
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Enjoy this video of 20-year-old #STLCards RHP Tink Hence throwing a bullpen session. Much like the sound is different when a slugger hits the ball, the pop of the mitt sounds different when Hence throws his best fastball.
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#STLCards manager Oli Marmol on Adam Wainwright: “While we were in San Diego, he went out and played catch and the reality is, there's no way he'd be able to go out there and throw another inning. He gave it every ounce of what was left in that arm in that shutout for No. 200.”.
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As many have likely heard, the @OrlandoMagic laid off a chunk of their staff on Fri because of cutbacks related to the coronavirus. I, unfortunately, was one of those cuts. While I’m saddened, I will value my time with the Magic, a stellar organization with many great people. .
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#STLCards RHP Lance Lynn on his ejection: "(Umpire Angel Hernandez) started chirping at the (Cards) dugout and I told him, 'They know it was a strike.' He told me, 'Let's go!' And I told him, 'I have five seconds on the pitch clock and I'll start whenever I feel like it.' . .
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Unlike when he hit home run No. 250 years ago and the fan wanted $10,000, #STLCards star Nolan Arenado got the No. 300 HR baseball from a Milwaukee fan who wanted nothing in return. Arenado said he will send the fan some autographed merchandise.
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#STLCards SS Masyn Winn said when he heard that close friend Jordan Walker made the Cards Opening Day roster via a text he stood up on the team bus to Port St. Lucie and “cussed out loud.”. Winn: “I’m pretty sure all my teammates knew what had happened.”.
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New #STLCards manager Oliver Marmol said the first player to call him when the lockout lifted at 7 PM on Thursday night was first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. "It was a great conversation," Marmol said.
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For some insight on the haul that the #STLCards got back today in their two trades, here is where those prospects will rank in their system, per @MLBPipeline :. RHP Tekoah Roby -- No. 4, .RHP Sem Robberse -- No. 7 .INF Thomas Saggese -- No. 8 .RHP -- Adam Kloffenstein No. 23.
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#STLCards announce that every 2023 regular season game will be televised locally or nationally, as well as broadcast on radio at KMOX and the Cardinals Radio Network. Additionally, all 81 home games will feature live Spanish radio broadcasts.
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This is easily the best sign at the #STLCards Spring Training complex in Jupiter, Fla. Most all Cards infielders will take ground balls at the field dedicated to Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith.
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#STLCards SS Masyn Winn, who has worked all offseason to add muscle and bulk to help himself at the plate, said friend & teammate Jordan Walker is up to 260 pounds. The 6-foot-6 Walker has spent most of his offseason in Jupiter, Fla., working with STL instructor Jose Oquendo.
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#STLCards first-round pick, lefty slugger Chase Davis, is scheduled to be in St. Louis today & likely ink his signing bonus ($6.3M) with the club, per a source. Davis has been friends with Cards prized rookie Jordan Walker & top prospect Masyn Winn since they were teenagers.
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#STLCards rookie Masyn Winn said earlier today that he and Jordan Walker were put on rookie duty last night upon the team arriving in Pittsburgh. Several veterans sent Winn and Walker out to pick up several dozens of tacos for the group. Winn said he did it with a smile.
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You'll see this play on all the highlight shows tonight -- #STLCards star third baseman Nolan Arenado pulled off the almost unthinkable 5-3 double play by stepping on second himself and throwing onto first base for the twin killing.
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In an attempt to help catcher Willson Contreras get more low strikes, the #STLCards have him moved up closer to the plate. However, JD Martinez's bat hit Contreras on the left forearm during his swing. Contreras is out of the game. He was in obvious pain, yelling out right away.
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Asked about how he felt today, #STLCards DH Albert Pujols said: “I’m doing some damage today, write it down. No, seriously, write it down. I’m doing damage.”.
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Incredibly, #STLCards DH Albert Pujols is 6 for 9 this season against lefthanded pitching. He has 2 HRs, a double and 3 singles against lefties in 2022.
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#STLCards closer Ryan Helsley admitted he was surprised at the lengths the team went to win the arbitration case vs. him. The club pointed to durability & availability concerns & his team countered with the 4-out saves he had in 2022. He isn’t angry, but definitely disappointed.
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#STLCards outfielder Dylan Carlson, who is far and away the team's best defensive center fielder, ran down a sinking liner in the right-center gap and made a stellar sliding catch. After pinch-hitting for Alec Burleson, Carlson not only stayed in the game, but went into CF.
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#STLCards star Nolan Arenado said he anticipated Puerto Rico manager Yadier Molina to not talk to him & Paul Goldschmidt during the WBC, but of course he would still chat with Adam Wainwright. Waino noted that Molina said since they are "brothers," he should be pitching for P.R.
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#STLCards prized rookie Jordan Walker experienced it all in his first game ever at Wrigley Field. He had to put up with plenty of cat calls and trash talk from the bleacher creatures at Wrigley Field and then he became the youngest Cardinal in 53 years to homer at Wrigley. (1/3).
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That night, about 20 minutes after David Freese’s game-winning, walk-off HR forced a Game 7 for the #STLCards, my late father said this: “Son, even if you live another 100 years, you won’t see a baseball game like that again.” . So happy we got to experience that together.
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After #STLCards OF Lars Nootbaar hit a fourth BP HR in a five-pitch stretch, batting practice pitcher Stubby Clapp yelled, “check, please!”.
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#STLCards star third baseman Nolan Arenado speaking recently about newly elected Hall of Famer Scott Rolen: "One thing I admire about Scott Rolen was he was so big and you don’t realize how big the man is until you get next to him. To be that good, that agile, . (more, 1/2).
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#STLCards catcher Willson Contreras on his struggles: “This is my first time since I’ve been in the big leagues that I have struggled this bad. I've lost my confidence & I lost my trust & lost the trust I came into the season with. It just went away.”.
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ESPN surprised #STLCards outfielder Lars Nootbaar with live video of his mother, Kumi, and made him quite emotional on the air. Nootbaar openly calls himself "a mama's boy" and credits his mother for all his success.
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The #STLCards have placed a white wreath, adorned with the No. 24, beyond the center field wall. It is to honor the memory of Hall of Fame manager Whitey Herzog, who passed away on Tuesday.
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New #STLCards catcher Willson Contreras (right) and DH/OF Juan Yepez arrive at Roger Dean Stadium for today’s first session of Spring Training.
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Veteran shortstop Brandon Crawford, who was released last week, issued a heartfelt thanks to the #STLCards for his time with the club this season. Crawford was as respected as anyone in the clubhouse and players raved about his professionalism and the sage advice he gave out.
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This is rookie 2B Nolan Gorman's 11th game at the MLB level with the #STLCards . He has three home runs -- 449 feet, 404 feet and 422 feet.
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A #STLCards signing of Willson Contreras kills the proverbial 2 birds with 1 stone — or 2 birds on 1 bat — because it fills the catching spot & the No. 5 hitting slot. Both are major needs for STL. The sides have agreed on the money, but are still working on the deal’s length.
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No room for the NL MVP, #STLCards star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, following the best season of his Hall of Fame-bound career?.
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#STLCards rookie Masyn Winn, who has statistically been the best defensive shortstop in all of baseball all season, makes this sliding stop and throw look routine with his quickness in popping up off the ground. Firing an 82.7 mph strike helped, too.
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#STLCards slugger Nolan Gorman on wanting an every1day role: “I mean, I want it more than anything. That’s why we’re all here. We all want to be in there every day and help this team win as much as possible. … I want it more than anything.”.
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Here is video of #STLCards rookie Masyn Winn going down in the zone to drill a liner into right field for a double. Per Statcast, Winn went from home to first in 4.49 seconds and from first to second in 3.5 seconds, His top speed was 28.4 feet per second.
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#STLCards RHP Adam Wainwright on the recent booing at Busch: “As far as the booing, it's not something I expect from our fans, but I also don't expect to play like we’ve played. With what (booing) we've gotten, I can't say we don't deserve it.” (1/2).
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#STLCards star Nolan Arenado on center fielder Dylan Carlson, who was near tears on Monday at the thought of getting traded or moved out of the OF rotation: “D.C.’s not a complainer. He just shows up and works and competes and that’s why we love him.”.
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The biggest difference between Triple-A and MLB so far for rookie 2B Nolan Gorman: “The hotel. It was a little different than that Fairfield Inn I was staying in last week.
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#STLCards rookie SS Masyn Winn jumped a 2-2 curveball and drilled it into the seats for his 15th home run of the season. The ball traveled 391 feet. It is his 150th of the season.
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Hilarious moment there from #STLCards CF Harrison Bader, who is wearing a microphone for ESPN. Because the Cardinals were already up 13-2, 3B coach Pop Warner decided to hold Albert Pujols on a Bader line-drive hit. Said Bader: "I know Albert is 55, but he's got to score there.".
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