Pulsipher extends run of scoreless innings to 6
By Joe Strauss of the Post-Dispatch
03/15/2005
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The transformation of Bill Pulsipher from lefthanded novelty act to legitimate contender for a spot in the Cardinals' opening day bullpen continued Tuesday as he secured the save with three strikeouts in a 5-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles.
As general manager Walt Jocketty noted afterward, "He keeps getting people out."
Pulsipher, 31, last pitched in the major leagues for Boston in 2001 and gained an invitation to major-league camp primarily because his former New York Mets teammate, Jason Isringhausen, lobbied Jocketty.
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King works side session
Seven days after making his only Grapefruit League appearance, King threw about 40 pitches from a bullpen mound at the team's Jupiter complex. Pitching coach Dave Duncan oversaw the work before heading south and proclaimed it a success upon rejoining the team at Fort Lauderdale Stadium. King might make a game appearance Friday in a split squad game or in Orlando Saturday against the Atlanta Braves.
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Carpenter vs. Sosa
Chris Carpenter made his third spring start a successful one, lasting four innings without a run or a walk and prompting Duncan to describe the Cardinals' opening day starter as "right where he needs to be."
Carpenter added his signature to the outing by repeatedly challenging Orioles right fielder Sammy Sosa during a third-inning at-bat. Mixing in only one off-speed pitch in reaching a full count, Carpenter bore a fastball in on Sosa's hands, shattering his bat (no cork was found) for an inning-ending grounder to short.
"It was good," Carpenter said. "My changeup was good, my fastball was good and my curve was good. ... I'm comfortable with all my pitches right now."
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ESPN Sports Nation Poll
Who is the best preseason pick for NL MVP?
Beltran - 15%
Bonds - 19%
Pujols - 54%
Ramirez - 7%
Thome - 5%
Total votes: 76,172
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Construction of new Busch Stadium draws its own fans
By Jeffrey Tomich of the Post-Dispatch
03/16/2005
Work on the stadium is moving clockwise. Crews are about halfway finished erecting the steel skeleton, which reaches most of the way down the first base side of the park, followed closely by concrete risers that will be the foundation for 46,000 red seats to be installed beginning this summer.
One of two pedestrian ramps, the one along the third-base side of the park, is finished and is being used by contractors to move men and materials to the upper levels. Carpenters are beginning to frame the suites and, in the belly of the stadium, workers are installing boilers, completing electrical work and building loading docks.
Crews benefited from a mild winter and only occasionally had to delay steel erection because of rain, wind or ice, Loyd said.
Between 350 and 500 workers are on the job up to 10 hours a day, six days a week, depending on the work to be done, Loyd said. Crews are working "selective overtime" when a specific task must be completed, he said.
Nearer completion, work will go on 24 hours a day, every day. The number of people on the project will reach about 900 for much of the finishing work.
