Sunday, March 14th 2010

AP

(St. Louis Examiner) In the baseball it only takes one respectable source (and sometimes less) for peeople to start talking about a trade rumor. When that trade involves two of the game's biggest superstars and that source is ESPN the story immediately catches fire. In this case ESPN is reporting that the Philadelphia Phillies are discussing a possible trade of Ryan Howard. The same report has Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro calling the rumors a "lie." Still ESPN felt confident enough in their "sources" to still publish the story.

It is important to note how far away this story is from reality right now. There are absolutely no reports that the Phillies have made or plan on making an actual proposal to the Cardinals. The Cardinals are ...   [ More ]

RELATED:
		Pujols for Howard? Could it really happen? - USA Today

Sunday, March 14th 2010

AP

(MLB.com) Adam Wainwright is still trying to find his control.

The National League leader in wins from a year ago yielded two runs on three hits with two walks in four innings in a 7-3 win against the Nationals on Sunday.

In his first outing this spring, Wainwright allowed four runs on five hits with two walks in two innings.

"It was pretty windy. Several times I got blown during my delivery," Wainwright said. "The first game was real frustrating for me, and the second game was better. So, I just will continue to go out there and try to get better and better each time."

Winds averaged 17 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph at Space Coast Stadium on Sunday.

"I was using different ...   [ More ]

Sunday, March 14th 2010

AP

(MLB.com) CARDINALS 7, NATIONALS 3
at Viera, Fla.
Sunday, March 14

Cardinals at the plate: The Redbirds were able to put runs on the board in the fourth inning off Livan Hernandez. Nick Stavinoha drove in a run with a single, while Joe Mather walked with the bases loaded. Allen Craig broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the seventh with an RBI double and David Freese added to the scoring with a sacrifice fly.

Nationals at the plate: The Nationals scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning. Adam Kennedy had an RBI triple, while Kennedy came home on a single by Ryan Zimmerman. Mike Morse plated Willy Taveras in the ninth.

Cardinals on the mound: Adam Wainwright pitched four innings and gave ...   [ More ]

Saturday, March 13th 2010

AP

(MLB.com) Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols had not played in almost a week, missing five games because of what he described as lower back spasms. He looked in mid-season form Saturday, however.

The reigning National League MVP cranked out a single and double in his first two at-bats, then drew a walk in his third trip to the plate Saturday before leaving the game in the Redbirds' 8-5 Grapefruit League win against the visiting Astros on a sun-drenched but windy afternoon at Roger Dean Stadium.

Pujols ripped a single to center on the first pitch he saw from Astros starter Felipe Paulino and easily legged out a double his next at-bat in the third inning.

"The first pitch was down and away, and I got ...   [ More ]

Saturday, March 13th 2010

AP

(Palm Beach Post) Although David Freese has been given every opportunity to win the third-base job, Joe Mather is proving why he will be just as valuable to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Although Mather was considered a candidate for the position entering spring training, he has not played an inning at third, starting games at first base, left field and serving as the designated hitter.

"That's just as much a position, a guy who moves around maybe doesn't play everyday but plays two out of three and plays different positions," Mather said. "If you don't have a guy that can move around, it hurts the team."

Mather started his second straight game in left field during the Cardinals' 8-5 victory over Houston Saturday and ...   [ More ]

Saturday, March 13th 2010

AP

(MLB.com) CARDINALS 8, ASTROS 5
at Jupiter, Fla.
Saturday, March 13

Astros at the plate: Chris Shelton hit a two-run homer in the top of the second, his first round-tripper this spring. Drew Locke also had a two-run homer in the seventh.

Cardinals at the plate: Ryan Ludwick drilled his second home run of the spring, a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning when the Cardinals sent 10 batters to the plate and scored four runs. Yadier Molina and Julio Lugo followed with back-to-back doubles in the inning. Those two struck again in the fifth when Molina led off with a single and Lugo followed with his first home run of the spring. Albert Pujols had a single, double and walk in his first action ...   [ More ]

Friday, March 12th 2010

AP

(STLToday.com) The St. Louis Cardinals got an unscheduled day off from the exhibition trail today when their game with the Boston Red Sox was rained out and rescheduled here for March 22. When they resume play tomorrow in a game here against the Houston Astros, staff ace Chris Carpenter is slated to be on the mound for the Cardinals and first baseman Albert Pujols is scheduled to be in the lineup.

Pujols hasn’t played in a week because of a lower back ailment but manager Tony La Russa said Pujols thought he could play tomorrow, a theory with which assistant athletic trainer Greg Hauck agreed.

Left fielder Matt Holliday (sore right rib cage), said La Russa, “is feeling much better,” and could be ready to play early next ...   [ More ]

RELATED:
		Albert Pujols is expected back Saturday - STLToday.com

Friday, March 12th 2010

AP

(Palm Beach Post) The St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox game scheduled for Roger Dean Stadium today has been postponed because of rain.

The game will be made up on Monday, March 22 with both teams playing a split squad game at Roger Dean Stadium, filling the only day this month in which a game was not scheduled for the stadium.

"I'm awestruck," said Joe Pinto, the general manager of Roger Dean Stadium. "Teams don't usually do this. The Red Sox could have said we don't need to come back. It shows the relationship the Cardinals have with the Red Sox."

Tickets for Friday can be used on March 22 or can be exchanged for any other spring training game based on availability.

The game was sold out and ...   [ More ]

Friday, March 12th 2010

AP

(MLB.com) It was, in the end, easier than you might think.

Despite the turnover in modern baseball, and arguably three different groups constituting the core of the Cardinals over the past 10 years, many of the spots on an all-aughts St. Louis squad were settled by acclamation. That doesn't mean there weren't some fun discussions, however.

As part of an MLB.com initiative, a three-person panel was assembled to discuss and choose a Cardinals team of the decade. The club was represented by media relations officer Chris Tunno, speaking for PR director Brian Bartow, who was unable to participate in the discussion. TV and radio voice Dan McLaughlin, who has been around the club for more than a decade, represented broadcast ...   [ More ]

Thursday, March 11th 2010

AP

(MLB.com) Kyle Lohse had an extra opponent in his second start of Spring Training. Not only was he facing the Florida Marlins, he was also contending with a stiff wind blowing out to the outfield as he pitched.

Despite the fact that just keeping his balance was a challenge, Lohse turned in a quality outing at Roger Dean Stadium in the Cardinals' 5-3 win over Florida. He tossed four shutout innings, striking out two with two hits and no walks. Lohse wasn't bad in his first start, but he was a lot better on Thursday.

"Results-wise, it was pretty good," Lohse said. "It was tough in the wind, [just trying] to keep my balance in the windup. It was a little gusty out there. I went into it, and [pitching coach Dave Duncan] ...   [ More ]