Dyer Cardinal Nation

4/17: Wainwright: The Club among Aces

2008-04-17T06:39:00.000-07:00

Wainwright: The Club among Aces
By Derrick Goold
04/17/2008

DOWNTOWN — In the eighth inning of a rather usual July game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen stepped into the box and faced Bucs lefty Joe Beimel. Isringhausen had come in to close out what was a 9-6 ballgame, but a turn of the lineup had put a bat in his hand with the bases loaded.

So, naturally he ripped a triple, and the box score reads:

Rolen Scores; Renteria Scores; Matheny Scores

And that, that hit by Isringhausen, those three bases that he got in one of only two at-bats that season — one of only five at-bats in his career as a Cardinal — is the reason why Adam Wainwright does not lead the current pitching staff in slugging.

Isringhausen’s slugging percentage as a Cardinal is .800.

After the home run on the first pitch he saw tonight, Wainwright’s is .500.

Of course, when it comes to an actual representative sampling of at-bats — somewhere north of six — no Cards ace can club like Wainwright.

With the assistance of colleague Bernie Miklasz and Magical Mystery Numbers Machine, we — and by we, I mean he — looked up the best slugging percentages all-time by a Cardinals pitcher. Including his 2-for-3 tonight with five total bases, Wainwright upped his career numbers to 38 total bases in 76 career at-bats. The home run was his third career shot, tying him momentarily with Skip Schumaker.

(Wainwright’s chum avoided ridicule a few innings later with a solo shot.)

Wainwright’s .500 career slugging percentage easily outpaces any other pitcher in Cardinals history with, say, about 50 at-bats or more. The top of the list is heavy with contemporary pitchers, including a Silver Slugger. The best baker’s dozen after Wainwright, topped by a name few would ever guess and including a former pitcher who has done a little work on that career slugging percentage recently:

* Kip Wells … 52 AB … .385 SLG
* Allen Watson … 100 AB … .380 SLG
* Jason Marquis … 218 AB … .358 SLG
* Woody Williams … 183 AB … .339 SLG
* Bob Forsch … 859 AB … .327 SLG
* Rick Ankiel … 84 AB … .321 SLG
* Tom Urbani … 63 AB … .317 SLG
* Scott Terry … 92 AB … .315 SLG
* Omar Olivares … 187 AB … .310 SLG
* Bob Gibson … 1,328 AB … .301 SLG
* Darren Oliver … 91 AB … .297 SLG
* Brett Tomko … 61 AB … .295 SLG
* Bryn Smith … 107 AB … .290 SLG

Forsch and Gibson would be considered the best hitting pitchers in Cardinals history — next two a couple former pitchers who eventually made a mark as hitters, natch — and Wainwright lines up well there, though he’s hundreds and hundreds of at-bats behind them.

Forsch … .215 BA/.238 OBP/.327 SLG … 12 HR

Gibson … .206 BA/.243 OBP/.301 SLG … 24 HR

Wainwright … .329 BA/.355 OBP/.500 SLG … 3 HR

Wainwright now has as many home runs in his career as walks. Seven of his 25 career hits are extra-base hits. Not one is a triple. After all, he’s no Izzy.

3:/28 Bonus: Mike Shannon

2008-03-28T07:06:00.000-07:00

So I get this great email forwarded to me from Pat Breheny and he now finds himself responsible for a double posting in one day -- nice job!

I have to ask you all, what self respecting editor for Dyer Cardinal Nation could allow the season to start without some sweet quotes from Mr. Smooth Drinking Busch Beer Man himself? I can't think of a better way to wrap up Spring Training, so get ready and buckle up for a helluva "transition" year of Cardinal Baseball and so long for just awhile.

- andy

===

SHANNON-ISM: a collection of quotes from St. Louis Sportscaster Mike Shannon.

"A hit up the middle right now would be like a nice ham sandwich and a cold, frosty one."

"This big standing room only crowd is settling into their seats."

"It's raining like a Chinese fire drill!"

After Brian Jordan was hit by a pitch for the 4th time on a single road trip: "He must feel like a Ouija board."

(About former Cardinal Bernard Gilkey) "He was originally born in University City."

"He's faster than a chicken being chased by Ronald McDonald!"

(Referring to Mike Schmidt) "the longtime and soon-to-be Hall of Famer."

"He's madder than a pig caught under a barnyard gate."

(About a base stealer) "Sometimes when you feel the urge, you've just gotta go."

"This game is off to a rather conspicuous start, don't you think, Jack?"

"Well, folks, this game began as a tiny worm and is blossoming into a large cobra."

(About Hideo Nomo) "He's the biggest thing to hit Japan since they dropped that bomb on Nagashima!"

"That foul tip bounced up and caught him right in the groins...and that'll really clear your eyes out!"

"Back in the day when I played, a pitcher had 3 pitches: a fastball, a curveball, a slider, a changeup and a good sinker pitch."

(Broadcasting from New York under a full moon) "I wish you folks back in St. Louis could see this moon."

(On the day before Easter) "I just want to tell everyone Happy Easter and Happy Hanukkah."

(After a warning track fly ball) "A couple of strips of bacon at breakfast, and he'd a busted that baby outahere!"

"Things are not always as they appear to be as."

"I tell you, that same river flows the same way".

"Well, he did everything right to get ready for the throw, but if ya ain't got the hose, the water just won't come out."

"Like Spring makes the rains come, so does the edge of the plate grow."

"Our next home stand follows this road trip."

"I don't like that play. I've seen it go opposite more often than positive."

(Referring to a home run by Ted Simmons) "And that's the bread on Simmons' butter."

"The right-hander is throwing up in the bullpen."

During an Eli Marrero at bat, Mike Shannon makes mention that the Cardinals had a lot of Latin players on the team and that "they are a creditable people."

"If you're writing a thesis or something, you could finish it in a week or so if you were catching this guy."

"We'd like to say hello to all those folks listening in Monkey's Eyebrow, Kentucky."

"He ran to second faster than a cat in Chinatown."

"I wouldn't have seen it if I hadn't believed it."

Joe: "Mike, the Cardinals would like to welcome a group of 19 French foreign exchange students in section 382 today."
Mike: "Where they from Joe?"
Joe: "Uhhh... France... I think."

And Mike Shannon's classic: "Ol' Abner has done it again!"

"Oooh, that last pitch inside was a bit questionable and he'd like to say something to the umpire, but he won't say anything. At least not verbally."

"Boy, a frosty cold Budweiser would be great about now", long pause, then "aahhh".

"The wind has switched 360 degrees"

"The Dodgers are ahead by 5 runs or 3 runs or in between there somewhere."

"It was raining so hard I thought it was going to stop."

"This crowd on their feet for the Canadian Star Spangled Banner."

"Don't bite off your head to spite your nose."

"Horner's arguing, he wants an interference call against Cangeloni. Now Cangeloni's got something to say, but here comes Whitey to give a taste of his vocabulary, and it'll have extra mustard on it.

===

3/28: Ballpark Village, Cards Recap, Boom Goes the Dynamite

2008-03-28T06:58:00.000-07:00

Ballpark Village is baseball fantasy
By Bill McClellan
03/28/2008

So the idea of a Village was a myth from the start. Originally, it was part of the Cardinal owners' plan to get as much public money as possible for the new stadium. They knew it would be a difficult sell for wealthy out-of-towners to ask the locals for public money for a new stadium when there was already a very nice stadium. Hence, the myth of a Ballpark Village with its fancy condos, bustling retail center, and flourishing restaurants. It would revitalize downtown.

Yes, just like St. Louis Centre did in 1985.

I think it's time to get our head out of the clouds and start thinking about what to do with that muddy mess that sits just north of the new stadium.

===

Cards wrap up their spring on positive swing
By Joe Strauss
03/28/2008

The Cardinals completed a remarkable Grapefruit League reversal Thursday at Roger Dean Stadium, defeating the Florida Marlins 2-0 on a combination five-hitter started by Lohse. A camp that appeared in chaos barely two weeks ago completed a 12-1-1 finishing kick that coincided exactly with general manager John Mozeliak's reaching terms March 13 with Lohse's agent, Scott Boras, on a one-year, $4.25 million deal.

"I don't think I've seen us lose since I got here," Lohse quipped after working five shutout innings. "I guess I'm a good luck charm. … Yeah, right."

For whatever it's worth, the Cardinals leave Florida with a 17-10-2 spring record. They did not allow more than five runs in any of the past 14 games, worked shutouts in two of the past three and outscored opponents 88-39 during the rush. Their 17 wins tie the record for most Grapefruit League victories since the club relocated to Roger Dean Stadium in 1998. The Redbirds have won 17 games four other springs at The Dean; each time, they reached the postseason.

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Boom Goes the Dynamite

"I'm looking at a club that can win 90-plus games."
- Lou Piniella

My take: Oh Sweet Lou, you best pass after you puff, puff my friend...

ESPN.com reports San Francisco Giants team president Peter Magowan said the team wouldn't bring OF Barry Bonds back, even at a reduced rate. "No, not this team," Magowan said, standing along the first-base line of a ballpark where images of Bonds have been removed. "We're going in a new direction; that would not be going in a new direction. The time has come to turn the page."

My take: Hallelujah and so far my prayers of no team wanting to pick him up have been answered. I cannot even tell any of you how awesome it would be if all of MLB gave Barry the middle finger for 2008.

===

Y! experts peer into a crystal baseball
By Steve Henson, Tim Brown and Jeff Passan

PLAYOFFS
First round: Red Sox over Tigers; Indians over Mariners; Mets over Cubs; Brewers over Dodgers
ALCS: Indians over Red Sox
NLCS: Mets over Brewers
World Series: Mets over Indians

My take: These guys are calling for the year of the Met?! Good Lord have mercy on the free world if Pond Scum think they can take it all.

===

3/26: Reyes, Cards DL & Pitching

2008-03-26T07:08:00.000-07:00

Reyes is likely to go to Memphis
By Joe Strauss

JUPITER, FLA. — If it was an audition for another club, Anthony Reyes' outing Tuesday against the Washington Nationals ranked as a success. If it was a last pitch for the Cardinals' season-opening rotation, better luck next time.

The only remaining question concerning Reyes is whether the Cardinals will option him to Class AAA Memphis or make him one of two long relievers, a move until now rejected by pitching coach Dave Duncan.

===

Cards DL seven, but not Ryan
By Derrick Goold
03/25/2008

JUPITER, Fla. — The Cardinals placed seven players Tuesday on the disabled list for the opening week of the regular season, but the list was noteworthy for who wasn’t on it as much as who was.

Brendan Ryan was not placed on the disabled list and the Cardinals believe that he could be ready for opening day despite the lost time because of soreness in his right rib cage.

“He’s feeling better,” GM John Mozeliak said. “Very encouraging.”

The seven players put on the disabled list were: RHP Chris Carpenter (elbow), LHP Mark Mulder (shoulder), RHP Matt Clement (shoulder), LHP Tyler Johnson (shoulder), RHP Joel Pineiro (shoulder), RHP Josh Kinney (elbow) and OF Juan Encarnacion (eye).

This afternoon offers our first clear understanding of when the injured pitchers are expected to return and in what order. The news: Mulder before Clement. “Oh there’s no doubt,” pitching coach Dave Duncan said today when that order of return was presented to him by reporters. “No doubt in my mind”

Both threw today and the results — or the opinion of the results — were difference enough that Mulder is showing he closer to the rotation than Clement.

* Pineiro — Needs about four/five more starts. Think of it as another spring training.
* Mulder — Soon to be scheduled for a game, then spring schedule and rehab assignment.
* Clement — Going to start year in extended spring. No target.
* Carpenter — Long ways from thinking hitters. No target.

My take: How is it possible that Clement is nowhere near starting? Wasn’t that part of the deal when the team brought him in, checked him out and put him on the roster to begin with –- to help the beginning of the season while we waited on Mulder and Carp?! This development really surprises me and is not cool at all.

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3/24: Pujols, Izturis, McClellan, Mulder, Take 5

2008-03-24T10:33:00.000-07:00

Pujols again is swinging a hot bat
By Rick Hummel
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
03/24/2008

PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. — Albert Pujols is hitting .415, he has five home runs and he's slugging .830 this spring. This hardly is man bites dog material as Pujols does this sort of thing almost every spring and he's repeated it to a large degree in each of his previous seven big-league seasons.

"It wasn't my normal spring last spring, but I felt great," said Pujols. "The wind was blowing in a lot. But I think this is one of the best springs I've had in my career. I started seeing the ball good the first week of the spring, which is not normal. Now, I'm working on different things and I'm getting good results." Asked to amplify on those things, Pujols smiled and said, "Top secret. Can't tell you. Then the league is going to know what I'm working on."

===

Is Izturis solid, or isn't he?
By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
03/23/2008

JUPITER, Fla. — When it comes to his newest charge, shortstop Cesar Izturis, Cardinals coach Jose Oquendo sees more than an infielder caught awkwardly between when to charge and when to wait on a hop. Oquendo recognizes a player grappling with the role the Cardinals need him to play and the one he has been playing — an everyday infielder with an every-so-often routine.

That is what the Cardinals insist he will be.

Three seasons removed from a Gold Glove at the position, Izturis is still feeling for his footing at shortstop. Manager Tony La Russa vehemently insists Izturis has been strong defensively and the errors are not alarming. Izturis turns a double play better than any shortstop he has had in St. Louis, La Russa said. Izturis glides to the ball, has soft hands and a quick-draw release on his throws, La Russa said.

The shortstop has a more bottom-line view. Asked if he believes he has played well defensively, Izturis said: "No, not really."

===

McClellan appears to have made club
By Rick Hummel
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
03/24/2008

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — In October 2006, a young righthanded reliever made something of a name for himself by freezing New York Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran with a called third strike.

The locale Sunday was Tradition Field and not a league championship game in Shea Stadium, and the pitcher was not Adam Wainwright, but St. Louisan Kyle McClellan. The inning was the fifth and not the ninth, but the result was the same. McClellan froze Beltran with a called third strike to stop a Mets rally, and the Hazelwood West product took a giant step toward landing the final berth on the Cardinals' opening-day pitching staff.

===

St. Louis Cardinals starter Mark Mulder back to pitching after shoulder surgery
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
March 22, 2008

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) -Cardinals starter Mark Mulder took another positive step in his rehabilitation Saturday, facing hitters for the first time since undergoing shoulder surgery in September. Mulder threw batting practice to minor leaguers Oliver Marmol, Allen Craig and Daniel Descalso on a back field before the Cardinals game against the Twins. The left-hander threw 30 pitches.

"He made a bunch of big throws," manager Tony La Russa said. "Considering it's the first time out there against hitters it's even more impressive. "It's all coming together so far." Mulder was more pleased with the final 15 pitches.

"I came away very happy," he said. "If I would have thrown all of them the way I started I probably wouldn't have been real happy with it. The way I felt at the end, I was pleased with that."

The Cardinals remain hopeful Mulder can return to the rotation by early May.

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Take 5: Why the Cards may not be as bad as feared
By Jeff Gordon
03/21/2008

...The Cardinals keep generating hints that they might not be nearly as bad as the general public fears. Here are Five Positive Signs from the last several days:

1. Against all odds, the temporary rotation is shaping up.
2. Adam Kennedy can hit! Kennedy seems to have relocated the stroke he had throughout his time with the Angels. After a slow start this spring, he pushed his batting average up to .349.
3. Rick Ankiel is going crazy. Ankiel’s spring training performance (.397, three homers, nine RBIs) has raised expectations. Could he fill the clean-up role against righthanded pitching, allowing newcomer Troy Glaus to hit in the more comfortable No. 5 slot?
4. Ron Villone is viable. In past springs, the Cards have seen an assortment of veteran lefties fail to impress Duncan. But Villone has posted a 1.17 ERA in six appearances, generating hope he could become a key bullpen component.
5. The organization finally has depth. The demise of Scott Spiezio and the inevitable breakdown of Juan Gonzalez chilled the competition for roster spots. In past springs, these unfortunate developments would have been major concerns. But this year the Cards will have plenty of help just a phone call away.

Will the Cards contend this season? Probably not. Will the Cards grow this season and become more solid as the year progresses? Probably so. This may not be one of the most exciting Cards teams ever, but it could become one of the more interesting.

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3/18: Rasmus, Mather, Lohse, Ankiel, Editorial

2008-03-18T14:35:00.000-07:00

Rasmus, Mather among 6 players sent to minors
By Derrick Goold
03/18/2008

JUPITER, FLA. — Top prospect Colby Rasmus and spring surprise Joe Mather were among six players sent to the Cardinals' minor leagues after Monday's game.

"All of these guys had real solid camps," general manager John Mozeliak said. "Not only did they open up a lot of eyes for our major-league staff, but I think they reinforced how a lot of us felt about them when we added them to the major-league roster.

"It wouldn't surprise me if I saw either one of them (this season) in St. Louis."

Rasmus, pitcher Clayton Mortensen and catcher Mark Johnson were reassigned to the minor-league spring training camp. Mather and pitchers Jason Motte and Mike Parisi were optioned to Class AAA. They will join the minors Wednesday.

===

Lohse's preparation pays off
By Derrick Goold
03/18/2008

JUPITER, FLA. — A man without a mound in early March, Kyle Lohse decided not to wait for spring training to come to him. He went to his own spring training.

In the weeks leading up to his signing with the Cardinals, Lohse replicated a spring schedule as best he could, and the results of his preparation were clear Monday. The newly acquired righthander threw 70 pitches and recorded 20 outs — the equivalent of 6 2/3 innings — in a simulated game.

"I was impressed," pitching coach Dave Duncan said. "(Monday) was a good test for him. He passed it as far as I'm concerned. It's obvious that he's been working."

===

Ankiel ready to provide protection?
By Joe Strauss
03/18/2008

On Monday, during prime time on the main field at Roger Dean Stadium, Rick Ankiel again suggested he is ready to provide protection rather than receive it.

More disciplined at the plate, and more comfortable addressing his station on the team, Ankiel extended his convincing spring with a two-run double in a 4-2 exhibition win over the Atlanta Braves.

"I'm doing pretty well, but I'm still eager to get more at-bats," said Ankiel, the Cardinals' leading hitter through 20 Grapefruit League games. "The more you get, the better your timing becomes. It's part of it."

===

Why we're not as bad as the pundits say
By Vic Amato

Iszturus is better defensively than Eck, even though he's rusty in the spring.
Molina is a superior talent behind the plate and handles the pitchers well.
Ankiel should be more at ease now that everyone but Elliot Spitzer was named in the Mitchell Report. He's a talent and he's at the prime hitting age.
Colby Rasmus will make some impact this year when the time is right.
Adam Kennedy was trying to adapt to a new league with a bum knee. He's a much better hitter than he displayed last year.
Troy Glaus is a legitimate 5 hitter. Rolen and Fat Jimmy were no longer legitimate hitters in that spot.
The bullpen is among the stronger in the game.
Izzy is playing for his last contract.
Lohse should take up at least 180 innings and be slightly over .500 -- just like Kip Wells was going to do. Just kidding... He'll be better than that. If they'd have signed Lohse in December, it would have gotten much better play in the press.

My take: As my Minister of Reality, Vic sent this note last week in response to when I was on a tear about Lohse. Talked me off ledge and as always, he makes great points and like it or not, he gets posted in Dyer Cardinal Nation. Nice job CV.

3/13 : Mozeliak, Izturis, Pujo, Kinney, Carp, Jimenez

2008-03-13T07:12:00.000-07:00

Cards Live with Mozeliak
Stltoday.com
3/12/08

A few decent questions from yesterday’s chat on stltoday.com:

Jeremy Landreth: I was really surprised when Larussa decided to sign another contract with us. The Cardinal's brass appear committed to developing players from within the organization. Larussa has always preferred veteran players. How were the two sides able to reconcile on these obvious differences in philosophy?

John Mozeliak: Tony is a HOF manager, but he does understand the direction we are going. You can become younger and still win, and I assure that's our goal to win. Honestly, Tony has been great to work with this off-season and I believe he is excited about our young players coming.

Brian B: With the shortage of reliable pitching available early, why the hesitation to sign someone like Kyle Lohse? I understand we are relying on Carpenter, Mulder, Clement, and now Piniero to get healthy. But wouldn't it be beneficial, as a team "in transition," to bulk up in this area and then trade for prospects with this surplus? And Aaron Miles? Really? Otherwise, I think everyone respects what you have done so far and everyone wishes you the best.

John Mozeliak: I feel everyone missed on the pitching market this year, as of today the only multi-year deal for a starter was Silva. The market was fluid and never reached what many believed would happen. As we sit here today teams are now looking to move their access pitching and there are still a few pitchers out there of interest. I will continue to explore both markets, based on the last few days we need to add depth.
With regard to Miles, he is well respected on this team and gives us great protection at SS/2B. He does have value!

B: Do you seriously think we can get to the playoffs this year with this rotation? Absolutely ridiculous....your the GM for the St. Louis Cardinals not the Kansas City Royals. Make something happen...ask DeWitt for more money. My summer is gonna be ruined.

John Mozeliak: Your summer will not be ruined, look at this way you get a chance to watch a rotation truly evolve. Consider the following addition each month. Clement, Mulder, and then finally Carpenter. But I get your point and will continue to look for ways to save your summer.

===

Will Izturis (or anybody) be the answer for the Cards?
By Jeff Gordon
03/13/2008

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa is encouraged by the progress Kennedy is making at the plate. And he remains a big Izturis fan, based largely on what he saw earlier in Cesar’s career.

So La Russa isn’t sweating Izturis’ poor offensive and defensive start this spring. “You just watch, he’s a real good looking fielder,” La Russa said. “He has great, quiet hands. He has an accurate arm. He’s very quick. Picks a ball up like it’s nothing. Very impressive.

“I liked him from the first time I saw him with the Dodgers. He is really fun to watch catch the ball. Offensively, he hasn’t had a big hitting spurt or anything like that, but he’s putting the ball in play. He’s working. He’s also shown, by the way, good legs. That’s an important part of the game.

My take: Well, well, well, I stand corrected. It appears that besides Adam, TLR loves Cesar. Zapple, not so sure about that All Star appearance though.

===

Cards Notes: Pujols excels with extra rest
By Derrick Goold
03/13/2008

JUPITER, FLA. — As planned, Albert Pujols has seen fewer at-bats in games this spring, but that hasn't slowed how he prepares his swing for the season.

Pujols is a believer that rest will tame the injury, which has been the same since 2003 but caused him discomfort late last season. "This is something that I will play by ear, and so far it's good," said Pujols, whose slugging percentage spiked to .926 after Wednesday's game. "I want to play the next 10, 15 years (without) needing surgery. I'm paid to play. If I can walk, I can run, and I'm going to go out there and play."

My take: Thanks Pujo, good to know that if you rest, you play better... I hear if you match Lotto numbers you win cash.

KINNEY'S ANNIVERSARY

Today is the one-year anniversary of Josh Kinney's elbow surgery, and he continues to grind steadily toward a return to games. Kinney threw 50 pitches from the mound Wednesday and said he "mixed in some breaking stuff. (But) didn't really let one loose." The standard recovery from Tommy John surgery like the procedure Kinney had is a year, but Kinney busted his elbow during rehab, setting him back a few months. He expects to throw a simulated game and face hitters before camp breaks.

"My arm feels good, strong," Kinney said. "There's still room to throw harder, but I don't feel like I'm throwing salad up there. For now, I'm where I want to be. A month from now, I hope to be better."

EXTRA BASES

Chris Carpenter continued progressing in his rehab from Tommy John surgery with a second light throwing session on the mound Wednesday. He said everything continues to "progress nicely" — his mantra this spring. … Clayton Mortensen, a 2007 draft pick, is confirmed as the starter for Friday's game against the LA Dodgers.

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La Russa puts Jimenez on notice
By Derrick Goold
03/13/2008

JUPITER, Fla. -- Cardinals infielder D'Angelo Jimenez muffed a grounder and ended Wednesday's game by taking three strikes with runners on base.

He also drew the ire of Tony La Russa, who wants more from the veteran and nonroster infielder.

Jimenez, once a big-league starting shortstop, is hitting .077.

"He's a savvy player, but he needs to demonstrate it all the time, especially when he's trying to make an impression on an organization," the Cardinals' manager said.

"He has flashes of being a legitimate major leaguer and he shows flashes when he's struggling his (tail) off."

My take: He's still on the roster?!

3/12 : Lohse, Rasmus, Franklin, Edmonds

2008-03-12T10:31:00.000-07:00

Cards seek help on the mound
By Joe Strauss
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
03/12/2008

Four days after Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak downplayed the club's search for additional starting pitching, the club reacted Tuesday to persistent questions about Joel Pineiro's right shoulder by inquiring about free agent Kyle Lohse.

My take: This guy is St. Louis Cardinal Prime Time Work In Progress™ material -- check out these '07 stats -- 192 innings pitched going 9-12 with a 4.62 ERA. With Scott Boras as his agent I can hardly wait to see what kind of $$$ he wants.

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It's now or later for Rasmus
By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
03/12/2008

JUPITER, FLA. — Manager Tony La Russa said Colby Rasmus' batting average is only a small — and misleading — part of the numbers the outfielder has produced. Just like his numbers are only part of the decision whether he'll make the team.

Rasmus, the club's top prospect, is hitting .231, lagging behind the other outfielders vying for big-league jobs. But the real indicators of his spring are his .538 slugging percentage (fifth on the team) and .412 on-base percentage (third best among leadoff candidates).

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Ryan Franklin displays his pitching resume
By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
03/12/2008

JUPITER, Fla.--Before he lets his throwing partner, Russ Springer, free to go about other business, Ryan Franklin has a ritual Springer could do without.

Franklin floats him a few knuckleballs.

"He throws me two or three every time," Springer said. "He's superstitious."

Good thing Franklin doesn't have the habit with all his pitches.

They'd be there awhile.

The Cardinals righthander reliever, who emerged as a shutdown setup man last season, came to the club primarily as a starter, one who had more than a half dozen pitches. Franklin has picked up a new pitch every few years or so, and he's working on another. Earlier this spring, Franklin talked about how he developed or used his unusually expansive array of pitches.

He has used all nine he has in a game. Even that knuckleball.

"It's mediocre at best," Springer said. "OK, he's got a good knuckleball, but why does he need it? He's already got seven pitches."

Or, something like that. But who's counting?

My take: That’s all well and good for 9 pitches but I’d settle for somebody that had 2 great pitches, about 200 innings in him and flirts in a low 3.0-ish ERA.

===

Padres CF : Jim Edmonds said his strained right calf felt "much better" on Saturday. He hurt it Thursday breaking out of the batter's box. "Yesterday I wasn't even able to walk straight ahead. So this is good news." Edmonds met Saturday with a team doctor, who confirmed that the 37-year-old player is expected to be out for 2-3 weeks. "We're just going to hope for the best," Edmonds said.

My take: This is an all time low for our former CF... You got hurt running out of the Batter’s Box? Dude, time to hang the cleats up if you get hurt running across a chalk line.

===

Welcome Back

A special Dyer Cardinal Nation shout out to my favorite beloved Cub-monkey fan Lori Peeples who's back in town from the Big Apple. In a questionable year of Cardinal baseball she will certainly provide entertainment value for those of us here at Switch:Liberate Your Brand.

3/11 : Pineiro, Carp, Duncan, Barton, Misc

2008-03-11T13:16:00.000-07:00

Pineiro delayed, return uncertain
By Derrick Goold
03/11/2008 9:13 am

JUPITER, Fla. — The Cardinals sent ailing righthander Joel Pineiro for a magnetic resonance imaging scan and the results showed no structural damage to his right shoulder. That answers one question for the Cardinals, but doesn’t put Pineiro back on the mound.

The Cardinals have taken Pineiro out of his scheduled start and do not know when he’ll next pitch, manager Tony La Russa said this morning. Anthony Reyes will start in Pineiro’s place Wednesday. They will continue to explore reasons and treatments for the recurring tightness in Pineiro’s shoulder.

My take: In a baseball world where you can never have enough pitching, why are we always so shallow on the mound?

===

As another pitcher falls, Carp climbs
By Derrick Goold
03/11/2008 1:59 pm

JUPITER, Fla. — Cardinals healing ace Chris Carpenter threw a light bullpen off the mound Monday, his first trip up the hill since his failed attempt to pitch through bone spurs last season.

Carpenter threw 20 pitches to a squatting catcher, and did so at slightly more than halfspeed. He joked this morning that he wasn’t lobbing the ball, but wasn’t really “firing it” either. Just as importantly, he came to the clubhouse Tuesday with no soreness or discomfort or swelling in the surgically repaired elbow.

“It was fun to get back out there,” Carpenter said. “I got the ball down real good. It had some pop at the end.”

My take: He can’t get back into this rotation fast enough as I don't think Miles can handle more than 25-30 innings of work this year.

===

Chris Duncan focuses on staying healthy

By Joe Strauss
03/11/2008

DUNCAN'S 2007 in Review

Chris Duncan opened last season on a tear but ended it hurt. A look at his production:

Before All-Star break
.288 avg 236 ab
16 hr 47 rbi
34 bb 68 so

After All-Star break
.209 avg 139 ab
5 hr 23 rbi
21 bb 55 so

Duncan, 26, figures as one of the Cardinals' primary production sources this season. As an important first step, he would love to go about his work uninterrupted.

Leaving him with intense discomfort in his lower left abdomen, a sports hernia and ensuing surgery abbreviated Duncan's '07 season.

My take: Stop screwing around as your time has come to buckle down and not look like a CYC 10 year old fielding the ball. We need you to focus as you'll probably be our starting First Baseman in early May for the rest of the 2008 season.

===

Record lags, but Cards see some encouraging signs
By Jeff Gordon
03/11/2008

...The Cards are pretty much on schedule, despite their 5-8 record in Grapefruit League play.

The spring hasn’t been totally smooth, of course. Albert Pujols is trying to play through a partially torn elbow ligament, an injury that may eventually require surgery. This is a big uncertainty hanging over the team. He believes he can manage the injury with treatment and additional rest, but . . .

The Scott Spiezio Fiasco punched a big hole into the Cards bench, since the club lost a switch-hitting infielder/outfielder with power. He was the team’s Troy Glaus insurance coming into the spring.

Shortstop Cesar Izturis has been the biggest disappointment. He has just two hits in 22 spring at-bats and his fielding has been dreadful. Second baseman Adam Kennedy started poorly as well, but he is starting to show a little life at the plate.

Tyler Johnson’s sore shoulder was another setback, since it compromised the team’s bullpen depth on the left side. The Cards were hoping he would take a step forward this spring, not a step back.

My take: Make sure your 6 point safety harness is buckled – this is a gonna be a helluva roller coaster ride this year.

===

Barton: Sudden impact
By Derrick Goold
03/10/2008

The Cardinals proclaimed surprise that they were able to snag Barton in the Rule 5 draft this winter. Cleveland left him off its 40-man roster less than a year after he was considered one of the Indians' elite prospects. The Cardinals were in search of youth and a righthanded bat and found both in Barton. His speed was just a bonus. It was also a question.

It's likely Barton slipped to the Cardinals in the Rule 5 draft because he was just coming off knee surgery to repair a condition that had caused him discomfort for several seasons.

In the dash for outfield playing time, Barton offers an element that few others do. Only two teams stole fewer bases than the Cardinals last season, and throughout the organization the Cardinals have a need for speed. At Class A and higher, they had only one player rank in his league's top 12 in steals — Rasmus. Barton's speed can change a game.

On Sunday, he drove a liner to the gap in right-center for a triple. Then he scored easily on a wild pitch that didn't leave the grass behind home plate. But La Russa lauded how he nearly beat out a grounder to third for an infield hit.

"That's one element of his game that is interesting to us," general manager John Mozeliak said.

Coder’s take: The Ronnie Belliard dreads are back in the house and he’s the new Twizzler.

===

Viva el Birdos author Larry Borowsky mines this nugget of gold from the history books:

In the last half-century, this franchise has recorded back-to-back losing seasons only once, in 1994-95 — the last year of Dal Maxvill’s reign as general manager, and the first year of Walt Jocketty’s.

My take: Ruh roh.

3/6 : Schumaker, Johnson, TLR, Rolen

2008-03-06T07:44:00.000-08:00

Quiet days in Cardinal Nation...

===

Leadoff spot is beckoning Schumaker
By Joe Strauss
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
03/06/2008

JUPITER, Fla. — Among the many job listings the new-look Cardinals posted entering spring training was for a leadoff hitter, a role long held by veteran infielders (Fernando Viña, Tony Womack, David Eckstein) but now thrown open in the aftermath of Eckstein's departure as a free agent.

One candidate is a 28-year-old outfielder with only 255 major-league at-bats but intimate familiarity with the role.

Schumaker's career has been one of purposeful advancement. He has never hit more than eight home runs in a professional season. The club never has rated him as one of its premium prospects, and his opportunities typically have arisen because of injuries to veteran outfielders. For perhaps the first time, Schumaker may be the right person in the right place at the right time.

"I've hit leadoff forever," he said. "I'm comfortable doing it. It's about getting on base ... pretty simple."

===

Johnson looks likely to start season on the disabled list
By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
03/06/2008

JUPITER, FLA. — Cardinals reliever Tyler Johnson is expected start the season on the disabled list, and he will have to be more diligent in his conditioning or risk a chronic shoulder problem, the team's doctor said.

===

La Russa resents focus on Cards named in report
By Joe Strauss
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
03/05/2008

JUPITER, Fla. -- Cardinals manager Tony La Russa reacted with some indignation to the focus placed on the five players in camp mentioned in last December’s Mitchell Report, including three acquired since its publication.

"There’s a lot of freshness here and a lot of opportunity in this camp," La Russa said. "And I do resent the implication that some of the guys on this club who were mentioned are not good guys.

"Overall, this is definitely not a haven for guys (who used performance-enhancing drugs). Just because somebody makes one mistake in their career doesn’t make them a bad guy or a bad teammate.

"If a guy demonstrates during his career that he’s a good competitor and a good teammate, I don’t think one mistake means he should be . . . ostracized. I believe the guys here are good competitors and good teammates."

La Russa expected his willingness to acquire controversial free agent slugger Barry Bonds to attract media blowback, but thought that the insinuations made about the club’s embrace of Rick Ankiel, Ryan Franklin Troy Glaus, Juan Gonzalez and Ron Villone — all of whom were cited by Mitchell’s investigation — bordered on self-serving.

Aware that some within the industry have taken a harder stance, even professing to have no interest in suspected users of HGH or steroids, La Russa alleged hypocrisy.

"Are you telling me that those people truly believe they have no one within their organization who may be involved?" said La Russa, very mindful of recent comments by Colorado Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd that he would never acquire a player linked to the scandal. "I have a real hard time with that one."

In Their Own Words...

"I actually don't feel like I have a problem playing for managers, [With my] history, people might think otherwise. I don't think I'm necessarily an overly difficult person to get along with. I want to show up and be accountable and do the job to the best of my ability." -- Scott Rolen

3/4: Buck, Looper, Selig, 'Roids in STL

2008-03-04T06:35:00.000-08:00

Run of Bucks broadcasting Cardinals comes to an end
By Dan Caesar
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
03/04/2008

For the first time since 1960, there won't be a Buck in a Cardinals broadcast booth this year.

Joe Buck, who had been doing the play-by-play for a few Redbirds games on FSN Midwest in recent seasons, has decided not to return in order to enjoy himself at the ballpark in a nonworking capacity.

"It's nothing more than it feels like it's time to make that change and to concentrate on some other things and basically go to Cardinals games as a fan,'' he said Monday night. "I'm a fan, and I love to go down there with my wife and two daughters. The fun of that now is more appealing than anything to me.''

My take: Say it ‘aint so Joe!

===

Looper's sinker is solid in defeat
By Rick Hummel
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
03/04/2008

VIERA, Fla. — Righthander Braden Looper pitched more than effectively in his first outing of the spring, though he was the losing pitcher in a 3-2 setback Monday against the Washington Nationals. Looper, throwing his sinkerball an estimated 80 percent of the time, recorded seven ground-ball outs and gave up just three hits and one run in three innings.

Looper, one of the few assured of being in the Cardinals' rotation in the first week of the season, threw 24 strikes out of 36 pitches. But then, isn't Looper always good in the daytime?

Last year, his first as a starter, Looper, 33, was 7-1 with a National League-best 1.69 earned run average in 10 daytime starts. By contrast, he was 5-11 and 6.75 in 20 nighttime starts.

My take: Awesome. We'll have special daytime pitchers and special evening hurlers... that's swell.

===

Selig: There's no ban on Bonds
Also tells Astros it's up to them about Rocket in camp
Associated Press ©2008

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Bud Selig says he isn't trying to keep Barry Bonds out of baseball, and the commissioner told the Houston Astros it's up to them whether to have Roger Clemens in their spring training camp.

Selig made the comments in an informal meeting Saturday with reporters at Scottsdale Stadium, where the San Francisco Giants played the Oakland Athletics.

"Every club is free to do whatever they want with whom," said Selig, adding that he had not read Bonds' grand jury testimony that was ordered released by a judge on Friday.

When asked if it was appropriate for Clemens to be in Astros camp, Selig said: "I have said to (owner) Drayton McLane and the Houston club that that's a decision they have to make."

My take: Holy shitake mushrooms, what’s this?! Selig being non committal? I’m so shocked I may go lie down.

===

Cardinals deny being lax on 'roids
By Joe Strauss
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
03/04/2008

This spring, the Cardinals are being examined, and in some cases criticized, for leading in another category: active players implicated in former Sen. George Mitchell's report in December to Major League Baseball. Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt insists the organization is not "permissive" about the presence of performance-enhancing drugs within the game but is ready to "move ahead" rather than fixate on findings that may or may not have been independently corroborated.

My take: Remember this Cardinal Nation: TLR asked management less than a month ago -- for the second year in a row -- if we could pursue Bonds. To quote Forrest, Forrest Gump, that’s all I have to say about that.

3/3: Pujols, Rasmus, Simmons, Ponson, Johnson

2008-03-03T07:36:00.000-08:00

Pujols sounds off
By Joe Strauss
03/03/2008

"It's hard to walk in here and not see people like Jimmy, Eckstein and Rolen. But at the same time you get excited to see the young kids here who want to play the game and learn," Pujols said. "We don't have that many veteran guys even though we have a veteran bullpen. We have guys like myself, (nonroster outfielder Juan) Gonzalez and Molina. We'll help these guys like Mike Matheny, (Edgar) Renteria and (Mark) McGwire helped me in 2001.

"I still remember Darryl Kile saying, 'I'm doing this for you because you will do it for others.' That's what I'm doing."

My take: Nice nod to DK Pujo!

===

Cards Notebook: Rasmus reaches (again)
By Derrick Goold
02/29/2008

Colby Rasmus, the Cardinals' top prospect, entered Thursday's game as a pinch runner for Albert Pujols — not that he's had any trouble reaching base on his own.

Including the exhibition against St. Louis University, Rasmus has reached base in his first six plate appearances. He doubled and walked Thursday, and he's three for three with three walks and four runs scored.

"If spring training ended tomorrow," La Russa said, grinning, "he'd have a hell of a shot."

My take: I am anxious like you all to see how this kid plays. Thanks for the email on Friday Zapple, it's still newsworthy even this week.

===

After 20 years, Ted Simmons suits up one more time
By Rick Hummel
03/03/2008

MARYVALE, Ariz. — It's not that Ted Simmons, probably the Cardinals' greatest catcher of all time, had been away from baseball after he retired from the Atlanta Braves in 1988. In fact, he had done a little of everything.

But now, at age 58, he has taken the highly unusual step of putting on a uniform for the first time in 20 years. He signed on as the Milwaukee Brewers' bench coach, where he will assist manager Ned Yost, who was soaking up knowledge from Simmons 25 years ago as the backup catcher on a Milwaukee team where Simmons was a star.

My take: Say it ain’t so Simmons... The flippin’ Brewers?!

===

Notebook: Ponson reappears
By Derrick Goold
03/03/2008

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Cardinals will lend former pitcher Sidney Ponson a place and a mound to throw for scouts Thursday at lunchtime.

Ponson, who made 13 starts for the Cardinals in 2006, is said to have slimmed down to 245 pounds and cranked up his fastball to 91 mph.

Because he'll be on their spring-training campus, the Cardinals will have scouts in attendance, and they are interested is seeing what he has. "Just keep an open mind," manager Tony La Russa said.

My take: I swore I saw Ponson working at Taco Bell last week...

===

Concern for reliever Johnson
By Derrick Goold
03/03/2008

Lefthanded reliever Tyler Johnson will have an MRI taken of his left shoulder today to determine if there is an injury. Johnson stopped throwing during his warm-up for Saturday's game because of tightness and soreness in the shoulder.

Johnson came to spring training in good throwing shape, coaches say, but they were not as pleased with his overall conditioning. La Russa said the lefty had been ill. The manager said given those factors, a shoulder problem was "not a big surprise."

My take: Do we get a group discount for MRI’s or do we have a punch card that every 10th one is free?

2/28: So Long Scott Spiezio

2008-02-28T11:48:00.000-08:00

Kudos to the Cardinals for swiftly dismissing Scott Spiezio.
By Bernie Miklasz
02/28/2008

Owner Bill DeWitt, GM John Mozeliak and the organization made a strong statement about establishing standards for personal conduct.

Mozeliak, in particular, stood up in a strong way that reaffirmed that there's a new GM in charge, and he won't be weak.

Human beings make mistakes, and are entitled to second chances as long as they're genuine about growing from the experience in a way that makes them a better person. Tony La Russa and his DUI in Florida last spring is an example of what I'm talking about. La Russa was ashamed by what he did, and I'd be absolutely shocked if TLR ever put himself in that irresponsible position again. He learned from his poor judgment.

But Spiezio was given many chances by the Cardinals. He was signed off the street when no one wanted him after the 2005 season. As we found out later, he was given an opportunity to get his act together early in the 2007 season, when rumors of his use of alcohol and substances began to surface. The team backed him again when he went into a rehab facility last season. They supported him again, and with a warm embrace, when he checked out of rehab and returned to the uniform. And they were behind Spiezio again by bringing him back for 2008.

At some point, he had to return that loyalty. He had to prove that he was trustworthy and reliable and honest and clean. And Spiezio failed miserably on all counts. For this knucklehead to essentially conceal the nature and magnitude of the wild spree that allegedly occured on the night of Dec. 30 in Irvine, Calif. was simply unacceptable, and unforgivable.

And this is especially true in the aftermath of Josh Hancock killing himself by driving drunk last April.

===

Spiezio's con was so good it even had him fooled
By Bryan Burwell
02/28/2008

JUPITER, FLA. — It was all unraveling before him, his life, his job and the flimsy lies he had desperately used to hold them all together. So now Scott Spiezio was in the players' parking lot at Roger Dean Stadium on Wednesday afternoon pacing anxiously with a cell phone pressed to his ear. He was animated and agitated and behaving like a cornered man, which is exactly what he was.

"He kept walking back and forth kicking the curb," said a concerned teammate who had no idea what was wrong. What was wrong was that Scott Spiezio had blown it. The Cardinals had given him a second chance after he'd missed part of last season in rehab for substance abuse. They had given him a second chance even after he'd breezed through that rehab like it was a fast food drive-through. They'd given him a second chance, and he spent the past few months telling everyone and anyone who'd listen that he was an inspiring comeback story.

And we all fell for the con. On Tuesday morning, he was on the front page of the Palm Beach Post in a touching story about how he'd turned his life around. But it was a lie and he knew it. There was an arrest warrant in California with his name on it, and now on Wednesday afternoon, it became public, and the details were beyond disturbing. The 35-year-old infielder was accused of going on a drunken binge, climbing behind the wheel of his expensive sports car, weaving dangerously through lanes into oncoming traffic, then crashing to a halt when he ran into a fence in the early morning of Dec. 30.

And then he lied to the Cardinals about it. He told them it was a car accident and nothing more, which is sort of like saying a trip on the Titanic was just a boat ride. And Wednesday Cardinals management did the absolute right thing for their organization and this troubled man. They told him he was done in a Cardinals uniform.

Yet they also sent a message that should resonate into every corner of their clubhouse, their organization and throughout Cardinals Nation. "I think there is a message," said general manager John Mozeliak. "Clearly given what is at stake, we want people to understand that ... we do have expectations about how they live their lives. Not trying to be the moral compass, but we felt it was the right thing to do for this organization."

===

Spiezio had to go — for his sake and the team's
By Jeff Gordon
02/27/2008

...The Cards must move forward without Spiezio. In baseball terms, this is a tough blow.

When healthy, Spiezio could fill in at the corner outfield and infield spots -– and play second base in a pinch. He could hit from both sides of the plate and provide power.

At his best, Spiezio could do the job of two bench players and give La Russa great tactical flexibility. His abrupt departure is just one more sign that 2008 will be a rebuilding year for the former champions.

His demise is just another unhappy development for this team. Juan Encarnacion could not make it back from his eye injury. Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder are on the mend from major surgery.

David Eckstein and Troy Percival left as free agents. Scott Rolen demanded a trade and was moved to Toronto for Troy Glaus. Mozeliak sent Jim Edmonds to San Diego in a salary dump. One by one, key veterans from a once-formidable clubhouse have gone by the wayside.

The Cards are starting over. Young infielder Brendan Ryan moves up a peg, since he can play third base in addition to shortstop and second base.

The team’s youthful outfield depth becomes more critical. Extra veterans like Brian Barden and D’Angelo Jimenez suddenly have more hope, too, as La Russa explores all his options.

As for Spiezio, well, you can only hope he finds his way. He faces the distinct possibility that his career is done.

Perhaps this stark realization will scare him straight. Nothing else has.

===

My take:
All of you that know me can only imagine the soapbox I was on late yesterday ...

He is a classic example of squandering god given talent and family connections to be able to PLAY A GAME FOR A LIVING at the Major League level. And what does he do? Takes a second chance that 99.5% of players and wanna be major leaguers never get and gives everyone around him and his fans in STL the middle finger.

AP article I read said, “Spiezio was entering the final season of a two-year, $4.5 million contract. He was released the same way most players are cut, for failure "to exhibit sufficient skill or competitive ability." That means the Cardinals owe him this year's $2.3 million salary plus a $100,000 buyout of a $2.5 million team option for 2009 -- because of that, the likelihood of a grievance by the players' union is small.”

That’s a lot Mr. Red Soul Patch Man, you lied, played us in Cardinal Nation for fools and have cost us 2.4 million dollars for the next year so you can go to a pish posh rehab resort on our dime and “find yourself”. Nicely done skipjack.

By the way, Spiez, that flushing sound you hear is your MLB career.

2/27: Rolen, TLR, Matheny, Clement

2008-02-27T07:07:00.000-08:00

Rolen: 'It had to happen'
By Joe Strauss
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/27/2008

DUNEDIN, FLA. — Scott Rolen says he misses St. Louis, the fans and "the celebration of the game ... being a St. Louis Cardinal."

But dressed in the deep tones of a Toronto Blue Jays jersey, the one-time Cardinal for life is also visibly relieved.

"I'm happy to be here with the Blue Jays. It's a great environment. It's a fresh start. It's a new challenge with a good group of guys and a good team," offered the Jays' new third baseman. "Never in a million years did I think it would be the situation. I never wanted that situation. I was never looking for a fresh start.

"It came to a point where it had to happen. Because it had to happen, I'm glad to be where I am."

Rolen offered the same theme almost six years ago when the Cardinals rescued him from a ruined relationship with the Philadelphia Phillies. The son of the Midwest had come home. His reward was a World Series ring, a top four MVP finish and four Gold Gloves.

My take:
Whatever you big cry baby... I think we should start a pool for how many weeks/months it'll take before he starts whining about something up there in the frozen north.

===

No worries for La Russa — until they start playing
By Bryan Burwell
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/27/2008

..."You know how sometimes you watch a game and it's one of those sleepy spring training games?" the manager said. "Well, I'll be absolutely shocked if you see us play any of those. A lot of the positions in these games are being manned by guys who are playing for their lives; they're fighting to see how many at-bats they can get, how many innings will they pitch."

So La Russa walks around with his typical "glass is half-full" optimism, even though most of Cardinal Nation is full of "glass is half-empty" trepidation. We see sore arms everywhere. We see an everyday lineup banking on salvation from a former two-time MVP who hasn't taken a major-league at-bat since 2005 and has Mitchell Report whispers lingering around him.

But no one's started to keep score yet, so La Russa wants us to squint a bit and share his vision. "I'm not blowing smoke," he says. "I'm optimistic, and here's the difference. If I said right now that we're as good a club as there is in baseball that would be nonsense, because we've done nothing to establish that. But here's what I do know: We're going to play hard enough. I just don't know if we're going to play good enough. We'll have to wait to see how that all works out. But I can tell you this: Playing hard enough can be a very attractive thing."

It's February, and no one's started to keep score. Let's check back with him again in June and see if he still feels that way.

===

Matheny leaves, but Cards hope he returns
By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/27/2008

JUPITER, Fla. -- Former Cardinals catcher Mike Matheny spent his last day in spring training Tuesday, but he’s been told the door is open for his return.

The Cardinals and manager Tony La Russa hope that Matheny, a former Gold Glove winner, will drop by the ballpark during home stands and continue his work with the catchers.

My take:
Matheny went on to say something about the next 10 years were for his kids which is pretty awesome. Wouldn't surprise me to see him wander in and out of Cardinal stuff for a few years before taking on a more official role...

===

Cards Notebook: Clement update
By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/27/2008

JUPITER, Fla. -- Righthander Matt Clement is scheduled to throw his last long toss today before returning to the mound this week and restarting his progression toward games.

Clement, coming off shoulder surgery, had his schedule rewritten around a long-toss program to improve his arm strength.

"There’s a big difference," he said. "It’s a matter of now being able to get out there and go with high intensity and stay with it, rather than just going out there and just doing it."

My take:
At this rate, maybe the Ticket Office should look at a Pitcher Rehab Weekend Ticket Package in July. Carp could start the Saturday game and Clement the Sunday one. Brutal.

===

2/26: TLR, Bonds, Walker, Wainwright

2008-02-26T06:50:00.000-08:00

La Russa on McGwire, others in Mitchell Report
By Bryan Burwell
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/26/2008

Q: You have more than your fair share of Mitchell Report guys on this team. Does it bother you that there's a perception that you give safe harbor to steroid guys?

La Russa: "No, and I'll tell you why not. One way I was taught to survive is my No. 1 accountability factor is myself. This is my 30th year doing this at the major league level. There isn't anybody — the commissioner, our owner, the fans, you — there isn't any person, man or woman, who can make me any more accountable than I am now right now because of myself. And I know there isn't anything we've done in all those years that was — with one small exception where we stole signs, a little hiccup — there isn't anything else that has happened on our ballclubs in Oakland or St. Louis that there's a hint of illegality. There isn't anything that we didn't actively and proactively attempt to do it right."

Q: But that's not what most of us think.

La Russa: "You're missing my point. If I'm going to base the way I survive on everything that others think, I have no chance."

Dyer Perspective:
This is a great article and if you have time, go to stltoday.com to read the rest of the story.

===

La Russa wanted to pursue Bonds
By Joe Strauss
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/25/2008

JUPITER, Fla. — The possibility of free agent home run king Barry Bonds hitting behind Albert Pujols in the Cardinals' batting order remained intriguing enough this winter for manager Tony La Russa to take the idea to general manager John Mozeliak and team owners a second consecutive year, La Russa confirmed Sunday.

And for a second straight winter, the idea died in committee.

"When you look at somebody dangerous to hit behind Albert, Barry was the guy I thought of," La Russa acknowledged before Sunday's workout. "For whatever reason, at the general manager or the ownership level, they didn't agree."

La Russa said he consulted his coaching staff before making the recommendation and received a positive response from some, but not all.

Any intrigue surrounding the possibility evaporated when Mozeliak concurred with the owners that signing Bonds would run counter to the club's stated commitment this season to younger players.

"It became moot as soon as I raised it and they said no," La Russa said.

Mozeliak confirmed discussing the matter as well as underscoring his lack of enthusiasm for the idea.

"Tony and I discussed it. I never got the feeling this was something he wanted to push for. He had some interest in it," Mozeliak said. "To me, to bring in somebody as protection in case something happened is a very different equation."

Dyer Perspective:
What in the hell Tony - did you do a Coder and slip and fall in the shower and bust your head? The last thing we need in St. Louis right now is a clubhouse distracting, big headed, overly-hyped, needle pushing, asteriked Barry Bonds. The man is a Carnivale Sideshow that Cardinal Nation wants absolutely NOTHING to do with. Nice job Mo, you’ve got my unwavering support on this issue.

===

Walker weighs in on steroids era
By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/26/2008

JUPITER, Fla. — When the report that called into question the era in which he starred became public, former Cardinal Larry Walker shared a laugh with a few neighbors.

"Gee, I might go into the Hall of Fame now," Walker said he joked. "There's nobody left from when I retired. I'm the only one that year who didn't get busted."

He jests and exaggerates, but he may have a point.

Walker, who retired in 2005, joined the Cardinals' spring training Monday as a guest coach. He'll make a few appearances this week — working with outfielders, throwing batting practice and cracking wise — and then be a regular around workouts later in March. From 1995 to 2002, no hitter had a better average than Walker's .341 for Colorado. He won three batting titles (hitting .350 or better for each) and won the MVP in 1997, the eve of baseball's brawniest summer.

The Mitchell Report identifies the late 1990s and early 2000s as the time steroids and other banned substances took root in the game and became "widespread." The stain of steroid allegations has already affected Hall of Fame voting, so could it have the opposite effect on bubble candidates like Walker, who had seven Gold Gloves to go with a .313 average and 383 homers in a career hampered by injury?

"If I stuck a needle in me, then there was pancake batter in it, not steroids," Walker joked. He then said: "Do I feel good that I did it clean? My feeling on the steroid thing (is) if it wasn't banned, then what's the problem? I think once they started testing, once they banned it from the sport, why don't they go forward from there instead of digging into the past to see what happened?

"I don't know what the politically correct thing to say on this topic is," Walker continued. "That's just my opinion."

Dyer Perspective: Pancake batter?

===

Wainwright seems set for opening day
By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/25/2008

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Cardinals are reluctant to confirm the obvious, but Adam Wainwright is set to be the club’s opening day starter.

The righthander, and proxy ace of the staff, will make his spring debut Friday against the New York Mets.

Holding to the Cardinals’ current rotation, Wainwright would be on turn to start March 31 at Busch Stadium against the defending National League champions, the Colorado Rockies, in the regular-season opener.

Dyer Perspective:
Thank God Aaron Miles is back. We may need him this year on the mound at this rate...

===

And, Boom Goes The Dynamite
Contributing Editor: El Birdos

Yadier Molina offered this startling revelation when ask to asses starting pitcher Anthony Reyes.

"When he can locate every pitch, he's totally different."

Dyer Perspective:
Nice observation there Yadi and a tip of the cap to Lt. Dan for the new column.

2/22: Ryan, Kinney, TLR, Izzy, Spring Outlook

2008-02-22T06:41:00.000-08:00

Ryan feels a hunger to return
By Joe Strauss
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/22/2008

JUPITER, Fla. — Brendan Ryan tries to calm himself, but it's little use.

Here, in his third major-league camp, Ryan represents something of a test case within an organization that has pledged to create more opportunities for younger players. He is still 25, coming off a solid rookie year in which he showed well offensively, and offers the versatility a transitioning Cardinals team claims to embrace.

In many ways Ryan is the canary in the clubhouse. When the club re-signed utility player Aaron Miles and free-agent shortstop Cesar Izturis, it created a middle-infield logjam daunting to a player with only 180 major-league at-bats.

"I could be in a much worse position," Ryan says. "But we've got a lot of middle infielders on the roster. If you do the math, I'm in a pretty tough spot."

Unless manager Tony La Russa opts to keep only four outfielders — a possibility he all but dismissed earlier this week — Ryan would become, as he calls it, "odd man out."

Dyer Perspective:
Kennedy will fall flat, Miles will start 2B and Ryan will be a reserve on the bench in the first month of the season.

===

Kinney continues down road to recovery
By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/22/2008

JUPITER, Fla. — So much has happened since Josh Kinney last threw a pitch with major-league purpose — an entire season, for one — and he still has so far to go before he does again.

Like his elbow, his patience is tested with every bit of rehab.

"I feel good, I feel real good," said Kinney, who is recovering from elbow ligament replacement surgery done last spring. "But I have to ease back, because I felt good (last fall) too and had a setback. Intensity isn't a main priority right now. Repetition is."

Kinney is scheduled to upgrade to 45 pitches off the mound today, but he is under strict orders to throw at around 60 percent of full effort. The righthanded reliever does not expect to be ready for opening day, and it's possible he'll begin his season on a rehab assignment. While he continues to expand his workouts on the mound, Kinney said it will be a couple of weeks before he incorporates a breaking ball and could be a month before he's game ready.

===

La Russa stresses better defense
By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/22/2008

JUPITER, Fla. — Hidden behind a starting rotation that wheezed and stammered through last season was a defense that didn't do it any favors.

A staple of the Cardinals' October-bound teams earlier this decade was sterling defensive play, which helped to turn a groundball-happy pitching staff into a successful pitching staff. And then there was 2007.

It put an end to the summers of glove.

"That is why there will be a defensive emphasis in this camp," manager Tony La Russa said this week. "We have to be more consistent. Our defense was several levels below what we've been accustomed to."

Led by the addition of former Gold Glove shortstop Cesar Izturis, the Cardinals hope to perform a defensive revival this season. When there is an opening in the daily schedule, La Russa plugs it with defensive work. That has meant more scheduled time for Izturis to spin double plays with Adam Kennedy, and more short-hop drills for Kennedy and the other second basemen, like they had Thursday.

===

Izzy takes pals on excellent RV adventure
By Derrick Goold
02/22/2008

JUPITER, Fla. — Boredom is the fuel of so many road trips.

Jason Isringhausen and a few other Cardinals pitchers let the tedium of the early daze of February take them places a few weeks ago. Here they sat around the spring training clubhouse, realizing that there weren’t many teammates around, there wasn’t anything to do on a Saturday night and, dadgum, none of them planned to work out on Sunday anyway. So, Isringhausen organized the obvious.

They were going to go RV’ing.

“There weren’t that many people here, there wasn’t that much to do,” Isringhausen said. “Seemed like a thing to do.”

And where else do you take an RV than … the infield at Daytona.

Isringhausen scored passes for the 30th annual Budweiser Shootout at the Daytona International Speedway. He had a 37-foot RV delivered from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and in piled a group of pitchers: Isringhausen, Chris Carpenter, Mark Mulder, Todd Wellemeyer and two of his buddies, Adam Wainwright, and bullpen coach Marty Mason. Isringhausen’s dog, Sierra Nevada (yes, you guessed it), also hopped aboard. They packed the standard-issue folding chairs for the kickback atop the RV. They bought some small grills to short-order cookout. They sought flags to fly like the other RVs. And they packed some coolers full of “concessions,” Mason said.

“We acted like your average redneck,” Mason said. “Just go with it.”

Dyer Perspective:
Priceless quote from Mason.

===

Cardinals: Spring Outlook
By Scott Miller
CBSSports.com Senior Writer

Things can't be worse this spring for the Cardinals than last, when manager Tony La Russa was socked with a DUI arrest and things went downhill from there. On the other hand, things aren't significantly better, either. The Cards have downgraded at shortstop with Cesar Izturis over David Eckstein. They didn't exactly cover themselves in glory in trading Scott Rolen to Toronto for Troy Glaus. Two of their best starters -- Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder -- won't be ready on opening day and part of this spring will be about evaluating whether phenom Colby Rasmus, 21, is ready for The Show. That's part of why they traded Jim Edmonds to San Diego. Mulder isn't expected back before May and Carpenter is out until at least the All-Star break. Ah well, at least one-time slugger Juan Gonzalez is riding in to the rescue. Let's see whether he's got anything left this spring.

Dyer Perspective:
Damn. You spell it out like that and I'm starting to think my friend Adam Zapple might be writing for CBS Sportsline under a Scott Miller pen name! It's Spring Training so hope of course springs eternal -- I do think we'll be better than most give us credit for and it'll be an interesting season for sure.

===

CBS Sportsline
The Sports Xchange

TOP CANDIDATE TO SURPRISE
2B Adam Kennedy is coming off the worst year of his career at .219. He finished the season on the disabled list after knee surgery. Presumably healthy, Kennedy should be more comfortable in his second season back in the National League, although, if Kennedy struggles early, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa isn't likely to go too long with him with Aaron Miles in reserve.

TOP CANDIDATE TO DISAPPOINT
RHP Braden Looper won 12 games in his first year as a starter but must improve his nighttime record of 5-11 with a 6.75 ERA. A 4.94 overall ERA doesn't suggest he would win 12 games again.

AUTHORITY FIGURES
Tony La Russa has 2,375 wins (2,070 losses), ranking him third all-time in managerial victories. He is very much a hands-on manager, although he will let pitching coach Dave Duncan make many of the decisions in that category. La Russa is comfortable with his six-man coaching staff, which has been together for five years.

2/21: New Pitcher?, Pujo, Politte, Bonds, Red

2008-02-21T07:41:00.000-08:00

Cards may seek another arm
By Joe Strauss
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/21/2008

JUPITER, Fla. — The Cardinals' signing of free-agent righthander Matt Clement to an incentive-laden, one-year contract last month was intended to address an innings shortage that torpedoed last season's starting rotation.

Now, with Clement's availability for opening day increasingly in question, the club may reconsider whether it needs to import another arm.

Insisting that the organization retain enough flexibility to pursue another pitcher if necessary, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak has spoken with representatives for 2006 World Series hero Jeff Weaver and 2005 AL Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon.

Dyer Perspective:
Wheras Weaver is a complete dumb ass for leaving to begin with, I wouldn't mind seeing him again in Cardinal red. Perhaps he's learned his lesson?

===

Pujols could get more rest this spring, and in season
By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/21/2008

JUPITER, Fla. — Cardinals manager Tony La Russa left open the possibility of instituting some "Pujols Rules" to preserve and protect slugger Albert Pujols' vexing right elbow.

La Russa said Pujols will participate in a limited scope of throwing drills and that "he'll probably have less at-bats in spring when camps ends than in previous years."

Pujols repeatedly has said the sprained ligament in his elbow is not a problem, now. La Russa has said Pujols is "one tweak away" from trouble.

Dyer Perspective:
Hmmm, what did I just say about him getting to 300 HR this year?

===

Politte pitches
By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/21/2008

JUPITER, Fla. -- Cliff Politte, a candidate for the Cardinals' bullpen, returned to the mound Wednesday after a weeklong delay.

The righthander's progress had been slowed so the Cardinals could check the strength of his surgically repaired shoulder.

Politte, a Vianney High grad who was with the Cardinals in 1998, threw 40 pitches.

"We don't know yet how we're going to use him," pitching coach Dave Duncan said of the White Sox former setup reliever.

"We need to use him here to find out. He looked strong, and that's encouraging."

===

A 43-year-old home run king is waiting for phone to ring
By Dan O'Neill
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/21/2008

Baseball's career home run leader is unemployed. He will work. You probably have to give him more than food, but he will work.

As Major League Baseball spreads its spring wings, Barry Bonds is on the outside looking in, unsigned but undaunted. His agent, Jeff Borris, told the San Jose Mercury News that Bonds is in game shape right now.

"The only thing he hasn't done is face live pitching," Borris said. "He's doing all the baseball drills he normally does as he works to get in shape for spring training. His legs are as solid as ever."

On the other hand, figuratively speaking, Bonds' career might be without legs. For one thing, he's facing a possible trial for his federal indictment on perjury and obstruction of justice charges.

Dyer Perspective:
Wonder if Mr. Big Head understands no one really does respect or like him yet?

===

Tip of the cap

How have I gone a couple of posts without a nod to the Redbird legend Red Schoendienst? While we’re getting coated in a sheet of ice up here in STL, Red is down south enjoying his 65th spring training. For those of you keeping score at home, that means his first Spring Training came in the middle of WWII in the Spring of 1943. Wow, nice job Red!

2/20: Gonzalez, Clement, Glaus, Izturis

2008-02-20T10:42:00.000-08:00

Gonzalez comes out swinging in comeback attempt
By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/20/2008

JUPITER, FLA. — Former MVP Juan Gonzalez came out swinging in his attempt to return to the majors, a comeback driven by an unfinished career and a chance to add to what he believes is an unquestioned legacy.

A distinct buzz followed Gonzalez and his batting-practice rockets Tuesday as he joined the Cardinals for their first official full-squad workout of spring training.

After his first day of what could be his last chance at a big-league return, Gonzalez said he's fit and eager to improve on the wealth of numbers he produced as an RBI juggernaut in the 1990s. Numbers, he insisted, he produced cleanly.

"Because you have goals in your mind, you're trying to come back to finish your goals," Gonzalez said. "I'm close to 500 home runs and 400 doubles. It's the goals. When you have goals in your mind, you try inside your heart to try again and see what happens."

The Cardinals signed the 38-year-old outfielder to a minor-league contract and invited him to spring training. There is a spot open on the team for a righthanded power-hitting outfielder, and the Cardinals became intrigued by first-hand accounts this winter of Gonzalez's health and what coach Jose Oquendo called "a renewed desire."

Dyer Perspective:
Wonder if Walker's walker is still around in a broom closet at the stadium?

===

Fans want action, but Cards take patient approach
By Jeff Gordon
02/19/2008

STLtoday.com users are exorcised by Matt Clement's setback at the start of spring training.

Some fans immediately predicted that Clement would miss half the season or more. Many are railing against the Cards medical staff, again.

With mending aces Mark Mulder and Chris Carpenter also missing the start of the season, Cardinal Nation seemed ready to declare a state of emergency.

General manager John Mozeliak hasn’t eased their angst. Rather than rush out to buy one of the remaining free agent pitchers, he is willing to track the progress of his rehabilitating hurlers for a few more weeks while sizing up potential internal replacements.

Why is he so patient? Any pitcher Mozeliak adds now could become superfluous by late summer, if Clement (shoulder), Mulder (shoulder) and Carpenter (elbow) all return. And the Cards pitching sets up wonderfully for 2009, when Mozeliak can count on Carpenter, pick up team options on Mulder and Clement (if they are well) and see which of his top prospects graduate.

Dyer Perspective:
Isn't this vintage Cardinal management at it's finest? Why barter and have to pay for a viable option now if you have all of those "rehab hopefuls" in the stable? Frustrating indeed when the current owners have made so much money with this franchise.

===

Juan here ... healthy … hitting
By Derrick Goold
02/19/2008 3:20 pm

JUPITER, Fla. — Not since a throng of reporters and cameras lined up to watch Detroit Tiger pitchers take fielding practice a year ago had there been such an odd event for a mass of media to attend.

Yet, there we were, tape rolling, shutters clicking, pens scratching as Juan Gonzalez … bunted.

The humor wasn’t lost on manager Tony La Russa, who approached the media with the promise of a “neat note.”

“The first offensive act from a two-time MVP for the Cardinals will be laying down a sacrifice bunt,” La Russa said. “How about that?”

Gonzalez, previously believed to be retired, began his bid for a spot on the Cardinals’ roster with some soft-handed bunts down the first- and third-base lines. He also raked. Matched with Albert Pujols, Troy Glaus and Scott Spiezio in a hitting group, three of that foursome showed why they will never put those bunting drills to use. Consider the credentials (1,112 combined homers) that foursome brought into the cage against batting-practice pitcher Mike Matheny.

* Gonzalez … 434 HR
* Pujols … 282 HR
* Glaus … 277 HR (meaning two Cardinals are on the verge of 300 this season)
* Spiezio … 119 HR

Dyer Perspective:
Are we even gonna see Pujo hit #300 before he goes on the DL with this elbow thing? Doubtful in my opinion.

===

Glaus, Izturis make first appearance
By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/19/2008

The new look left side of the Cardinals' infield arrived Monday, with third baseman Troy Glaus proclaiming health and shortstop Cesar Izturis embracing a starting opportunity.

They even had the same take on their first day in an unfamiliar place.

“Still like the first day of school,” Glaus said, a sentiment echoed later by Izturis after he unpacked a Pittsburgh Pirates bag.

On the eve of the Cardinals’ first official full-squad workout, Glaus reported in time to join Albert Pujols and others on the field for morning batting practice. Izturis checked in later in the day. Scott Spiezio, newcomer Brian Barton and several others also reported Monday, leaving outfielder Juan Gonzalez, the former MVP, as the only player not to come by the clubhouse by Monday night.

Izturis played winter ball to get back in the rhythm of being a regular again after playing a combined 164 games the past two seasons. This winter, Izturis hit .333 with a .348 on-base percentage in 63 games with a team in his native Venezuela.

“New year. New team,” Izturis said. “I think in this game you have to have comfort. Knowing that I have a chance to play every day and be the shortstop, it’s the first time I have comfort.”

Dyer Perspective:
Can these 2 guys "powerhouse" the left side of the infield this year? Think about it, L to R it will be Glaus, Izturis and Kennedy. Combined those three have what, one game experience in a Cardinal uniform. Ouch.

2/18: Clement, Perez, Kennedy, Pujols

2008-02-18T09:13:00.000-08:00

Clement in pursuit of old form
By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/18/2008

JUPITER, Fla. — When the doctor began to explain how the wreckage in Matt Clement's right shoulder resembled the frayed and floppy remnants of a blown tire, the patient told him to stop.

It was ugly. Got it.

Cut to the part where it's better, already.

"After I knew it was as bad as it was, I didn't care to know," said Clement, the Cardinals' new righthanded starter. "I didn't want to know the specifics, because I didn't want to sit here and dwell on it during my rehab. I just wanted to concentrate on what I could do."

Twenty months after he last appeared in a major-league game, Clement and his surgically rebuilt shoulder remain a work in progress. The Cardinals signed him to a potentially lucrative contract with the expectation that he will regain not only his health but his All-Star form. The club wants him to begin the season in the starting rotation even as it stresses, in the words of general manager John Mozeliak, "patience."

Sunday offered a reminder.

Clement threw a standard bullpen session, and afterward pitching coach Dave Duncan and team trainers decided to alter Clement's schedule to increase his arm strength. Duncan doubts Clement will be ready when the regular season starts, as hoped.

"In all honesty, I will be surprised if he's ready for opening day," Duncan said. "And I'm not too sure even if he is ready, we wouldn't likely have him compete somewhere else just to get him in the swing of things. … He's behind. How far? Don't know yet."

===

Cardinals are easing Perez into the picture
By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/18/2008

JUPITER, FLA. — Chris Perez, who is being cultivated as the Cardinals' closer of the future, has the big arm and biting breaking ball that could wedge him into conversations about the present.

The righthander with the 98 mph fastball was one of the first pitchers to throw to hitters this spring training, as he and three other prospects did Sunday. Manager Tony La Russa said Perez has caught his attention and agreed that the pitcher will get a chance to make the big-league roster, akin to top outfield prospect Colby Rasmus.

"He's getting enough attention to where at some point he should pitch in the big leagues, a bit like Colby," La Russa said. "That may take him awhile for the command and all that stuff to come around. If it comes around quickly, he certainly has the physical ability. So we're just going to watch him."

Perez, 22, throws a fastball that routinely zips in the high 90s. Though he showed good command of a curveball Sunday, his better-looking breaking ball is a hard slider that he throws in the high 80s.

===

Kennedy on a mission to prove last season was a fluke
By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/18/2008

JUPITER, Fla. -- Adam Kennedy has heard everything manager Tony La Russa has said about the slim margin for error the second baseman has this spring, but he didn't need the manager to remind him.

The distaste for his disastrous 2007 still lingers.

"Trust me, you don't forget," Kennedy said after participating in his first workout of spring training Sunday. "I tried to fix what I thought was wrong, or just do things differently (this offseason). It's a time where something needs to change, and I did. We'll see whether it translates to some success."

Kennedy is coming off knee surgery and a season that soured quickly. He hit .219, was erratic in the field and lost his starting job. Cleared for full activity in October after his season-ending surgery, Kennedy changed his fitness program and rebuilt his swing, he said.

He comes into camp as the starter -- with no slack.

"I would characterize that there's an expectation that he's going to be the solid winning player that he's been his whole career, and that last year was a hiccup," La Russa said. "He goes in with an edge to be the dominant guy at second base."

At Kennedy's heels are Aaron Miles and Brendan Ryan, both of whom could take the job if Kennedy falters. La Russa said Kennedy's first and "hopefully only" misstep was skipping the Winter Warm-up. Kennedy called La Russa after that comment to explain a scheduling conflict but not to argue the point.

Kennedy shares La Russa's disappointment in his play.

Last season was "a real aberration, a one-time deal," Kennedy said. "Pretty much you look at it as this is a big step this spring to get back on my feet."

===

Pujols is feeling fine
By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/17/2008

JUPITER, FLA. — Albert Pujols' problematic right elbow feels fine now, and the Cardinals' irreplaceable slugger believes he can curb any soreness in his injured limb this spring, this season — and beyond.

Ligament willing, of course.

"I'm not going to be concerned about it until it does bother me," Pujols said Saturday, his first day of joining in team workouts at spring training. "I'm going to do what I have to do to get ready. If it does get to a point where I (need) treatment, I'll do treatment. Do I need to be concerned? No.

"If it blows out, it's going to blow out," he added. "You can't control that."

But the Cardinals and Pujols will try.

Last fall, the team and Pujols considered surgery to repair the sprained ligament that the first baseman has played with since 2003. But Pujols, in consultation with team doctors, decided to try a nonsurgical approach. Rest was prescribed, as was a plan to keep from unnecessarily straining the elbow.

February 15th: Spring Training

2008-02-15T07:21:00.000-08:00

Swingin’ into Spring
By Derrick Goold
St. Louis Post Dispatch
2.15.08

JUPITER, FLA. — It's the signature sound of spring's start that John Mozeliak doesn't want to miss today.

For more than a dozen years, as long as he's been coming to spring training and long before he became general manager, Mozeliak attends the first throws of spring. The pitchers line up — half on a foul line, the other half several paces into the outfield — and, all at once, they ... fire.

Dozens of baseballs hit dozens of gloves in a crackle of leather that sounds like a string of firecrackers popping.

Mozeliak said the sound is the same every season.

So are the Cardinals' expectations.

"We expect to be competitive," Mozeliak said on the eve of the Cardinals first workouts, his first spring training as the club's general manager. "The message is here, even though there have been a lot of changes, expectations are still very high."

===

La Russa said this team is being "underestimated."

"If I was (a pundit), I would look at the track record that is not there in many cases," La Russa said. "I have no problem if somebody looks at our club and says we're not a first-division team. (But) if we work hard, we have some talent, and it can come quicker than some people think."

The manager, back for a 13th season with the Cardinals, was downright playful in his first day at Roger Dean Stadium. He went up to Rick Ankiel and said it was good to see him, and then called him Anthony Reyes. He announced ace Chris Carpenter, though still recovering from elbow surgery, would be the closer on opening day.

La Russa wasn't out to get Carpenter back as soon as possible; he was just out to get closer Jason Isringhausen, who gave coach Marty Mason the concert tickets La Russa coveted.

Ah, the riffs of spring.

But change is in the air.

"When I say 'getting younger,' it's not only age specific, it's about adding a new energy," Mozeliak said. "We had the opportunity this offseason to make some changes, to make some changes to the culture. When I looked around last year, a lot of the people had been together for a long time. We wanted to inject a new look, some fresh faces."

===

The infusion of youth means a change in approach.

La Russa had already announced a strict "Scott Spiezio Rule" for spring. Players who are late for a workout, like the veteran so nearly was often last year, do not participate. Asked how inexperienced players might further alter camp, La Russa said there will be more base-level instructing.

A veteran like departed shortstop David Eckstein might only need 10 minutes of groundballs, he said. The kids will get 20.

La Russa said he's "fired up" for this season after a 2007 season that he called "relentlessly difficult." While he has great fondness for the 2007 team, he does not share that feeling for 2007. "It was body blow after body blow after body blow after body blow," he said. He insists it could have been worse than the 78-84 record, if not for a rescue party that consisted of the same kind of players the club is turning to this spring.

"The young guys came in," he said, "and saved our year."

===

Camp Cards
By Derrick Goold
St. Louis Post Dispatch
02/14/2008

On a far less joking note, La Russa said he didn’t watch all of the hearings in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday but while running errands during his last day at home he did hear plenty of the testimony from Roger Clemens and others. Asked if he felt hearings like Wednesday’s and the hearings three years ago were necessary, La Russa said:

“I thought it was pretty compelling. It wasn’t pretty. It was just compelling. I think the message that Congress is sending is the one that fans want to hear: No tolerance. Zero tolerance. Baseball get your act together. It’s like a triangle there — it’s the owners, it’s Major League Baseball and it’s the players’ association. If all three of them pull together then we straighten it out. If one of the three is reluctant to get involved and be as stringent as we have to get them we’re going to have issues.”

===

Brendan Ryan joined the major-league side of the clubhouse for the first time this spring training, and he said he’s here early “because I don’t want to give them any reason to move me back to the other side of the room.” Ryan arrived Thursday and stepped into the clubhouse initially looking for the No. 75 jersey hanging somewhere.

Having logged major-league time last year, he’s graduated to No. 13.

And he’s moved into the high-rent district in the clubhouse, a couple lockers down from Albert Pujols and near the likes of Troy Glaus and Aaron Miles. He said he felt it was important to arrive early and start working out with the other early ‘Birds “to show how much I want to be on this team.”

===

Mike Matheny and Cal Eldred are among the spring training instructors who came by the facility Thursday. La Russa said a selling point for Jason La Rue when the Cardinals approached the backup catcher was having Matheny around during spring training. La Rue told La Russa that “he never played a game against the Cardinals with Matheny catching that he didn’t study Mike Matheny.”

“Big advantage for us,” La Russa said.

===

Molina is set to pursue his golden dream
By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
2.14.08

JUPITER, FLA. — Coming off surgery that ended his season early, catcher Yadier Molina decided the best way to protect the health of his knee was to improve his overall fitness.

Molina arrived at spring training Wednesday, a day before Cardinals pitchers and catchers report. And, in the words of his pitching coach, he "looked great, doesn't he?" The 25-year-old catcher not only sports fresh ink on a four-year contract but also a slimmer, lighter build.

All the better for his knees, he said.

"I'm 25, and I need to be thinking about not only this season but in two more years, three more years, how is that knee going to be?" Molina said. "I need to keep it in good shape and that means I need to keep myself in good shape. I really feel good right now, and I think I can maintain this."

Molina said he lost 10 to 15 pounds this winter, and has altered his nutrition to help keep the weight off. The Puerto Rican winter league did not play this time, giving Molina the chance to rest and recover after surgery in September to repair cartilage damage in his right knee. Rehab didn't slow his workouts this winter; they just guided them.

Molina believes that by increasing his fitness, he'll preserve his knee. That will keep him agile, keep him on the field and keep him playing toward one of his chief ambitions.

He wants a Gold Glove.

"It's my goal, one of my goals," he said. "I won't stop, I'll keep working hard, because I want to get my first Gold Glove. ... It means you're one of the best at your position. That is important to me."

...

Albert Pujols has cautioned Molina to "take it easy" in pursuing a Gold Glove, telling his teammate and friend that one will come his way. Molina has the best arm in the league — single-handedly shutting down opponents' running games — and has been deft behind the plate. Molina said having former Cardinal catcher Mike Matheny in camp as a coach this spring is a good start toward his goal.

Matheny has four Gold Gloves.

"I won't stop working hard for one," Molina said. "I'm going to get it. One of these days, I'm going to get it."

===

November 15th: Fond Farewell

2005-11-15T11:43:00.000-08:00

Good times, good times.

What a year 2005 proved to be. I look back across this site and see that my first posting was February 28th of this year and that brings a smile to my face. Of course I'm talking about Spring Training! It's just around the corner after the holidays and so much to look forward in 2006.

Before the new season, we would be remiss to not take a moment and give a final look and farewell to 2005.

Goodbyes
- To now what is called the Old Busch Stadium. Of course like many of you, that's where I saw my first Cardinal game and have a ton of great memories there. Perhaps as that stadium slowly gets knocked down, all the bad juju from the Astros and Red Sox wins in the last couple of years will dissipate away and we can start anew next year.
- Wayne Hagin. Perplexing that he is already gone after doing a splendid job coming in behind Jack, but kudos to him for making the best of a difficult situation. So we say hello to our new broadcast dynamic duo in Mike Shannon and John Rooney.
- KMOX. Over five decades of broadcasting on the airwaves to Cardinal Nation we now usher in KTRS next year. I am still doubtful of signal strength but we'll see.
- Ray King. Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out.
- Larry Walker. What a career and I just wish his most impressive numbers were hit for us in a Cardinal uniform.

Highlight Reel
- LaRussa's Hard Nine Mantra. Best showcased in Houston when NASA started the Pujols countdown for one of the most monsterous, towering and coolest home runs I've ever seen hit in a game. Any Cardinal Fan that said they hadn't waivered and didn't think the season was over at that point lies like a rug.
- Back to back 100+ win seasons
- Nunez. Holy cow what a year he put together filling in for Rolen. Will he be a Redbird in 06?
- ERA. Cards boasted the best in the National League.
- 2005 Cy Young Award Winner Chris Carpenter
- 2005 NL MVP Award Winner Albert Pujols
- 2005 Gold Glove Winner Jimmy Edmonds {His 8th mind you}
- 2005 NL Central Champions

The Players
- Scott Rolen. Let's all hope and pray that rehab goes well and he slides into Spring Training ready to go. Hey Scotty, next time just let He Sop Zilla tag you out - you can't win that battle running into a 9 ft wall of a person.
- Jeff Suppan. Has more than proven his worth and welcome back to another year.
- Matt Morris. In my opinion, needs to move elsewhere. LaRussa is overly sentimental with Matt and I deem that a distraction to Tony, happy trails Matt.
- Jimmy Edmonds. Dude. Find some offense and consistency at the plate in the off season or put that first on your Christmas List brother.
- Julian Tavarez. Personally not a fan.
- Reggie Sanders. Deserves to retire a Cardinal after being all around the league. He's a proven entity when healthy - bring him back and see how he does.
- John Mabry. Needs to be a Cardinal next year.
- Mark Grudzielanek. As much as I want to see him in Cardinal red and white, I think he'll sign elsewhere based on money alone. Careful Mark, money will not buy you happiness. Call Edgar if you don't believe me.
- Roger Cedeno. Was he a Cardinal this year?! Enough said.

Needs
- A kick ass everyday outfielder. I originally was thinking Giles, but have come to realize that Encarnacion would be a better fit for less dollars. Not saying that Brian Giles as a Cardinal wouldn't be the coolest thing since sliced bread mind you.
- Better bullpen. We need set up guys that are reliable. Period.
- Closer. Izzy is wavering for me, needs a strong 2006 to convince me otherwise we shouldn't start shopping soon.

Numbers
Record: 100-62
AVG: Pujols, .330
Doubles: Pujols, 38
Triples: Eckstein, 7
Home Runs: Pujols, 41
Runs: Pujols, 129
RBI's: Pujols, 117
Stolen Bases: Pujols, 16
Wins: Carpenter, 21
Losses: Marquis, 14
ERA (Starter): Carpenter, 2.83
ERA (Reliever): Izzy, 2.14
Saves: Izzy, 39
First Pitch: In Philly, April 3rd, 2:05pm
New Busch Stadium First Pitch: April 10th, 3:10pm

Happy Holidays and so long for just awhile...

April 1st: Pulsipher, Carpenter, Grudzielanek, Lincoln, Da Cubs

2005-04-01T12:11:00.000-08:00

Toe fracture is tough break for Pulsipher
By Joe Strauss of the Post-Dispatch
03/31/2005

Pulsipher is on the cusp of making the Cardinals' bullpen as a last-minute nonroster invitee but may have his candidacy complicated after taking the smash off his foot from infielder Bernie Castro, in the final inning of the Cardinals' final Grapefruit League game.

===

Carpenter shines

Chris Carpenter gave the Cardinals what they wanted to see Thursday night when he struck out seven and allowed only one unearned run in five innings of the Cardinals' win over the Baltimore Orioles. Carpenter struck out former AL MVP Miguel Tejada twice and did the same to right fielder Sammy Sosa. Two of the three hits off Carpenter preceded his first out of the first inning. Five of his first eight outs were via strikeouts.

===

Grudzielanek makes big impression
By Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch
03/30/2005

As much to prove his health to himself as to prove his worth to his new team, Grudzielanek started the spring hitting, continued it flashing a power arm and concluded it by hitting some more. With two doubles Wednesday, Grudzielanek leaves Jupiter with a .412 average in 19 spring training games.

Quite an impression.

"Coming in and coming on to a new team, I wanted to show that I'm here for a reason," Grudzielanek said. "I chose to come here, I took less to come here, and I wanted to find a chance to re-establish myself. ... I wanted to be sure I was healthy. It's one of those things - if I stay healthy, I'll put up numbers."

===

Lincoln is still on hold

Mike Lincoln, slowed by elbow pain in his surgically repaired throwing arm, will travel to St. Louis today, where he will continue his rehab. Lincoln is coming off of Tommy John surgery but has not thrown for several weeks because of a bone bruise in the elbow. The Cardinals have told him not to throw until the elbow is completely pain-free. Once the pain clears, a conservative estimate has Lincoln's rehab going another six to eight weeks before he is ready to throw.

===

Why the Cubs will be worse
By Rick Hummel of the Post-Dispatch
03/31/2005

1. Burnitz, Hollandsworth et al. won't drive in the 200 runs that Alou and Sosa would have provided.

2. Pitchers Kerry Wood and Mark Prior already have been injured this spring and could have trouble staying healthy.

3. The Cubs haven't had three consecutive winning seasons in more than 30 years.

March 29th: Hagin, Sanders, Ankiel, Myers, Gall, Roster

2005-03-29T10:02:00.000-08:00

Hagin has a private meeting with team
By Joe Strauss 0f the Post-Dispatch
03/28/2005

JUPITER, Fla. -Cardinals radio broadcaster Wayne Hagin addressed the players in a closed-door meeting before Monday morning's workout and expressed regret over the stir created by his March 19 comments about Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton.

"I consider it personal and I would like it to remain so, but I thought it was something important for me to do," Hagin said.

===

Sanders returns

Left fielder Reggie Sanders returned to the lineup Monday and homered in his second at-bat against New York Mets starter Kris Benson.

He had not batted against live pitching since undergoing an appendectomy March 17.

Sanders says he expects being in the lineup opening day next Tuesday.

"I felt pretty good," he said. "I'm only looking forward now. I plan on getting at-bats in all the remaining games, and that should be enough."

===

Two pitchers are sent to Memphis

The Cardinals trimmed their roster by reassigning pitching prospect Anthony Reyes to Class AAA Memphis and optioning lefthanded reliever Carmen Cali to Memphis.

===

Cards due to take action on Ankiel

By Joe Strauss of the Post-Dispatch
03/29/2005

JUPITER< Fla. -- The Cardinals remain tight-lipped about when they will attempt to pass pitcher-turned-outfielder Rick Ankiel through waivers, but they must do so no later than Wednesday.

Teams will have until the weekend to claim Ankiel.

===

Cards trade Myers back to Red Sox

BY DERRICK GOOLD and JOE STRAUSS of the Post-Dispatch
03/29/2005

JUPITER, Fla. –- The Cardinals alleviated some of the lefthanded logjam in the bullpen by trading submariner Mike Myers to Boston on Tuesday.

The team did not immediately confirm the trade, although Myers did, and it was not immediately known whom the Cardinals would receive in return.

Myers’ trade leaves the Cardinals with three lefties still in camp, certain setup man Ray King and two auditioning, non-roster invitee and spring surprise Bill Pulsipher and returning lefty Randy Flores. The Cardinals have not decided if three of the seven relievers taken into opening day will be lefthanders or if they’ll just take two.

===

CBS Sportsline
Cardinals report: Notes, quotes

--The Cardinals trimmed four position players Sunday (March 27), including Bo Hart, who was their regular second baseman for most of the second half of the 2003 season. 2B Hart, OF John Gall, INF Scott Seabol and C Mike Mahoney all were optioned to Triple-A Memphis. Seabol, who had 31 home runs last year at Memphis, had the best spring of the quartet, hitting .313 in 32 at-bats.

===

CBS Sportsline
Redbird left fielder catches La Russa's eye -- Fielding, strong at-bats may earn Gall big chance

JUPITER, Fla. - His spring training batting average is on the high side of .300. The big club's boss, St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, is raving about his play as an outfielder. And John Gall, wisely, is trying not to get caught up in any of it.

March 16th: Pulsipher, King, Carpenter, Stadium

2005-03-16T08:37:00.000-08:00

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.

===

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.

===

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."

===

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

===

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.

March 15th: Rolen, Sanders, Walker, Pitching

2005-03-15T11:20:00.000-08:00

Editors Note: Safe travel wishes for the Eckert's and their families as they travel to Spring Training next week. Maybe we'll get some behind the scenes feedback - of course that goes for all - if you have any good tidbits, forward them on and they'll get posted. Go Cards!

===

Rolen and Sanders look ahead
By Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch
03/14/2005

The Cardinals third baseman and outfielder Reggie Sanders are both hitting .133 this spring, with four hits between them, but they couldn't care less about the numerical results.

"At the beginning, you take a ball you normally wouldn't," Sanders said. "For the most part, it's not about the results. You're gauging the pitch, how you see it. Right about now, I want to start putting things together."

On Sunday, Rolen went through the whole progression. His first at-bat "went poorly." His second at-bat went better. On his third at-bat, he hit a home run but was more pleased with how he felt, how he eyed the ball, recognized the pitch and reacted.

Larry Walker's slow start is a little different. The Cardinals' right fielder has yet to get a hit in seven at-bats. He missed the first weeks of spring training with a back sprain.

"I'm not really fretting," Walker said. "I don't like the results. But if I was hitting the ball well, hitting it hard, I'd accept the results a little better."

===

Cardinals report: Notes, quotes
March 15, 2005
The Sports Xchange

--After a loss to the Mets in the exhibition opener, the Cardinals rattled off six straight wins, with no starter allowing more than two runs. Through the first week of spring games, the Cardinals led the majors in earned-run average at 2.67.

--RF Larry Walker, who had been bothered by a bad back, finally made his first appearance of the spring on Thursday (March 10) and went 0-for-2.

"It's been a few days (without pain) and I probably could have played a few days ago," Walker said. "But we wanted to stick with somewhat of a cautious approach, not getting myself into trouble."

--Through 10 games, the Cardinals have won seven with an ERA under 3.00, including splitting two games on Sunday (March 13), beating Atlanta 7-3 and losing to Baltimore 5-3.

--LHP Mark Mulder became the first Cardinals starter to go five innings Sunday (March 13). He gave up three runs and seven hits but didn't walk a batter. One of the hits was a two-run homer by Atlanta's Mike Hampton, one of baseball's best hitting pitchers.

--Rookie RHP Anthony Reyes got his welcome to the big leagues by allowing a home run to Baltimore's Sammy Sosa at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in a 5-3 Cardinals defeat. Reyes is the top pitching prospect in the organization.

--LHP Ray King has appeared just once this spring as he rests a biceps injury.

BY THE NUMBERS
13. Number of big-league games won by Rick Ankiel before he quit as a pitcher.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"I was as frustrated as I could be. I wasn't sure I still wanted to be part of the game or not." -- LHP Rick Ankiel, on why he gave up pitching.

Copyright (C) 2005 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.

===

Cardinals report: Inside pitch
March 15, 2005
The Sports Xchange

RHP Chris Carpenter, who will be the Opening Day starter in Houston on April 5, became the first Cardinals pitcher to work four innings on Thursday (March 10). Carpenter held the Astros to one run and three hits in a 4-2 Cardinals' win.

RHP Matt Morris, who had shoulder surgery in December, made his first appearance of the spring Saturday (March 12), working the first two innings of the Cardinals' 3-2 loss to the Mets. Morris threw 21 strikes on 32 pitches. He allowed two hits (one an infield grounder) and struck out three -- all three called.

March 11th: Ankiel, Walker, Reyes, Eckstein

2005-03-11T09:58:00.000-08:00

Editor's Note: Ankiel coverage is all the news for now, maybe everyone will remember we have other players to track as well soon. Have a great weekend.

===

Competition to replace Ankiel begins in earnest
By Joe Strauss of the Post-Dispatch
03/10/2005

JUPITER, Fla. - The subtraction of Rick Ankiel from the Cardinals' bullpen equation leaves the club with simple math, according to pitching coach Dave Duncan: find one lefthander to go with Ray King.

Duncan had held open the possibility of Ankiel claiming the role of innings eater and spot starter until Wednesday's surprise announcement that the lefthander would pursue a second-chance career as an outfielder. Thursday, after the Cardinals played a morning intrasquad game and an afternoon exhibition against the Houston Astros, Duncan said it had become "very likely" that only one among Mike Myers, Carmen Cali, Randy Flores, Bill Pulsipher and Hector Mercado would survive.

===

Walker returns to Cards' lineup
BY DERRICK GOOLD
Of the Post-Dispatch
03/11/2005

JUPITER, Fla. -- Larry Walker prepared as if he was going to have another day of working out and easing his back into baseball, but instead he had a far easier day than imagined: He played.

Out since the start of camp with a back strain, Walker made his spring debut Thursday with two at-bats and four innings in the Cardinals' 4-2 victory over Houston.

===

BY THE NUMBERS
10 -- Number of road victories (against one loss) posted by RHP Jeff Suppan last season.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"He's 5-foot-6 3/4. But he plays like he's 6-foot-3." -- David Eckstein's father, Whitey Eckstein, on the new Cardinals shortstop.

One watch of Cardinal rookie Anthony Reyes and it's easy to see how he punched out 140 in 111 innings in the Florida State and Southern Leagues. Wow. The veteran pitchers claim he could be a tremendous hitter. "He has a swing like Albert Pujols," Mulder said. Strong words.

===

ESPN Sports Nation Online Poll

Will Rick Ankiel ever make a regular-season MLB roster as an outfielder?

34% say yes
64% say no

March 10th: Hasta La Vista Ankiel

2005-03-10T07:02:00.000-08:00

Ankiel had his chance; Cards must move on
By Bernie Miklasz of the Post-Dispatch
03/09/2005

If for some inexplicable reason Ankiel went unclaimed, then the Cardinals would have nothing to lose by letting Ankiel learn a new trade in the minors. But it would be a travesty to carry Ankiel all summer in St. Louis, on a veteran team that wants to redeem itself in the World Series, swaddling him in a big-league uniform that he didn't deserve at this point. It's time to let Ankiel move on with his life. The Cardinals did their part. Now they need to get out of the day-care business.

===

No longer a freak show, Ankiel could find new life in outfield
BY JEFF GORDON, Post-Dispatch Online Sports Columnist
03/09/2005

Rather than setting himself up for another Big Fall in a game environment, Ankiel chose a new course. Scouts always told him he has the arm, the bat and the athletic tools to become a fine major league outfielder. So he decided to change jobs.

Can the Cards afford to keep him on the big league roster as an outfielder?

That’s doubtful, since he needs to go someplace -– we’d suggested extended spring training, then high Class A ball, moving up to Class AA in July -- and start succeeding as a hitter. More than anything, Ankiel needs to regain his athletic confidence.

Will the Cards lose him on waivers?

Maybe, because some team may try to claim him and convince him to give pitching another try. Other baseball folks may believe a change of scenery, not a change of position, is all Ankiel needs.

Let’s hope that is not the case.

===

Ankiel's days as a Card numbered?
By Joe Strauss Of the Post-Dispatch
03/09/2005

There will be few at-bats this spring for Rick Ankiel. "I can't give them to him because he's not going to make our team," manager Tony La Russa said.

===

Misc Quotes

- "You're not going to able to walk into a big league camp and win a spot," La Russa said. "But he has talent and I wouldn't put anything past him."

- Joe McEwing of the New York Mets, who played with Ankiel in the Cardinals organization in 1998 and 1999, had a bit of advice. "Just work," McEwing said. "It's going to take a lot of hard work and repetitions, but one thing about it is that he's a good athlete."

- "He's said he's not going to pitch," Jocketty said. "If somebody claims him to be a pitcher, it'll be a costly error."

- "It's a shame, all his talent, not that it's wasted because he's a great athlete and who knows what he can do," said pitcher Matt Morris, perhaps Ankiel's closest friend on the team. "But I hope one day he gets back to pitching."

===

There's a precedent here.

In 1957, Cardinals rookie Von McDaniel pitched a two-hit shutout in his major league debut. He wound up the season with a 7-5 record and a 3.22 ERA. Oh, one more thing: he was 18 years old.

McDaniel never won another game in the majors. He missed most of 1958 with an injury, and spent 1959 in the Florida State League. He pitched well that season, going 13-5 ... and he also played in the field, and batted .313 with 10 homers and 71 RBI. That basically ended McDaniel's career as a pitcher, but he spent six more seasons in the minors as a power-hitting infielder.

That's about what I think will happen to Rick Ankiel. He's immensely talented, but almost certainly not talented enough to hit major league pitching with any sort of consistency. He's the new Von McDaniel. -- Rob Neyer

March 9th: Ankiel to Outfield

2005-03-09T09:41:00.000-08:00

Editors note: Unbelievable!!

Cards move Ankiel to outfield
By Joe Strauss of the Post-Dispatch
03/09/2005

JUPITER, Fla. -- Cardinals lefthander Rick Ankiel, once deemed the game's most promising young arm, will convert from pitcher to outfielder, effective immediately.

The Cardinals confirmed the move Wednesday morning shortly after rain washed out what was scheduled to be Ankiel's spring debut in a B game against the Florida Marlins.

"We are fully supportive of Rick's decision to convert to an everyday outfielder," Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said in a prepared statement. "Rick will continue to train with the major league club this spring, and we look forward to seeing his development as a full-time batter and outfielder."

The unexpected announcement comes after Ankiel, 25, gave a promising September showing in the Redbirds bullpen followed by a credible performance as a starter in the Puerto Rican winter league. The winter league stint was cut short by elbow tenderness.

This spring, Ankiel has struggled with command and had been pulled from pitchers field drills before experiencing erratic command in batting practice.

"I just felt like after Puerto Rico, coming back when I was hurt there, I changed mechanically. Just coming back, I couldn't really replicate it," Ankiel said. "This whole time, that frustration has built up. I just really felt like it was eroding my spirits and starting to affect my personality off the field as well.

"The frustration . . . it just became apparent it was time for me to move on and pursue becoming an outfielder."

"... Not being able to go out there and be effective, not being able to replicate my mechanics, the frustration and the way it effects me off the field -- it just wasn’t worth it. I feel relieved now and I’m happy to move on."

Ankiel won 11 games for the Cardinals as a 20-year-old rookie in 2000 before suffering a loss of command during the postseason. Hindered by elbow reconstruction surgery, he took nearly three seasons to make his return to the major leagues.

Ankiel hit .250 with two homers and nine RBIs for the Cards in 2000. After being sent to Johnson City of the Appalachian League in 2001, he got 105 at-bats as a designated hitter and hit .286 with 10 homers and 35 RBIs. In 134 minor-league at-bats since 2001, Ankiel has a .575 slugging percentage.

The Cardinals plan to immediately integrate Ankiel into their outfield. In the "players" database on Major League Baseball's official web site (mlb.com), Ankiel already is listed as a left fielder.

Because he is out of options, Ankiel must either make the club or be put through waivers.

Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this story. STLtoday.com will have more later as this story develops.

March 8th: Pujo, Marquis, Izzy, Mabry & Ankiel

2005-03-08T12:32:00.000-08:00

Pujols gets into swing of things with 2 HRs
By Derrick Goold 0f the Post-Dispatch
03/07/2005

JUPITER, Fla. - His swing, he says, is not ready for the regular season, but Albert Pujols hit his second and third home runs of the exhibition season and already has five extra-base hits in eight at-bats this spring.

"What's new?" manager Tony La Russa said.

Pujols was three for three with two homers and a double in the Cardinals' 6-1 victory against the Dodgers on Monday. In three games, he has had eight at-bats and hasn't hit a single, producing instead 16 total bases in five extra-base hits for a tidy 2.000 slugging percentage.

===

Marquis unveils curve

Crafting a curve this spring, Marquis threw it to the second batter Monday, dropping it past a frozen Dodger, Jason Repko.

Matt Morris called that curve nasty.

"That was a Matty Mo curveball," said Marquis, who threw 41 pitches over three innings Monday. "I have to get to that point where I'm doing that 100 percent of the time."

The last time he got a looking K with a curve?

"Probably high school," he said.

===

Izzy works into, gets out of trouble

Closer Jason Isringhausen threw his first game inning of spring. Coming off hip surgery in the offseason, Isringhausen tossed one inning - but what an inning.

"Couple hits. A walk. A couple strikeouts," he said. "About normal."

===

Injury updates

Einar Diaz and John Mabry, both coming off injuries, might get game at-bats today. Diaz has missed time with pain in his side that limited his ability to bat, not catch. Mabry, just two days removed from hearing a pop in his right elbow, said he had only mild discomfort and was cleared for full batting practice Monday.

===

Ankiel, etc.

The Cardinals were able to schedule a second game for Wednesday, and lefty Rick Ankiel is scheduled to make his spring debut against the Marlins in the B-lot game at the teams' spring training facility. Suppan will start the Cardinals' scheduled game against the Mets at Port St. Lucie. ... Former Cardinal Drew had a double for the Dodgers in Monday's exhibition game against the Cards.

March 3rd: Molina, Walker, Pujo

2005-03-03T12:30:00.000-08:00

Molina ready to take No. 1 job
By Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch
03/02/2005

JUPITER, Fla. - The only thing that whizzed through the Cardinals' minor-league system quicker than Yadier Molina in the past four years was word on how good this catching prodigy with rich pedigree was going to be.

"For me, when you hear people talk about him - and you've got (scouts) you trust and you hear what they are saying - you develop a certain opinion about him," Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan said. "Our expectations were very high for Yadi before we ever saw him play. ... During the championship season, he played as if he's played in the big leagues for many years, as if he was experienced.

"He's a very smart kid with great instincts for the game."

===

Walker relapses in recovery from back injury
By Joe Strauss of the Post-Dispatch
03/02/2005

Right fielder Larry Walker probably will miss the next several days' workouts after aggravating what trainers describe as a sprained back.

Head trainer Barry Weinberg described Walker as taking a "three-quarter step back" after prematurely pushing himself through a Monday workout. Walker arrived in camp complaining of back spasms and has undergone treatment daily.

"I think you have to be a little concerned," La Russa said before Wednesday's workout. "It's bad enough that he can't get out there."

===

Pujols' defense gets rave reviews
By Joe Strauss of the Post-Dispatch
03/01/2005

On a brisk Tuesday, Pujols serves as hitting coach Hal McRae's righthanded model, demonstrating a level swing through the zone by smashing balls off a waist-high tee.

The sky is bright but Pujols produces a thunderclap.

Outfielder John Mabry listens to a passerby's cliche about how pitchers are supposedly light years ahead of hitters, thinks about Pujols, and laughs.

"Those rules don't apply to him. He's a freak. Incredible," Mabry said.

===

March 1st: Ankiel, Williams, Walker, Tavarez, Rolen

2005-03-01T07:20:00.000-08:00

Wild pitching earns Ankiel a quick hook
By Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch
02/28/2005

Ankiel threw 23 pitches. Several thudded into the dirt ahead of the plate, one sailed wildly to the back of the cage and only three were strikes. In simulated at-bats, he walked five of the six batters he faced. Three were four-pitch walks.

"It's just disappointing," Ankiel said. "You go out there and don't execute the way you want to execute. ... I feel like I just didn't have a rhythm. My mechanics were out of whack there. You try to stay mechanically sound, and hopefully you catch it pitch to pitch. Unfortunately I wasn't able to."

The outing was, at most, disconcerting, not alarming.

===

Team hopes veteran Williams will be father figure
By Rick Hummel of the Post-Dispatch
02/28/2005

Williams acknowledged that management wanted him to be a leader, and though he's not exactly sure how that will play out, Williams said he welcomes the opportunity.

"Of course," he said. "That's part of my personality. And it doesn't take anything away from what I do.

"Sometimes guys don't ask (for help) and you have to tell them. If there's one guy in here that I can make a better player or a better pitcher, then that's what I'll set out to do."

Bochy, who managed Williams in his previous stint with the Padres, called Williams a "father figure."

===

Larry Walker was sidelined with back...
CBS Sportsline

RF Larry Walker was sidelined with back spasms although he didn't consider them significant. Walker worked out on a limited basis after missing the first two full-squad drills. "Much better today, much better," Walker said. "If there's a game today, I'm playing." A year ago, Walker arrived three weeks early to Colorado's camp. He played in three spring training games before feeling a pop while tracking a flyball -- and he missed 68 games because of a strained groin. (02/28/2005)

===

Sportsline VIP: NOTES

--The left pinkie finger RHP Julian Tavarez broke when punching a dugout telephone in Houston during last year's National League Championship Series still hasn't healed.

"He probably thinks it's a conversation piece," La Russa said. "When he retires he might get it fixed. Right now, it's something he enjoys looking at. It reminds him to keep his temper."

--3B Scott Rolen didn't have offseason surgery on his occasionally troublesome left knee, but Dr. George Paletta, head of the club's medical staff, concedes that Rolen's knee condition isn't going away. Should the cartilage continue to erode, surgery may one day become inevitable.

Said Paletta, "The knee is potentially the bigger issue. Without some intervention, it's highly unlikely this is going to heal itself. Once it's worn away, it's gone. We can keep our eye on whether it progresses. Right now, the symptoms are pretty minimal."
Copyright (C) 2005 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.

Feb 28th: Morris, Pulsipher, Pujo vs Reyes, Journell, Ankiel

2005-02-28T07:12:00.000-08:00

Morris is mending at rapid rate
By Joe Strauss of the Post-Dispatch

JUPITER, Fla. - The Cardinals have made official their optimism regarding Matt Morris.

"He's ahead of schedule because he hasn't had any setbacks," Duncan said after watching Morris' session.

"He hasn't had a day where he was stiff and didn't think he should throw. He's been able to follow the rehab program without missing a beat."

===

Road back leads to Jupiter
By Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch
02/27/2005

JUPITER, Fla. - Tattered, emotionally worn and derailed by anxiety attacks and injury, Bill Pulsipher made a surprise visit several years ago to the New York Mets' spring training facility to ask for a job - on the grounds crew.

Once among the Mets' gleaming young pitchers, Pulsipher appeared to heads groundskeeper Tommy Bowes as a man "down and out," rudderless without baseball. So Bowes made him a deal.

There were outfields to mow, infields to rake, chores to do, but Pulsipher had to pledge to spend just as much time working out as well. Bowes offered the lefthanded pitcher a chance to rebuild his career.

Starting at ground level.

A lefthander with 101 major-league appearances, Pulsipher is the most intriguing of the Cardinals' nonroster invitees. The 31-year-old lefty is coming off his best 12 months of pitching since two operations and a battle with severe anxiety eroded the ability he showed as a rookie. On three teams, from the independent Atlantic League to the Caribbean Series, Pulsipher was a combined 18-10 in 33 appearances (32 starts) this past year, throwing for a 3.75 ERA in 216 total innings.

He curtails his anxiety with medicine.

"Every day," he said. "Every morning."

===

Sunday in Camp: Pujols vs. Reyes
BY DERRICK GOOLD Post-Dispatch Baseball Writer
02/27/2005

With games just a few days away, some pitchers -– like Thursday’s scheduled starter Mark Mulder -– graduated to simulated innings Sunday. Rookie Anthony Reyes -– he of the straight brim and percolating fastball -– was among the pitchers working innings. But, where Mulder faced a handful of middle infielders, Reyes faced the following group:

John Mabry. So Taguchi. Scott Rolen. And, Albert Pujols.

This is what many gathered to see: Pujols vs. Reyes.

Pujols was the first batter to face the Cardinals’ top-rated prospect. Reyes, a 23-year-old righthander, fired the first pitched for a looking-strike fastball. Pujols fouled off the second pitch. A slider hooked low for the third pitch. The at-bat went five pitches and ended with Pujols popping up to right.

Mabry worked an 0-2 count into an eight-pitch “walk” in his first shot against Reyes.

During Pujols' second trip, Reyes got a fastball up for a ball. The second pitch was over the heart of the plate -– for just a moment.

Plenty of time for Pujols to crush it over the fence in left-center.

Reyes, who pitched on the same University of Southern California team as Mark Prior and even shares some of the same warmup routines, has some cut to his fastball and can follow with a changeup. He fired a breaking ball to Pujols in a third at-bat that stayed low and tempting.

Pujols held off, but yelled to the prospect: “Good pitch right there.”

Two of the batters Reyes faced struck out looking.

===

Journell displays a strong arm a year after injury
By Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch
02/26/2005

JUPITER, Fla. - It's been less than a year, yet pitcher Jimmy Journell says it feels "like 10 years" since he last threw to a hitter. But what he's done so far in spring training was summed up in one word by Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan.

"Impressed," Duncan said.

===

Duncan on Ankiel: "He looked good"
By Joe Strauss of the Post-Dispatch
02/25/2005

Ankiel struck out 23 and walked only two batters during last season's three stops. His success translated to the Puerto Rican winter league until an elbow "twinge" cut short his stay.

"I'm excited, but who has a crystal ball?" La Russa asked. "He pitched a lot last year, his arm got sore; he's just got to stay healthy. We'll take it day by day."

"I'm going to do the same thing I did last year - take the ball, go out and pitch," Ankiel said.

As for limitations, La Russa added, "He could start the game or come in the middle of an inning. I just know whenever he comes into the game the opposition isn't going to be too happy to see him."

February 25th: Marquis, Duncan, McGwire, Sosa

2005-02-25T06:55:00.000-08:00

Marquis breaks out curveball in batting practice
By Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch

Jason Marquis is developing a curve, which will offer him an opportunity to change speeds. He said he was pleased with half of the curves he threw Thursday in batting practice.

Continuing his spring schooling to hone and harness a curveball, Marquis threw 40 pitches to batters Thursday in Day 2 of the Cardinals' full-squad workouts at Roger Dean Stadium. The sinkerballer, primarily a power pitcher, said he was pleased with 50 percent of the curves he threw.

"It's somewhat of a luxury to be able to work on a few things," Marquis said. "In the past (spring trainings), I've had to come out with my best stuff and try to get the batters out anyway possible just to get the position I wanted. I have some time to work on things (this spring)."

===

Cardinals report: Inside pitch
Feb. 21, 2005
The Sports Xchange

"If we have problems along the way, if we lose guys, then there's no way to know. But going in we expect to have a good pitching staff."

Duncan said having a new middle infield and a first-year starting catcher wouldn't be impediments to his staff.

Regarding SS David Eckstein and 2B Mark Grudzielanek replacing Edgar Renteria and Tony Womack, Duncan said: "I think our middle-infield defense is going to be OK. Is it going to be Gold Glove? I don't know. But I think it's going to be good."

Duncan also doesn't have concern about 22-year-old C Yadier Molina.

"If he hadn't been with us before, it would be a real concern, but with the time he spent with us last year he convinced me he's ready to catch in the big leagues," said Duncan. "Mechanically, he does everything well except he still needs to work on his technique for blocking balls."

Molina hit .267 in 135 at-bats for the Cardinals after batting .302 in 37 games at Memphis. His .356 slugging and .329 on-base percentages exceed the career numbers of the Gold Glove defender he replaces, Mike Matheny.

TOP CANDIDATE TO SURPRISE
LHP Rick Ankiel. Ankiel hasn't started a season as an active big leaguer since 2001, in the height of his control trauma. Now, his control issues are behind him and the only concern is how his surgically repaired elbow would hold up under regular duty. He will start the season in the rotation but might go to the bullpen when RHP Matt Morris is recovered from shoulder surgery.

TOP CANDIDATE TO DISAPPOINT
RHP Jason Marquis. Is he the 15-game winner he was last year or the pitcher who struggled in his other big-league seasons with Atlanta? He faded in the second half of last season and was inconsistent in the postseason play.

Copyright (C) 2005 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.

===

La Russa: McGwire could be hitting instructor for Cardinals
Feb. 24, 2005
SportsLine.com wire reports

JUPITER, Fla. -- St. Louis manager Tony La Russa thinks Mark McGwire will become a hitting instructor with the Cardinals at some point.

McGwire mostly has stayed away from ballparks since his retirement after the 2001 season.

"I just know he's another year away from playing, and in conversations I had with him, he knows he has something to offer hitters," La Russa said Thursday. "I don't know that it got that close (this year), but there's no doubt that at some point he wants to share with the guys."

Half-jokingly, La Russa said he'd make it easier for McGwire to return by keeping him out of the spotlight.

"I'd love to see him here," La Russa said. "I told him, 'You come here and we'll hide you in the back. No interviews, nothing, just for the baseball."'

Former Oakland teammate Jose Canseco has accused McGwire of using steroids. McGwire issued a statement denying the accusations but has refused requests for interviews.

===

More dirty laundry in Sosa-Cubs tiff
San Jose Mercury News
Feb. 25, 2005

As it turns out, baseball's Pants-On-Fire debate rages beyond Barry Bonds vs. the media. It has engulfed Sammy Sosa and the Cubs, too.

"They lie," the new Oriole said Wednesday of Cubs who have said, at least in Sosa's interpretation, the team is better off without him.

February 24th: Rolen, Matheny, Hart, Sosa

2005-02-24T11:15:00.000-08:00

Playing With Pain: Rolen's knee will remain a problem
By Joe Strauss of the Post-Dispatch

Rolen has had aches and pains that have limited him in each of his three seasons with the Cardinals. "I've been hurt, but I haven't been injured. I've been able to go out and do more or less what I needed to do," he said.

People concede that Rolen's knee condition isn't going away. Should the cartilage continue to erode, surgery may one day become inevitable.

Said Paletta, "The knee is potentially the bigger issue. Without some intervention, it's highly unlikely this is going to heal itself. Once it's worn away, it's gone. We can keep our eye on whether it progresses. Right now, the symptoms are pretty minimal."

Manager Tony La Russa said that Rolen's knee is a maintenance issue, adding, "He's a big guy. He plays hard. He runs hard. But I think as far as his problem goes, he comes into camp 100 percent."

===
Giants like Matheny for emphasizing catching
By Rick Hummel of the Post-Dispatch

Matheny, 34, acknowledged there had been several times when he thought he would finish his career with the team he was on. First, it was Milwaukee, then Toronto and then the Cardinals. "I couldn't imagine being away from St. Louis," he said.

Until late last season, that is, and then as the postseason wound down. Matheny sat on the bench in his last game as a Cardinal, watching as Molina caught Game 4 of the World Series.

"Wouldn't you want to be playing in Game 4 of the World Series?" Matheny said. "But, yes, as it pretty much got out of hand, it crept into my mind that that probably would be my last game as a Cardinal."

Matheny was honored for his 2004 season as a Cardinal at the St. Louis Baseball Writers' Dinner in January. There was a standing ovation from the crowd. There was high praise from all sides of the dais.

"That was the most moving part of my professional career," Matheny said. "To hear guys say some of the things they did ... long-term beyond the game, that stuff is so much more important than just the statistical things."

Matheny left the Cardinals with disappointment but not bitterness. "I have nothing but fond memories of being with the Cardinals," he said. "I couldn't have been treated any better.

"I certainly learned a lot about catching from (pitching coach) Dave Duncan, who was an unbelievable resource, and (bullpen coach) Marty Mason."

===

Hart is trying to switch-hit

Bo Hart has begun learning how to hit lefthanded. Hart, who hit .299 at Class AAA Memphis last season, is experimenting with hitting from the left side. He said La Russa, who lobbied for a lefthanded-hitting infielder to be signed in the offseason, suggested he try it.

At 28, Hart is making the switch late. Some coaches have told him it will be difficult, especially if lefthanded at-bats detract from the work he could do to win the job hitting righthanded.

"He's trying to learn, but it's real trial and error right now," said new hitting coach Hal McRae. "It's very difficult. Very difficult."

===

JUST A SOSA PLAYER?
Gordo's Tipsheet: Thursday Edition
By Jeff Gordon

The Chicago Cubs won’t be the same without Sammy Sosa, no matter what Mark Prior, Kerry Wood or any of the incumbent players say.

“I understand that they are saying right now that they don't need me,” Sosa told reporters after his first work day with the Baltimore Orioles. “They lie. I understand they want to move forward and they feel they have a competitive team, but I don't think nobody can replace me. They can say whatever they want to say, but it is going to be hard, my friend, to duplicate me.”

Especially with Jeromy Burnitz playing right field.

Sosa was philosophical about the demise of his notorious boom box, which was beaten into submission by a Cubs teammate after Sammy went home during the 2004 season finale.

“I don't really care,” Sosa said. “You know why? Because when the man is not in the house, the chickens are jumping around.”

Words to live by, indeed.

February 22nd: Tavarez, Bullpen, LaRussa

2005-02-22T08:13:00.000-08:00

Cards' man of many faces
By Joe Strauss of the Post-Dispatch
02/21/2005

None other than manager Tony La Russa says there is a "dramatic difference" in how he perceives Tavarez compared with before the club signed him to a two-year contract in January 2004.

"You knew him as a talented competitor who could get emotional out there," La Russa said. "Sometimes he was emotional against us. After being with him a year, he's a very bright man who has an outstanding sense of humor. When I talk about bright, I mean on and off the field. But on the field he has a very good knowledge of what he's doing. He remembers hitters."

He won't soon forget 2004, the year of his mellowing.

In addition to going 7-4 with a 2.38 ERA in 77 appearances, Tavarez was fined twice and suspended once after being accused of offenses ranging from doctoring his cap with a foreign substance to throwing at Houston Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell in the National League Championship Series.

Tavarez's left little finger remains gnarled from his assault on a dugout phone in Houston during Game 4 of the NLCS.

He drilled six hitters last season, most by any Cardinals reliever.

The spindly righthander's 10-day suspension in August for applying a "foreign substance" to his cap was reduced to eight days, a number that still enraged general manager Walt Jocketty and La Russa. It was Tavarez's fifth suspension in pieces of 12 major-league seasons.

And this was in supposedly a turnaround year for Tavarez's reputation.

===

Cardinals report: Notes, quotes
Feb. 21, 2005
The Sports Xchange

-- RHP Matt Morris is ahead of schedule in recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, and pitching coach Dave Duncan forecast he would pitch in games late in spring training.

-- Pitching coach Dave Duncan said that LHP Rick Ankiel, who is out of options, appears the most likely candidate to assume RHP Matt Morris' spot in the rotation early on but pointed out the schedule necessitates a fifth starter only twice in April.

-- Duncan admitted being intrigued by RHP Anthony Reyes, a former college teammate of Chicago Cubs RHP Mark Prior who has needed only 19 minor league starts below Triple-A to become the club's most prized pitching prospect. Many believe Reyes will make his major league debut this season and could become an early option should the rotation take a hit.

"Realistically, he's still a developing pitcher," Duncan said. "He needs to go out and pitch innings."

-- RHP Adam Wainwright and non-roster RHP Chris Gissell are also contingencies. Wainwright, 23, was acquired from the Atlanta Braves in December 2003 and made 12 starts at Memphis before being sidelined by an injury.

"It's hard to say where that (depth) will come from right now," Duncan said. "But when you start talking about that, you indicate that certain guys are not going to be here. I think there are some quality arms in the organization. I think there will be some quality arms at Triple-A."

-- LHP Ray King, normally a portly sort, appeared much more streamlined this spring after losing eight pounds. Morris also appears about 10 pounds lighter than last year and is in much better shape than he was then.

BY THE NUMBERS
6 -- Number of errors committed last year by new Cardinals SS David Eckstein for Anaheim. That number was the lowest among regular American League shortstops.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"This is what I believe: I did everything I should have done as a manager. That's my answer." -- Manager Tony La Russa, asked if Jose Canseco's performance as a star player entered into how he handled the situation regarding possible steroid use by Canseco in the 1990s.

Copyright (C) 2005 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.

February 21st: Carpenter, Morris, Walker, Pujo, Mulder

2005-02-21T14:05:00.000-08:00

Carpenter bounces back
By Joe Strauss

JUPITER, Fla. - Forget the overwritten babble about spring's sweet sounds of ball meeting leather and ash. Friday, as pitchers and catchers reported to Roger Dean Stadium, early arrival Chris Carpenter provided the best possible welcome of all when he cursed a misplaced fastball.

Twelve months ago Carpenter held his breath every time he let loose a pitch.

Now, one season after winning a career-high 15 games but only four months after missing the playoffs and World Series with a bruised nerve near his right biceps, Carpenter holds higher expectations.

Recognized as the Players' Choice recipient for comeback of the year, he feels well enough to cut himself little slack even during a bullpen session two weeks before the team's first exhibition.

"Ever since I got down here and started throwing, I've basically felt like I did at the end of last season before I had that stupid injury," he said.

===

Saturday in Camp: Morris turns heads
BY DERRICK GOOLD

Bearded Matt Morris threw off the mound for the first time this spring -– sock-less, that is. And he promptly provided folks something else to ask him about besides his new gray-flecked grizzly look.

Earlier this week he took the mound with a sock over his right pitching hand. The sock allowed him to go through his full motion and fire off a pitch without the full strain.

On Day 1 of camp, he was zipping the ball, feeling loose and looking smoother than he did most of last season. He made 40 “heaves” today and several Cardinals’ brass took note. He’s eager to see how his right shoulder feels Sunday.

While hesitant to let him accelerate his return from shoulder surgery -– as detailed by Rick Hummel in Saturday’s Post-Dispatch -- the Cardinals were struck by how he looked on his first trip up to the mound.

“I feel loose,” Morris said. “I can feel the difference. It’s amazing that people can see the difference.”

===

Walker arrives early in camp
By Derrick Goold And Joe Strauss

JUPITER, Fla. - Before reporting early, though not quite as early as he usually does, Cardinals outfielder Larry Walker winged his family off to the Bahamas.

"For six days," he said. "It's the last time with Dad before I turn into an ogre for eight months."

Walker, who lives about a half-hour drive from the Cardinals' spring training camp, arrived Saturday morning and said he wasn't sure how many days early that is.

"At least they know I'm here," he said.

The only player in camp born before 1967, Walker, 38, altered his offseason training somewhat and plans to ease into April, all while looking for the right blend and a healthy season.

"(I'm) just going to try and pace myself through this," he said. "When we do running exercises, you're not going to see me leading the pack to try and show the young guys this is what you've got to do. I'm going to pace myself. I'm smart enough to know I'm not here to win a job. I don't need to turn heads in the first couple weeks of spring training."

===

Still nursing foot, Pujols eases into camp
By Derrick Goold

JUPITER, Fla. - Pujols targeted the ball atop the tee, tapped the plate twice, took a tomahawk whack at it, watched the ball sail to the opposite side of the cage and then sprinted after it.

All while his dad watched.

A.J. Pujols, 4, was at his father's aching heels as the Cardinals' All-Star slugger took his first spring cuts Sunday at the Cardinals' practice facility at Roger Dean Stadium. In a cage alongside his father, A.J. did as much to mimic his father as possible. And it was a close impersonation.

All except for the running after the ball.

His pop will measure his running carefully this spring.

"One thing that I need to take easy - that I have to have in the back of my mind - is running," Pujols said.

The Cardinals' annual MVP candidate played through foot pain half of last season. It continues to be nettlesome and will take continued attention this season. "At least for the first two weeks, be careful what I do with running," he said.

===

Mulder takes aim at return to top form
By Joe Strauss

General manager Walt Jocketty had approached A's general manager Billy Beane about Hudson and Mulder before December's winter meetings. While Hudson was perceived by some in baseball as the larger catch, Jocketty was equally pleased with obtaining Mulder.

"Actually, Mulder was more appealing to us for a number of reasons," Jocketty said. "He's signed through the end of this year with an option for next season. Plus, he's lefthanded. And he's been as good as anybody in the game for the past several years."

"I don't think he has to think about dominating," La Russa said. "If he takes the ball 30-plus times, what he's shown throughout his career will be enough."

Mulder's 72 wins the last four years trail only Boston's Curt Schilling. Johnson is the second-most prolific lefthander in that span with 67 wins. In the 78 major-league starts in which Mulder has received at least four runs from his lineup, he is 65-4.

"He'd be the perfect guy for any team, but it should really work well here because we score runs," Isringhausen says. "It's a great fit."

Checking things out

The Cardinals were concerned enough to have their medical staff pore over Mulder's medical records before approving the deal. Concern was raised by stat-based consultants retained by the organization, citing Mulder's heavy workload and increased walks. Jocketty even phoned Isringhausen for his opinion.

"Everybody was talking about his hip or this or that, but look at the innings he's thrown," Isringhausen said. "At some point it's going to catch up to you. He doesn't come out of games (early) very often. He's fine. We're lucky to have him."

Jocketty said there now are no concerns about Mulder's health.

"We were very satisfied with what the doctors had to say about all the physical issues," he said. "Everything was fine."

Mulder says he stopped reading newspapers last September but no longer feels a sense of dread every time a reporter approaches. Just as he has left behind a franchise, he has left behind the uncertainty that chased him from last season.

"I can honestly say I couldn't be happier," Mulder says. "I'm going to a better team. I'm going to a better organization. I'm going to a better city. Everything is better, and that's how I'm looking forward to it."

===

Game of baseball is strong enough to survive steroids
By Bernie Miklasz

... The new policy includes year-round random testing and a 10-day suspension for first-time offenders. The latest version still doesn't go far enough - a violator isn't suspended for a year until his fourth offense - but progress is being made. This incremental crackdown on steroids, plus the fallout from the BALCO scandal, should continue to normalize home-run totals.

And just wait until the first few cheaters are caught in the new testing web; the public shame and humiliation will serve to scare other potential 'roidheads straight.

Sorry if my optimism goes against the grain. I realize the trendy thing to do is to grandstand from a column space or talk-show desk and screech that the sky is falling and that baseball as we know it will perish from the face of the earth because steroids have ruined the game.

But baseball is tackling the problem. And that's the crucial first phase in the counterattack. A larger concern is the lack of trust. Those who hit long, frequent home runs will be viewed with suspicion.

"We have to make sure that when a fan brings his kid to the game, they feel good about what they're seeing," said Phillies first baseman Jim Thome, to the Philadelphia Inquirer. "When a guy hits a 500-foot homer, you don't want a kid asking his dad, 'Do you think he uses steroids?' It's unfair to the ones who have busted their butts to achieve. It's unfair to the guys who are in the gym all winter grinding."

Baseball eventually will overcome the Steroids Era. Baseball has survived so many defects: doctored pitches, the DH rule, erratic strike zones, shrunken ballparks, deadball eras, liveball eras, the Black Sox scandal, the advent of free agency, the 1980s cocaine binge, expansion, and institutional racism and segregation. Through it all, baseball remains a strong and resilient game.