MLB: St. Louis Cardinals: the Blog

2008-11-26T10:43:00.000-08:00

Still waiting on a decision from Arthur Rhodes about whether or not he wants to join the Cards. His agent says we may have an answer within a week....

2008-10-30T06:53:00.001-07:00

Make sure your voice is heard in the presidential election next Tuesday, November 4th! VOTE!

2008-10-16T12:25:00.000-07:00

Here's hoping Pujols heals quickly...get back in time for Spring Training!

Cards Cubs Roadtrip

2008-07-14T09:01:00.000-07:00

I'm a Cards fan through and through, but I have to admit that I love Wrigley Field. It's my favorite ballpark. Usually I just go there when they're playing some team I don't care about, but I'm considering buying St. Louis Cardinals tickets for the September series up there. I'll just have to avoid the bleacher area so no Cubby fans dump beer on my head. It can get pretty rowdy in those seats.

Spring Training is in the air!

2008-02-14T07:33:00.000-08:00

It's that time - Spring Training will be starting again in only a couple weeks! I've listed out the Spring Training schedule below, borrowed from the official MLB.com website.

February 27 * Exhibition Game * 12:05 p.m.

February 28 vs Mets 12:05 p.m.
March 2 vs Marlins 12:05 p.m.
March 5 vs Nationals 12:05 p.m.
March 6 vs Marlins 12:05 p.m.
March 8 vs Dodgers 12:05 p.m.
March 11 vs Orioles 12:05 p.m.
March 13 vs Mets 12:05 p.m.
March 16 vs Braves 12:05 p.m.
March 17 vs Braves 12:05 p.m.
March 20 vs Marlins 12:05 p.m.
March 21 vs Orioles 12:05 p.m.
March 22 vs Twins 12:05 p.m.
March 25 vs Nationals 12:05 p.m.
March 26 vs Orioles 12:05 p.m.

And in other news, it's Valentine's Day, which means one thing! Yes, crowded restaurants and empty card shops, but it also means it's time for the Cardinals pitchers and catchers to get started on their own Spring Training.

Mmm... I love this time of year. :)

A tale of three (four) cities

2007-09-27T15:05:00.000-07:00

A bit of St. Louis Rams trivia (slightly relevant to the Cardinals, right? Right? Go with me here):

Did you know that the team started out in Cleveland as the Cleveland Rams, then moved to Los Angeles and played for 15 seasons under the Los Angeles name before moving to St. Louis? Also funny (to me at least, as I'm easily entertained) is the fact that after they moved to Los Angeles and took the LA name, then ended up playing in Anaheim but still using the Los Angeles name for years, just as the Angels are doing now. Maybe that's why Anaheim is so adamant about wanting their team name to include the city for once...

Now, try and keep all that straight the next time you buy Rams NFL tickets.

Percival out of retirement

2007-06-29T14:16:00.000-07:00

Troy Percival, after taking nearly two years off for "retirement", is back to lead the Cards to the World Series! La Russa has promised not to work him too hard, but the Cards really need him. They've been below .500 for the majority of the season and several members of the starting rotation are injured. Lets hope this gets the team closer to where it was when they were WINNERS!

Lost vs Mets

2007-04-04T08:50:00.000-07:00

Double plays and outs on the bases haunted St. Louis for the second game in a row as the Redbirds lost to the Mets, 4-1, at Busch Stadium.
It's the second time in four years and the third time in seven that the Cardinals have begun the year 0-2.

Happy Times in Mid-America

2007-02-06T07:02:00.000-08:00

Hey, just in case those masses of folks off on the coasts and/or down in the Sun Belt haven't noticed, we have more in the middle of America than horrible weather. We've got champions!

In Major League Baseball, the St. Louis Cardinals, of course, and who did we have to beat: the Detroit Tigers. Now the NFL's Super Bowl comes down to the Chicago Bears and our new national champs, the Indianapolis Colts!

I don't know if the way Mother Nature treats us sometimes has made us tougher, though I do hear people claiming that. But I know seeing the Colts and the Bears make it to the Super Bowl warmed my heart.

2007-01-16T11:57:00.000-08:00

$10 million per season for Jeff Weaver? What are the Cardinal's thinking???

Cards Sign a Reliever

2006-12-10T18:33:00.000-08:00

The St. Louis Cardinals inked a one year deal with middle reliever Russ Springer for $1.75 million. This is Springer's second stint with the Cardinals, he pitched for them in 2003 before pitching for the Houston Astros for the next 3 seasons.

Albert, you're my MVP!

2006-11-21T15:29:00.000-08:00

According to the vote of the sportswriters, the National League's MVP for 2006 was the Philadelphia Phillies' slugger, Ryan Howard. Yes, he had a heckuva year, including tying the Philadelphia home run total of 58 set by Jimmie Foxx way back in 1932.

Just the same, whose team won the World Series? I'd have voted for Albert Pujols!

Let's Wrap It Up at Busch Stadium Tonight!

2006-10-27T09:41:00.000-07:00

Way to go, Cards! Game 4 was the most intense yet, and our come-from-behind victory means we can win the World Series for the fans in the stands tonight! So let's do it at Busch Stadium to sweeten the deal.

Whooo Hooo St. Louis Cardinals!

2006-10-20T13:51:00.000-07:00

National League pennant owners - 2006! Way to go, Red Birds!!!!!

That's enough writing for now. There are literally only hours to celebrate before we go after the Big One! And no time to waste before going on the hunt for World Series tickets. If there are still two left in all of St. Louis.

Roster Review

2006-10-11T12:08:00.000-07:00

Cardinals are changin up the roster for this week's NLCS. Leaving Jason Marquis,28 off the list and substituting Anthony Reyes, 25. This is the second year in a row that Marquis will not be part of the starting rotation for the National League Championship Series. Go Cardinals!

Cardinals Stumble into Playoffs

2006-10-02T12:01:00.000-07:00

For the third straight season the St. Louis Cardinals finish on top of the National League Central Division with a win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. The Cardinals gave the Houston Astros every chance to take the division by losing 9 of their last 12 games. The outlook doesn’t look good for the Cardinals as they face the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, Ocotber 3. The Padres won the National League West and finished the last month of the season with a record of 20-9. The Cardinals will have to start taking care of business if they want to be a factor this postseason. I want to buy more baseball playoffs tickets this year. It's an expense I love to have!

Astro-nomical victory fuels 2006 run

2006-07-11T10:32:00.000-07:00

Anybody else feel really good about the St Louis Cardinals this season? David Eckstein, Scott Rolen and Albert Pujols are hitting so well I find it hard to believe. Coming off with a 3-1 score line in our series against the Houston Astros only helps me to feel that we are invincible, even if some will worry about the superior road record of the Cincinnati Reds. I see little birdies flying out of the stands and all the way to the World Series.

I’m in heaven when the Cards are in first!

2006-06-12T16:35:00.000-07:00

I am so glad the St. Louis Cardinals are having a decent season. I am going to get some Cardinals tickets for my birthday at the end of this month. I can’t decide whether I want to see them go up against the Cleveland Indians or the Kansas City Royals. I suppose Cleveland will be a more challenging opponent. The Royals have only won like 16 games and are at the bottom of the AL Central. Either way I am excited to get out to Busch Stadium this summer. The last game I attended was the second in our May series against the Colorado Rockies and we took that one 4-2.

The Cardinals are in a good position right now and I believe that with the return of Chris Carpenter we can maintain our lead over Cincinnati. We can pitch, we can field and we can hit. What more could a fan ask for? Go Cards!

Best in the NL Go Head-to-Head

2006-05-17T09:10:00.000-07:00

The St. Louis Cardinals will start a three-game series against the New York Mets this week and I think it will be quite a fight. The two teams have the best records in the National League and the Mets have starting pitcher Tom Glavine, who is going to be tough to deal with. Our own Jeff Suppan, who has won four in a row, will face Glavine. This will be some serious baseball and it’s a series I definitely won’t be missing.

Pujols puts up the numbers.

2006-04-18T18:16:00.000-07:00

The St. Louis Cardinals made short work of the Cincinnati Reds winning the second two games in the series that started with Friday’s scoreless loss. It was nice to see that the Cards didn’t let losing the first game get to them and harm their confidence with two battles left to go. Sunday’s game was close and quite intense but the Cardinals won 8-7 thanks to Albert Pujols’ four runs.

Cardinals prepare for Opening Day

2006-03-27T17:57:00.000-08:00

Opening day is just a week away and the St. Louis Cardinals are getting ready. We have had some wins this month but it is difficult to say if the Cardinals are looking good or not. I know these spring games don’t mean anything in the greater scheme of things but I still like to see us win.

What is good for New Orleans?

2006-02-27T11:28:00.000-08:00

Did you hear that they are having Mardi Gras in New Orleans this year. A lot of people have mixed feelings about holding the event. They feel the money would be better spent helping people to rebuild their homes. But I see the other side’s point when they explain that a lot of the businesses in New Orleans have thrived only because of the festival and that the tourist dollar is an integral part of the New Orleans economy. It is hard to say who is right. I think they need houses more than they need mixed drinks and beads.

Rolen Returning in the Spring

2006-02-12T20:29:00.000-08:00

St. Louis Cardinals third basemen Scott Rolen will be returning in the 2006 season with a healthy yet surgically repaired left shoulder. The Cardinals are counting on Rolen and his bat this season. He was sorely missed last season so must consider the possibility that he could re-injure himself. We need a back up plan.

Rolen to Play Again in 2006

2006-01-23T15:01:00.000-08:00

Scott Rolen has announced that he plans to be healthy in time for the St. Louis cardinals’ opening day. He suffered a shoulder injury that restricted him to 56 games for the 2005 season. He plans to return to third base stronger than ever because of all the exercise and training he has been doing since his surgery.

Cardinals Still on the Hunt

2006-01-16T13:09:00.000-08:00

Like many Major League teams, the St. Louis Cardinals have spent most of the off-season rebuilding their bullpen. We have exchanged most of our stars from 2005 and are left with a young squad. Our recent acquisitions look good but it doesn’t look like we are going to have the powerhouse of a bullpen we had last season. A lot of issues arise when you look at players like Braden Looper because we have no idea if he is going to be healthy in time to play. It has been rumored that we are still on the hunt and Felix Rodriguez is on our list of possible targets. With time left before spring training, I hope the Cardinals will pursue some more opportunities.

Players Use Winter Leagues For Conditioning

2006-01-07T17:17:00.000-08:00

Many players in Major League Baseball spend the off-season playing in the winter leagues. Many of those players are pitchers who need to show their teams that they are taking extra time to condition themselves for spring training and regular season play. A few players use the winter leagues to gain visibility because Major League teams watch the winter leagues for veteran players who are improving their game. Venezuela and the Dominican Republic are a few countries that have winter leagues. This fan wishes those games were televised so we could have baseball all year round. That’s what I call Heaven.

Cards Rebuilding Effort Advances

2005-12-30T12:47:00.000-08:00

The St. Louis Cardinals are rebuilding their team and hope to have a solid core squad formed by the beginning of spring training. Part of that effort was achieved in the past two weeks with the signing of Juan Encarnacion (outfielder) and Junior Spivey (second baseman). Encarnacion got a three year deal and Spivey’s is a one year contract. We have been interested in Spivey for a few years and finally seized the opportunity to add him to our team, strengthening our line up at second base. There is no guarantee that Spivey will get the playing time he got with the Nationals or Brewers, but if he shows he has the talent to start we may see quite a bit of Spivey in 2006.

Player Contracts and Bad Eggs

2005-12-22T18:17:00.000-08:00

John Riedling, Brian Daubach and free agent Sydney Ponson were signed to one year contracts with the St. Louis Cardinals. Larry Bigbie will not get to go to arbitration because he was also signed to a one year contract. I can’t see why we would want to pick up Sydney Ponson with his record. He was just released by the Orioles for getting put in jail on a DUI charge. Players who invite controversy and drama like that have no place on the Cardinals team. Baseball players are such role models to young people and it is a shame to see their reputations tarnished by a bad egg.

Cardinals Drop King and Add Rincon

2005-12-14T14:40:00.000-08:00

At the Winter Meetings a lot of changes were made to almost every MLB team. The Cardinals were no different. We traded Ray King and quickly snatched up pitcher Ricardo Rincon for a two year deal. Rincon has been playing with the A’s for the past few years and has been a top rated player the entire time. There is no question that he will fit in to this Cardinals team and we need him badly with King gone. It is rumored that Rincon is interested in a broader leadership role on the Cardinals squad and that he is really one of the best left-handed pitchers in the game today.

Baseball Players are Real Life Heroes

2005-12-06T18:53:00.000-08:00

I truly believe that baseball is the most culturally conscious and patriotic sport of all. During the off season the teams do a great many charitable things for their own communities. When you look at the MLB web sites during the off season, each team is doing something either for a charity or for their city. Baseball teams show through their actions that they appreciate the support of the community. So many sports personalities these days are getting caught using drugs and serving jail time. Even with the steroids scandal, there are not a lot of times you have to worry about your child looking up to a baseball player.

Kids Count Big with Cardinals

2005-11-25T16:17:00.000-08:00

Seven Cardinals are up for “This Year in Baseball” awards. Albert Pujols is the first St. Louis Cardinal to be considered for the National League MVP Award since 1985. It is no surprise that these players come from a team that takes an active role in the community around them. Their Redbird Rookies program gets kids into baseball, helps provide health care for them and presents these children with cultural experiences they may not have without the program to help bring these events to them. They are encouraged to join reading programs for the summer and Redbird Rookies provides health exams to improve their quality of life. The team also gives over three hundred thousand dollars from a grant ceremony in the spring to local youth charities. The biggest responsibility of every MLB team is the kids who look up to them. The St. Louis Cardinals believe in and support that.

Cards to Court Burnett

2005-11-20T13:53:00.000-08:00

We are one of a few teams actively seeking a contract with pitcher A.J. Burnett. Is it because the free agent pool is shallow compared to years past or has pitching become the focus of almost every team after watching the skill with which the Chicago White Sox swept the World Series? They hands down had the best pitching and it won them the championship. St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa says that pitching is our number one priority. Burnett, from Arkansas, is a really good prospect although he is looking for a five year deal and we haven’t been offering much more than three years to free agents and even trades in the past few years. Is he the answer?

Either or

2005-06-09T17:11:00.000-07:00

It is going to be a challenge for third baseman Scott Rolen to get his job back from Scott Seabol. Seabol has done an excellent job in place of Rolen, especially offensively, but Rolen has the better glove so he still has the advantage in that sense. The only thing that would hold him back would be his shoulder.

Ouch!

2005-06-02T15:51:00.000-07:00

Last night against the Rockies, the Cardinals all-star center fielder Jim Edmonds left the game after trying to run down a pop up behind 2nd base. It seemed like he might have tweaked his ankle. I hope everything turns out alright for the guy, because his glove and bat are a big part of the Cardinals line-up.

Pujols to the Rescue

2005-05-31T16:05:00.000-07:00

What a night for Albert Pujols.

Pujols had two walks and batted 2-for-3. In his last at bat, he took a golf swing to Jay Witasick’s slider which floated over the left field wall. The shot ended up being a three run blast which propelled the Cardinals past the Rockies 5-4.

The Cardinals as it is, are sitting pretty on top of the NL Central standings with a 71/2 game lead over the Cubbies. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cardinals made another run for the World Series this year.

Around the Horn

2005-05-25T13:08:00.000-07:00

The feisty All-star 1st baseman Albert Pujols was ejected from last night’s game against the Pittsburg Pirates at home in the sixth inning for arguing with the umpire against the third called strike. In to replace Pujols was John Mabry who came over from third. Then 2nd baseman Abraham Nunez went to third and x-Cubs 2nd baseman Mark Grudzielanek was brought in to fill in the 2 bag.

Be Cool

2005-05-23T15:14:00.000-07:00

I have always felt that keeping ones composure in pressure situations, shows a lot about a person. I see a lot of baseball players get angry or overly excited. My dad always told me that when you are on the playing field you don’t let you emotions get the best of you; it is very possible that they take away from the game.

“Act like you scored a run before, act like you made the game saving play before, don’t let the umpires and the piranhas in the stands get to you. Let your actions on the field speak for you instead. Keep your composure at all time.” - Those were the words of my father

And it is the same reason right-handed-pitcher Brad Thompson has inched his way up the bullpen depth chart. The Cardinals know Thompson has the ability to induce groundballs, and create the out. But it is his composure that keeps on turning heads.

In a Different Class

2005-05-17T11:44:00.000-07:00

With the absences of third baseman Scott Rolen, it seems that reserve John Mabry will pick up most of the slack at third base while Scott Rolen tends to his shoulder. The left-handed-hitting Mabry will get most his playing time against right-handers; and rookie Scott Seabol will find himself playing against lefthanders when Mabry cant. The last person on the list to get some playing time in while Rolen is away is the Cardinals utility man Abraham Nunez. All players have the potential to be MLB starters but none are in the same class as Rolen.

3

2005-05-15T15:42:00.000-07:00

Three is the number of other pitchers who got a save in the first week Jason Isringhausen was injured. The Cardinals aren't going with a backup closer. Instead, they're playing the matchups while Isringhausen is out.

Pitching is Fundamental

2005-05-09T12:13:00.000-07:00

RHP Brad Thompson, who was called up last week, gives the team a different look than the one provided by the pitcher he replaced, RHP Jimmy Journell. Thompson doesn't throw hard, but he keeps the ball down and changes speeds. Mostly, he gets ground balls, which is a high priority for the Cardinals.

LHP Carmen Cali was sent back to the minors last week and needs to work on keeping the ball down. The Cardinals love his stuff, and they expect Cali to be back. But first he needs to learn a lesson that applies to many young pitchers: Faster is not always better.

Fearless Forecast

2005-04-25T12:33:00.000-07:00

If the offense continues to fall short of its run production of recent seasons, the lineup likely will be shaken up. Manager Tony La Russa already has switched CF Jim Edmonds and 3B Scott Rolen in the order, but more changes could follow -- perhaps replacing RF Larry Walker in the No. 2 spot with Edmonds or maybe LF Reggie Sanders.

An Upgrade

2005-04-12T13:59:00.000-07:00

Over the off-season leading into this season the St. Louis Cardinals pick up free agent second basemen Mark Grudzielanek from the their division rivals, the Cubs. Grudzielanek arm strength and control is far superior to Tony Womack’s arm.

With this upgrade the Cards also are giving up some range of motion up the middle, since Grudzielanek is not as quick as Womack. Although, that shouldn’t be the difference because Grudzielanek’s arm is an viable asset and is need for efficient double plays up the middle.

Baltimore 3, St. Louis 1

2005-04-04T14:03:00.000-07:00

by (AP), from ESPN.com

Bruce Chen finished off a scoreless spring and locked up a spot in the Baltimore Orioles' rotation in the process.

Chen pitched five scoreless innings and Luis Matos drove in the winning run with a triple in the ninth inning as the Orioles beat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1 Friday night at the SBC Bricktown Ballpark.

Matos drove in pinch-runner David Newhan with a triple to the gap in right-center off of St. Louis closer Jason Isringhausen, then scored when Mark Grudzielanek's relay throw hit him in the back as he slid into third base.

Chen, who was competing with Rick Bauer for the fifth spot in Baltimore's rotation, gave up only a single and a walk. He allowed only five hits in 14 2-3 scoreless innings this spring.

"He learned how to pitch," Baltimore manager Lee Mazzilli said. "The sequence was good, and he had good selection on how he pitched his guys. He has an idea of exactly what he wants to do. That's why he's my fifth starter."

It was Chen's first start of the spring after five relief appearances, but the 27-year-old left-hander said he felt he was ready to start every five days.

"I feel like my arm is strong enough and I feel like I'm going to be able to start," Chen said. "Whatever they want me to do, I'm going to help this team."

Chen finished last season in the Orioles' rotation after an August call-up from Triple-A Ottawa and went 2-1 with a 3.02 ERA in seven starts and one relief appearance. The Orioles are his seventh team in the past five seasons.

"It's always nice to be with one team and stick around," Chen said. "This is a very good opportunity here. I'm feeling good and throwing good."

Mazzilli said he told Chen he'd won the spot before the game. Bauer gave up five runs in four innings in Baltimore's 5-1 loss to St. Louis on Thursday.

"I was extremely happy," Chen said. "I prepared myself real well in the offseason so I could help this team win, and this is incredible for me."

The Orioles gave Chen the lead when Sammy Sosa led off the second inning with a single and came around to score on Jay Gibbons' double to the gap in left-center.

St. Louis capitalized on a lack of control by reliever Steve Kline -- who pitched for the Cardinals last season -- to tie it in the sixth. Kline beaned Larry Walker, who then advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out single by Scott Rolen.

Jason Marquis pitched six solid innings in his final outing before starting the second game of the Cardinals' season-opening series against Houston. Marquis gave up one run on four hits in six innings. He struck out seven -- his most of the spring -- and walked one.

Closing the Gap

2005-03-28T10:11:00.000-08:00

It had been a very slow start for Hector Luna, as he is trying to battle for a spot on this season Cardinals team. The good thing about Luna is that is very versatile when it comes to defense and has a potentially aggressive bat.

The other player vying for a roster spot is Abraham Nunez who seems to be next in line, as far as the utility infield spot is concerned. Nunez one advantage is that he has the ability to hit from left side.

key Issues

2005-02-15T16:05:00.000-08:00

from Foxsports.com

1B Albert Pujols underwent another OssaTron treatment for his plantar fasciitis, and the club is confident that the latest round has gotten the job done. Pujols is not expected to be limited when spring training starts, and he will not have surgery. . .

RHP Matt Morris has begun throwing at the Cards' camp in Jupiter, Fla. Morris will be behind the other starters in camp, but he's progressing well in his recovery from shoulder surgery. General manager Walt Jocketty said it might be unrealistic to expect the righthander to be able to join the rotation at the start of the season.

Nerve Racking

2005-02-06T13:13:00.000-08:00

Limitations had sat RHP Chris Carpenter on the bench last season. It was due to a very unusual nerve ailment. Now in winter ball he has been up to par with his old self. So come spring training, look for Carpenter to be back on schedule for the Cardinals pitching staff.

Birds of a feather...

2005-01-27T14:21:00.000-08:00

The Cardinals outfield has to be one of the most elite in the big leagues. Considering sluggers like Jim Edmonds and Larry Walker but also not forgetting about Reggie Sanders.

All these all-stars have a totaled 14 golden gloves and 5 top finishes in the MVP balloting, and that is not to mention all three have combined for 941 home runs. Nicely done….

With the abilities between these three players, one would wonder why we didn’t win the World Series. No disrespect to Boston, but why not us?

Go Cards!!!

Laying Groundwork!!

2004-12-14T14:57:00.000-08:00

from mlb.com:

Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty probably wants to get Edgar Renteria signed just so that he can stop hearing questions about the All-Star shortstop. The queries Jocketty faced on Friday, when he arrived at baseball's annual Winter Meetings at the Anaheim Marriott, were pretty much the same ones before him on Monday as he headed back to St. Louis.

What's the deal with Renteria? Do you have a bead on a second baseman? Is anything imminent for a starting pitcher?

The deal with Renteria, of course, is that he has offers from a few teams, and he's mulling his options -- the Redbirds have not been ruled in or out just yet. A decision on a second baseman to replace Tony Womack probably won't come for at least a week or so. And St. Louis won't be signing or trading for an ace starter immediately, but that doesn't mean it won't happen.

Here's a wrapup of what did and didn't happen for the Cardinals in Anaheim this weekend ...

Deals done: None.

Rule 5 activity: Lost LHP Tyler Johnson in the Major League phase; selected IF Matt DeMarco and RHP Jose Garcia and lost IF Tony Granadillo and RHP Josh Teekel in the Triple-A phase; selected RHP Justin Knoff in the Double-A phase.

Goals accomplished: Make that "goals moved closer to." The Cards have more of an idea about all of their main objectives: setting themselves at shortstop and second base and finding a starting pitcher. They're continuing to work on signing Renteria. They're closer to bringing in a second baseman. They have a better idea of what it will take to acquire Tim Hudson.

But as for actual accomplishments, the kinds of things you can hang a hat on, it was slim pickings. Not that the Cardinals were alone in that boat. They had about 27 other clubs rowing right along with them.

Unfinished business: See above. Within the next few days, Renteria will either have re-signed with St. Louis or headed elsewhere. Once the Redbirds know what's going on in that regard, they'll know what else they need to do. Jocketty said that he has a plan in mind for shortstop in the event Renteria leaves.

Then he'll get to the other two needs. Expect plenty of calls between area code 314 in St. Louis and 510 in Oakland in the coming days. And if Renteria goes elsewhere, expect 602 (Phoenix) to show up on Jocketty's phone as well. If the Cards have dollars to work with, Randy Johnson could still be on the radar.

Second base may well wait a week or so until the non-tender date, but it will be addressed before terribly long.

GM's bottom line: "We were able to do a lot here last year, but not much was done here [by anyone this year]. Very little was done here. I'm not sure why that is. We'll just have to keep going. There are still a lot of players out there and still a lot of things that have to be done, not just with our club. So I know things will be busy the next few weeks."

Raising the Bar For Giving!

2004-11-26T15:34:00.000-08:00

A feel-good article from mlb.com:

How did the year go for Cardinals Care, the St. Louis Cardinals' charitable arm? This illustrates it as well as anything: in April, Cards legend and future Hall of Famer Mark McGwire dedicated a baseball field for the organization, and that's story No. 2 from 2004.

Story No. 1 was thedebut of Redbird Rookies, the comprehensive new children's program from Cardinals Care. Launched in June, the new initiative covers it all for St. Louis-area children, providing equipment and fields for them to play baseball, as well as health screenings, summer reading programs and exposure to various
cultural opportunities.

According to Cardinals Care, it's an undertaking thelikes of which has never been put together by a major professional sports teamin the United States. And because of the successful launch of Redbird Rookies, it was a brilliant year for Cardinals Care -- every bit as encouraging as the team's 105-57 record on the field.

"It was the most successful year that Cardinals Care has ever had," said Tim Hanser, the team's vice president for community outreach and Cardinals Care. "We've done the most financially, we've raised the most money, we've given away the most. But it all came together with Redbird Rookies. We really leveraged what assets we have to produce more positive results for kids in the community."

Cardinals Care has been providing services for kids in St. Louis and around the region since 1997, but the comprehensive new program represents a new level of commitment.

Red bird Rookies provides all the bats, balls, gloves, uniforms and other equipment needed for more than 2,000 boys and girls, ages 5-13, to play baseball. Kids from 10 different neighborhoods around the area -- many of which were already home to a Cardinals Care-funded ballfield -- can participate.

The new program provides off-field support for kids in the areas of health, education, mentoring, and the arts. The entire initiative -- including equipment, grants to fund off-field support and new ballfield construction -- represents the largest distribution in the history of Cardinals Care, coming in at over $1 million annually. As a result, children can participate in everything free of charge.Hanser is understandably proud of Redbird Rookies.

"It's baseball, it's kids, it's communities, it's on the field, but then it's supporting these kids," he said. "Whether it's a summer reading program, whether it's health screenings, whether it's mentoring or a field trip to the Shelton Theater to see a jazz history or a children's theater company, all the dollars and all the Cardinals' energy behind these kids off the field is really the success story of Redbird Rookies."

But it's not all that Cardinals care does, by any stretch.

Construction of baseball fields continues even in areas not served by Redbird Rookies. The most notable this year was the McGwire field, dedicated on April 17 in St. Louis' Forest Park. It was one of the biggest events in Cardinals Care history, attended by St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, several members of the team's ownership, general manager Walt Jocketty, manager Tony La Russa and of course "Big Mac" himself.

Even in retirement, McGwire remains an active supporter of Cardinals Care. He donated over $120,000 in winnings from a celebrity golf tournament in late 2003. That generosity helped lead the organization to name a field in his honor.

And then there are the annual events. Each January brings Cardinals Care's primary fundraising event, the Winter Warm-Up. Held at the Millennium Hotel in downtown St. Louis, it's three days of fan frenzy, with autographs, memorabilia and games for kids
and adults. Practically every Cardinals player attends every year, making the event one of the most successful of its kind in baseball.

During the season, there's "Jerseys Off Our Backs" day, in which fans may buy raffle tickets for game-worn player jerseys. Along with memorabilia auctions and the Winter Warm-Up, the jersey day provides the money Cardinals Care needs to fulfill its goals in the community. Of course, it also helps to have some corporate backing, and Hanser is quick to give a call to Rawlings and the Saigh Foundation, two major sponsors.

But in the end, it's about the team, the players and support from fans and community members.

"I think it's important to note that the whole success of Redbird Rookies is based on participation of the players in a number of different ways," Hanser said. "Certainly the fundraising. These guys are phenomenal, bar none. They all show up for the Winter Warm-Up. They all participate in the 'Jerseys Off Our Backs' day. They all autograph stuff until their hands get sore so that we can raise money in the auctions."

And then the money is distributed to a wide variety of worthy causes throughout the community -- an April grant ceremony featured checks being handed out to nearly 100 organizations. It all ties in, and ultimately it all works beautifully.

"That's really the philosophy behind what we do, is trying to layer in our money, our tickets, our players to support these kids off the field," said Hanser.

Come on Cards!

2004-10-27T11:59:00.000-07:00

This is the first time in 17 years we've made it to the world series and we definitely still have a chance to win (regardless of whatever curse Steven King puts on us). What's up with our fans booing us? This isn't new york, jerks! You think throwing negative energy at the team is going to help the situation?! Morons.

It Ain't Over Yet!!

2004-10-25T13:54:00.000-07:00

It's too damn cold for baseball way up there in baaaston. I predict a solid win tonight!

Go Cardinals!!

Cards Confident Heading Home

2004-10-19T10:42:00.000-07:00

By Rich Draper / MLB.com

HOUSTON -- In the shocking aftermath of Jeff Kent's three-run, ninth-inning homer that gave the Houston Astros a 3-2 edge in the National League Championship Series on Monday night, there is still good news for the St. Louis Cardinals.
They're heading home. And they like their chances in red-bedecked Busch Stadium.

Adios, Minute Maid Park, where the Astros -- now one victory away from the World Series -- arrived trailing, 2-0, in the best-of-seven NLCS but rallied for three consecutive wins, including the dramatic 3-0 win in the Houston finale.

Home-field advantage has been awesome for both teams, and that's what the Redbirds are counting on.

Houston won 22 of its last 23 games in the downtown ballpark, but the Astros won't return in this series. The Cardinals have won four straight playoff games at home, two over Los Angeles in the Division Series and the pair over the Astros to kick off the NLCS.

NLCS Home / News / Video / Audio / Photos

Manager Tony La Russa's team seemed to struggle in the final weeks of the regular season, losing five of its last seven games, but with a 13-game lead, the playoffs were already assured.

"We're going home, behind 2-3, but it's always home sweet home," said Redbird reliever Julian Tavarez, who broke two fingers in a dugout outburst on Sunday. He said he'll be able to pitch in St. Louis.

"We played two games there before and won both. We come here and they take all three," he said. "But we've been hot at home and expect to play well there. We'll have an off day on Tuesday, and it'll be good to refresh our minds and have a plan for Wednesday and Thursday."

Pitcher Jeff Suppan said it's an evenly matched series between two good teams, and he said the Cardinals will have to play all-out in Wednesday night's contest.

Being at home, however, and having ace Matt Morris pitch in the crucial game are two positives.

"It's going to be a battle," said Suppan, who lost Game 3 at Minute Maid Park on Saturday. "Matt's done a great job for us -- he's been a horse, going out there and throwing tremendous this year. He's done it before, he's a great competitor and has great stuff. I'm looking foward to watching it."

Morris, an eight-year veteran who won 15 games for the Cardinals this season, declined to discuss Wednesday's big assignment after Monday's loss. He pitched five innings in Game 2 at Busch Stadium, giving up six hits and three runs in the club's 6-4 defeat.

Reliever Kiko Calero, who's struggled a bit in three appearances, giving up seven hits and three runs over 4 2/3 frames, said the NL Central champions are confident.

"I think we're going to do the same they did to us -- win at home," said Calero. "That's good news, going back home. They might have Roger Clemens going, but we have a good pitcher in Matt Morris."

Clemens, however, is no sure thing for the start, as Astros manager Phil Garner refused to commit to naming a starter after Game 5.

"It's going to be good," Calero added. "We need two wins to go to the World Series, and we can do it. We won the first two games there, and there's no reason we can't do it now. We have good hitters, and Morris will be ready."

Marlon Anderson, the Cardinals' top pinch-hitter who has made only one plate appearance in the series, also exuded confidence as he packed his bags for the flight home.

With a workout on Tuesday and being in the friendly confines of Busch Stadium, trailing, 3-2, doesn't seem an insurmountable obstacle.

"That's what home-field advantage is all about," said Anderson. "In the playoffs with the crowds and all -- the playoffs don't really start until someone wins a game on the road. That hasn't happened yet.

"We go home, we have our crowd and our home stadium -- we're ready to go back and take care of business," he said. "If they can win three in a row, I'm sure we can take two. We're not worried about that."

If he must face Clemens or Pete Munro or Cy Young ... hey, no matter.

"We can't worry about them," said Anderson. "We need to do what we do well and play our kind of game."

Pennant Season is Upon You

2004-10-08T14:26:00.000-07:00

It is the NDLS, it is the postseason, it is a pennant race. Call it what ever you want too. This is the time of the year where dreams come true. When the kids playing in the street all summer stop to watch their hero's battle it out on a diamond to be the best at America's past time.

And St. Loius is well ahead than most teams. Not because they are up the first 2 games in a five games series against the NL West Champs, the L.A. Dodgers. It is because they are stacked with one of the best line ups in the major league. And have the clutch pitching along with the experience of a coach who knows of the promise land.

Will we get there? Why not,we have the most wins? We have the better team, but that's why you play the game. So come tomorrow, the Cards can advance to the NLCS with 3rd win over L.A.

Go Cards!

Woody to Start Game 1

2004-10-03T14:39:00.000-07:00

By Pete Wickham / Special to MLB.com

It will be Woody Williams, Jason Marquis, Matt Morris and Jeff Suppan to start the first four games of the National League Division Series for the St. Louis Cardinals, manager Tony La Russa announced.

La Russa scratched Williams (11-8) from a scheduled start in Sunday's regular-season finale against Milwaukee so he can start Game 1 of the first-round playoff series with either the Los Angeles Dodgers or San Francisco Giants on Tuesday or Wednesday at Busch Stadium. Danny Haren will make his sixth start of the season against the Brewers, then be ready for long or middle relief duty by Game 2 on Thursday.

The switch was made after Matt Morris (15-10) had another shaky start, giving up six runs in four innings of a 7-6 loss to Milwaukee on Thursday.

Was there any thought to moving Morris to Game 2, since he had a 9-4 record at Busch this year vs. a 6-6 mark on the road..?

In 2001, he lost two epic duels with Curt Schilling, 1-0 and 2-1, in the NLDS with Arizona. In 15 innings he struck out 12. In the '02 NLDS he coasted to a 12-2 win over Schilling in the opener of the NLDS. In the NLCS he gave up a record seven runs in a Game 1 loss at Busch, and then lost a 2-1 heartbreaker in Game 5, going the distance and giving up two late runs.

Go Cards!

Cards get 100th win of the Year

2004-09-23T16:26:00.000-07:00

St. Loius' first basemen, Albert Pujols is very positive about his team that clinched the NL central crown on the 18th.

"This is the best team we've had in the last four years. We have guys who can play the game. That's what this is all about. Now, we have to get to the World Series." - Albert Pujols

The cardinal rule to baseball is fundamentals. So far, through a hundreds wins the Cardinal's have stuck to the fundamentals. And the mental and physical mistakes have taken their toll in St. Loius in the games they lost. Even at that, it still was not enough to prevent the Cards from ever losing their lead in the NL Central. Now playoff bound expect the Cards to turn it up another level.

Cardinal Blues

2004-09-15T10:48:00.000-07:00

In an un excepted outing against the Houston Astros, pitcher Jeff Suppan(15-7) gave up 10 hits, 7 runs, and 2 walks in just 3 2/3 innings in the Cards 5-7 loss to the 'Stros last night.

"You've got to get out of the situations and keep us in the game. If I was able to do that, I think it would have been a different outcome with the way we fought back." - Jeff Suppan

On a side note, All-star 3rd basemen, Scott Rolen missed his 3rd consecutive game and is probable to miss several more due to a left busied shin. He acquired the injury last Saturday againt the Dodgers when he fouled off a ball right at his left shin. Rolen right now has a .320 batting average with 32 home runs and is leading the NL with 121 RBI's.

"I jogged around the neighborhood with my dogs and I thought, `Not bad, So I picked up the pace a little bit and tested it out with a few brisker sprints -- `Oh, not good.' That's kind of where we are today. I don't think I could give a very good effort on the field." - Scott Rolen

Go Cards!

Morris Breaks Streak?

2004-09-09T14:15:00.000-07:00

Reverting to a disconcerting pattern from earlier this season, Matt Morris followed up a breathtaking outing with something more like a punch in the stomach on Wednesday afternoon.

The Padres racked Morris for seven runs on five hits, four of those for extra bases, in two-plus innings as they beat the Cardinals, 10-5. The disheartening outing came five days after what may have been the best game of Morris' career -- an 11-strikeout, two-hit shutout against the Dodgers on Friday at Busch Stadium.

Five times this season, Morris has allowed two or fewer runs in a start, then followed it by giving up at least five in his next appearance. In late July, he tossed a seven-hit shutout against the Giants at Busch, then was pummeled for eight runs in two-thirds of an inning six days later.

"Why? I don't know," Morris said. "I don't know what the correlation is."

Wednesday's defeat snapped a three-game winning streak for Morris, and was the Cards' first loss with him on the mound since Aug. 12. Just as in his last loss, against the Marlins at Pro Player Stadium, Morris was hurt by some defensive follies behind him. However, unlike that contest, this game also featured plenty of hard-hit balls against the big righty.
From MLB.com

Edmonds drives home two

2004-09-01T06:26:00.000-07:00

Cardinals center fielder Jim Edmonds hit two home runs last night in a 9-3 win over the Padres. That puts him at 38 homers and 98 RBIs, not too shabby. Chris Carpenter will pitch tonight in another one vs. San Diego, who's 6-31 against the Cards since 1999. No worries? Maybe that's an easy trap to fall into, but I don't think we have a lot to worry about here, really.

Marquis shoots for 10th straight

2004-08-23T15:10:00.000-07:00

From MLB.com:

What do you know? The Cardinals are going back to Cincinnati. Again. Once more. Yep, back to old Cincy.
For the third time since the All-Star break, the Redbirds and Redlegs will meet at Great American Ball Park this week. It's a three-game series, after which the two division opponents will be done with one another for the season. They will be the 11th, 12th and 13th games played between Cincinnati and St. Louis in a span of six weeks.

Jason Marquis tries to win his 10th straight decision when he takes the mound for the visitors. It will be the first appearance of his career at GABP, which is not the most popular park among pitchers. A small mound makes for a challenging environment, so Marquis will have to be sharp to keep his streak alive.

Still, the Cards have pounded the Reds for most of the season, amassing a 13-3 record in the series. That includes a 6-1 mark in Cincinnati, where they had a great deal of trouble in 2003.

Rookie Josh Hancock will be hoping to make it two wins in a row over the Cards. He beat Woody Williams in his first career appearance against St. Louis on Aug. 18. However, pitchers have tended to have much less success in their second shot at this lineup than the first. Ask Pirates left-hander Sean Burnett, who was pounded on Saturday after pitching six shutout innings against St. Louis in late June.

Tuesday's game opens a six-game road trip for the Cardinals. After leaving Cincinnati, they head to Pittsburgh for three games. Following this trip, the Cards are done with both the Reds and Pirates for 2004.

Cards shoot for seven straight

2004-08-11T14:17:00.000-07:00

Starting pitcher Jeff Suppan will need to throw some solid innings tonight after last night's heavy reliance on the bullpen. The Cards logged their sixth straight win last night in Florida. A pitcher will likely be added to the roster in time for tonight's game, but even with the extra help, Suppan will be expected to pitch at least seven innings if at all possible. He has pitched over six innings in his last five starts, and he will be attempting a tenth win for the season tonight.

Carl Pavano of the Marlins will take the mound against Suppan. Pavano is hot this year with an ERA over a run lower than his career avg. Mike Matheny and Larry Walker have batted well against Pavano in the past, so look for them to add runs to the scoreboard.

Hope you get a chance to catch the game!

GO CARDINALS!!!

Pujols to represent in Japan

2004-08-06T13:03:00.000-07:00

Albert Pujols will participate as one of 28 Major League players to tour Japan this November in an MLB all-star cast. Congratulations, Al!

Tonight, Matt Morris will face Tom Glavine and the NY Mets in the 4th game of a 6 game homestand. The Cards are looking to set an MLB record by posting 70 wins tonight. Look for Scott Rolen and Edgar Renteria to hit well against Glavine, whom they've had luck against in the past. Should be a tense one!

GO CARDS!!!

Cards face Expos

2004-08-03T13:35:00.000-07:00

From MLB.com:

With yet another winning road trip in the books, the Cardinals come back home on Tuesday. They begin a two-week stretch of playing NL East teams, after which they are done with that division for the year.
Jason Marquis / P
Born: 08/21/78
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 210 lbs
Bats: L / Throws: R

More info:
Player page
Stats | Splits
Team Site

Jason Marquis pitches for the home team, and that's good news for them because he's been the Cardinals' hottest starter lately. He pitched 15 innings without allowing a run over his past two starts, and he has won eight straight decisions.

Tony Armas Jr. goes for the Expos, trying to bounce back from an iffy start his last time out. Before that game, in which he gave up four runs in 4 1/3 innings, he had held five straight opponents to two runs or fewer. He's having a strong year overall, but has walked 33 batters in 49 2/3 innings.

Tuesday's game begins a six-game homestand for the Cardinals and is the fourth of six games between the two teams this season. After the Expos leave town, St. Louis will welcome the Mets to Busch Stadium.

Anyone feeling confident against the expos?

Winning on the road

2004-07-28T13:09:00.000-07:00

From MLB.com:

Baseball's best road team aims for its sixth sweep away from Busch Stadium this year when the Cardinals look to finish off a three-game whitewash of the Reds. St. Louis carries an impressive 33-16 road record and has not had a losing road trip all year.

Pitching for the Cardinals will be a man who epitomizes their road success, Jeff Suppan. The right-hander is 6-0 away from St. Louis with a 2.39 ERA, as opposed to 3-6, 4.80 at Busch. Suppan has allowed four homers in his past three starts, after going four straight games without giving up a dinger.
Struggling Jose Acevedo opposes Suppan. The promising young righty has been hammered for 17 runs in his past three starts, and has held only one of his past seven opponents under four runs. Left-handed hitters are pasting Acevedo this year, hitting .349 against him.
Wednesday's game is the third of a six-game road trip for St. Louis, and afterward the Cards finally get a break. Thursday brings the team's first off day since the All-Star break. Over the weekend, the Redbirds play the Giants in San Francisco.

Let's take the Reds again tonight, St. Louis!

GO CARDINALS!!!

Carpenter vs. Zambrano and the Cubs

2004-07-19T15:31:00.000-07:00

It's great to see teams bring out their heavy artillery against rivals...adds to the excitement, I suppose. Which is why you should watch Chris Carpenter, one of our most effective boys on the mound, in tonight's game against the Cubs, who will be putting Carlos Zambrano (2004 All-Star) on the rubber. Should be a great matchup, with the Cards trying to keep a comfortable lead in the NL and the Cubs working their way up the ladder. Be sure to catch it!!

GO CARDINALS!!!

NL loses to AL

2004-07-14T12:25:00.000-07:00

From MLB.com:

The crowd had barely calmed itself from the buzz created by the appearance of ceremonial first-pitch honoree Muhammad Ali when Clemens put the National League in a quick six-run hole, which led to a 9-4 American League win.

An Ivan Rodriguez RBI triple and two-run homer by Manny Ramirez gave the AL an immediate 3-0 lead. With two outs, Jason Giambi reached on a Jeff Kent error, and after Derek Jeter singled to left, game MVP Alfonso Soriano cleared the bases with a first-pitch homer to left field that gave the AL a six-run advantage.

Cards players Renteria and Pujols knocked in an RBI double each, lending solid performances to the NL effort. Way to play, Cardinals!!!

Tomorrow we head to Cincinnati to play the Reds in a weekend 4-gamer. Should be an interesting series, with two teams capable of impressive performances.

GOOD LUCK, CARDS!!!

GO CARDS!!!

2004-07-12T14:26:00.000-07:00

Hey St. Louis fans!!!

I'm starting this blog to post news and opinions on the St. Louis Cardinals, my favorite baseball team. If you're not up to date on the Cardinals' progress this season, we've got the best avg in the National League right now (.621) and we're looking stronger than ever. We've just come off a 2-1 series against the Chicago Cubs, and after the All-Star break we'll be facing the Reds in Cincinnati. Since it's the break, there's not much to say right now (guess I should have thought of that :-), but once we get back into the swing, I'll be posting regularly. Enjoy the rest, Cardinals!!!

BTW, if you have any questions, comments, or whatever else you can fit in a dialog box, feel free to send it on through. I'll be waiting!!! ;-)