All posts by Brian Walton

Brian Walton runs The Cardinal Nation, covering the St. Louis Cardinals and minor league system.

Hamilton: Fit and trim but is he a fit?

St. Louis Cardinals prospect Mark Hamilton may be just as blocked in the outfield as he is at his natural position, first base.

    With no actual games yet to report, this is the time of year the early media arrivals at spring training all over Florida and Arizona wear out the already-tired phrase, “Shlabotnik arrived in camp in the best shape of his career.”

    So it was on Friday, albeit pre-Felipe Lopez by several hours, when generally-pessimistic Joe Strauss of the Post-Dispatch tweeted this:

    “Cards impressed that 1B prospect Mark Hamilton has shed 20 lbs. Projects at AAA Memphis but he does hit LH. Never know…”

    Mark Hamilton (Brian Walton photo)The 25-year-old is attending his first big-league camp after having been added to the 40-man roster in November to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. As Strauss notes, the Cards’ supplemental second round pick in 2006 is likely slated to return to Triple-A Memphis. I am not going to spend any time analyzing Hamilton’s chances to come north with the Cardinals as I just don’t see it happening.

    My concern is more basic – whether or not there will be room for Hamilton to work more on his outfield play, even in Triple-A. After all, a reserve first baseman in St. Louis is baseball’s version of the Maytag repairman. As a professional, the big man, 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, has a grand total of one game of regular season outfield experience to date.

    Though the left-handed hitter played some outfield in college at Tulane, Hamilton will find a very crowded competition in Memphis. Depending on who makes the major league club, the Redbirds may have as many as seven other outfielders on their 2010 roster, all with previous Triple-A experience: Nick Stavinoha, Mark Shorey, Shane Robinson, Jon Jay, Amaury Cazana, Allen Craig and Joe Mather. Add to that top prospects Daryl Jones and Tyler Henley in Springfield who should be ready for Triple-A before very long and something major has to give.

    The Cardinals have been trumpeting Hamilton’s winter ball stint in the Dominican Republic as having been valuable for him to become familiar with playing left field. Though he made only one error for the Gigantes del Cibao, he lasted barely two weeks with the club before being released.

    Hamilton didn’t get much time to work on his glove as he must have left his bat behind in the States. He played in 15 games going 9-for-47 with one double, two home runs, nine RBIs and 15 strikeouts. His slash line was .191/.298/.340.

    Strauss’ kind remark regarding Hamilton’s ability to hit lefties stuck in my head as I recalled this stat from Mark’s aborted winter assignment. Against left-handed pitching, he went 0-for-13 with seven strikeouts. Granted, it was a small number of at-bats, but hardly a momentum-builder.

    Looking at Hamilton’s career splits, his OPS as a professional versus left-handers is just .699. It might be tempting to stop right there. In all fairness, let’s look at his yearly numbers for signs of progress.

    Hamilton
    vs LHP Level BA OBP SLG OPS
    2006 SS-A, A 0.154 0.214 0.250 0.464
    2007 A+, AA 0.241 0.306 0.406 0.712
    2008 AA 0.304 0.391 0.339 0.730
    2009 AA, AAA 0.289 0.386 0.421 0.807
    Career 0.249 0.327 0.372 0.699
    vs RHP Level BA OBP SLG OPS
    2006 SS-A, A 0.289 0.356 0.500 0.856
    2007 A+, AA 0.279 0.341 0.485 0.826
    2008 AA 0.222 0.323 0.397 0.720
    2009 AA, AAA 0.322 0.417 0.571 0.988
    Career 0.280 0.359 0.491 0.850

    Coming off a string 2007 in which his 90 RBI led the system and he secured a berth in the Arizona Fall League, Hamilton’s career momentum stalled. His 2008 was injury-shortened and rough. From the left side, he did get on base, but showed no power. It was followed by his best season with the bat in 2009.

    Any optimism or pessimism over Hamilton’s chances to hit in the majors would have to be predicated on his most recent season, only part of which was against Triple-A competition. In his third partial season in Double-A in 2009, Hamilton began on fire. He didn’t do poorly in Memphis, either, though his Triple-A at-bats versus lefties were limited, just 34.

    How Hamilton will get the chance to demonstrate any ability in the outfield in the near term remains an even bigger question.

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    The Cardinal Nation Blog: FOXSports.com’s Blog of the Day again!

    McGwire story and association with Yardbarker leads to repeat national exposure for St. Louis Cardinals-oriented blog.

    FOX-2-25-10-CardinalNationFor the second time in just two months, The Cardinal Nation Blog has been selected as FOXSports.com’s Blog of the Day, achieved through this site’s association with Yardbarker. What caught their attention this time was my unique spin on the Jay McGwire book non-story, “Mark, Jay and Dad”.

    If you’re one of the many first-time visitors here and consider yourself a St. Louis Cardinals fan, please look around, register and join the discussion. I think you will enjoy the fresh new articles and daily commentary.

    The link to my McGwire article is featured on FOXSports.com’s main MLB page just under Ken Rosenthal at the lower left under the heading “Blog of the Day” and “The McGwire brother book drama”, but there’s no need to go there, since the link will take you right back here…

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    Mark, Jay and Dad

    Neither Jay McGwire nor his upcoming tell-all about his and his big brother Mark’s use of steroids, is news. Word of the book, “Mark and Me: Mark McGwire and the Truth Behind Baseball’s Worst-Kept Secret,” scheduled to arrive in bookstores on Monday, first came out last year when Jay was reportedly shopping the manuscript to publishers.

    Mark McGwire (Doug Benc/Getty Images)Not surprisingly, Jay asserts to ESPN that Mark did not tell the whole story – about what he used, how much he used or the perceived benefit – either to Bob Costas or in the subsequent carefully-scripted media tour that followed.

    Tell us something we don’t already know, Jay. Timing is everything and your book is at least a year past its expiration date. Your profit window is literally shrinking by the hour.

    Normally, this wouldn’t be enough for me to even notice here as I recognize that opinions regarding this issue have long been set. Further, among at least one camp, heavy McGwire fatigue has set in. I imagine that was part of the communications strategy carefully laid out in advance.

    Big Mac has been accepted back into baseball and is happily tutoring Cardinals hitters. His Hall of Fame chances rest with the writers with the next mandate still ten months away. These points seem set.

    Still, one nagging concern led me to this post.

    McGwire generally scored well in terms of sincerity points during his admission tour, even as his misinformed message that PEDs did not affect his performance was appropriately trashed and elements of the rollout itself were bungled.

    I have never felt totally comfortable with giving him a sincerity pass, feeling as if it was a professionally-driven attempt to dupe the public. The preparation behind the interviews, followed by a set series of talking points and canned phrases that Big Mac repeated over and over in his scheduled discussions, only added to my discomfort.

    One rub regarded McGwire’s interaction with his father. During his tour stop at MLB Network, Big Mac noted that he struggled in breaking the word to both Tony La Russa and his family the day before, as if they would all be stunned by the “news”.

    “I told my dad yesterday when I finally had to,” Big Mac tearfully admitted.

    I can see how perhaps it was difficult for Mark to own up to it directly, but how in the world could admission of steroid use in his family be a surprise to his dad? Jay McGwire first got into them as a professional bodybuilder two decades ago.

    If Mark’s use was news to his father, the only conclusion I could draw from that is that papa must have had some serious issues with ability to deal with reality as well. Jay’s book title says it all – the “worst-kept secret”.

    Nothing on the surface would seem unusual. John McGwire is a well-known member of his community, for years a prominent dentist in Pomona, California. He cranked out five big boys, among them Mark, one-time NFL quarterback Dan and Jay.

    Black sheep Jay apparently began using steroids in the early 1990’s and stopped in 1996. In between, he was a professional bodybuilder with the typical cartoonish caricature that goes with the sport. He also admitted introducing his older brother to steroids around the time dad talked Mark out of quitting baseball.

    How could pop have not noticed his baseball-playing son subsequently getting bulked up? (Make sure you look at the various before and after photos of Jay in the ESPN article.)

    “I remember calling him (his dad) in ’96,” Mark told MLB Network. “I was so frustrated with injuries I wanted to retire. He’s the one that told me to stick it out.”

    Perhaps dad kept his eyes covered, later accepted his son’s “I did not use steroids” statement and further did not know that behind the embarrassing Congressional testimony from 2005 was Mark’s desire to come clean.

    Fast forward to 2009. When news of Jay’s book first came out, how do you suppose that was handled in the John McGwire household? Did family members tear those pages out of his newspaper? Apparently, the estranged siblings did not sit down for Thanksgiving dinner together with the rest of the clan.

    Like I have said numerous times, I accept Mark McGwire’s “apology” in terms of him being the new hitting coach of the St. Louis Cardinals. That doesn’t mean I have to buy his entire story, hook, line and sinker, any more than I care about brother Jay’s money-making spin on the sad escapade.

    Let’s face it. At this point, anything that comes out about any members of this family should not be a surprise to anyone. ‘Move on, there’s nothing to see here…’

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    The Cardinals organization roster matrix: Pre-camp update

    The St. Louis Cardinals full system rosters are refreshed to reflect spring training camps, both major and minor league.

    Welcome to first-time readers arriving here due to the first of my weekly Cardinals Minor League Notebook columns in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. With the start of major league spring training camp and minor leaguers reporting in less than two weeks, it is time for a refresh of the St. Louis Cardinals system roster matrix.

    If you are new to the site and aren’t sure what the Cardinals organization roster matrix is all about, here is quick summary.

    At the time of this posting, the St. Louis Cardinals have 285 players under contract from top to bottom. The matrix places each one at his current assigned level in the system as well as by position. It is kept updated throughout the season as transactions occur.

    Nowhere else will you find this current and comprehensive single-page view of the entire Cardinals organization.

    Its major scope in this update is to highlight those invited to each of the two spring training camps. The rosters upon which the players are listed generally reflect where they concluded last season or the type of contract they signed and frankly mean very little at this stage.

    The 38 players on the 40-man roster, who received automatic invites to major league camp, are called out in bold. They have been joined at spring training by 19 non-roster invitees, denoted in italics.

    147 more players will arrive in minor league camp starting on March 8. Starting from the top of the matrix, those players include all those not in bold or italics down through Batavia. All of the 2009 Johnson City players with the exception of two, John Durham and Kleininger Teran, have also been invited.

    The final group of minor league camp invitees consists of eight designated players from the 2009 Gulf Coast League team and one from last season’s Dominican Summer League squad. These JC, GCL and DSL players are broken out separately below. (Players noted on the suspended or restricted lists are excluded until reinstated.)

    In a look ahead, the two Johnson City players, the remainder of the 2009 GCL roster and a good helping of the older players from the Dominican Summer League and Venezuelan Summer League will join the spring camp leftovers in extended spring training, starting in early April. Along with this June’s draftees, these players will staff the 2010 Batavia, Johnson City and GCL clubs.

    You may note that I separated the pitchers on the short-season rosters between 2009 draftees and returning pitchers. At this point, starting and relieving roles at the lower levels can and will change. There will also certainly be some positional adjustments coming.

    Remember that to get detailed profile information on every single one of these 285 Cardinals players, simply check out their free player profiles now updated for 2010 at The Cardinal Nation / Scout.com. You can see bios, photos, videos, articles, news items, links to current season and career stats and much more – everything you need to know about a player in one place.

    For example, this is the link to the 2010 roster page for Memphis. Click on an individual player’s name to be taken to his profile page. Here is Adam Ottavino’s profile.

    This will be the version of the roster matrix I will be updating the rest of the spring, so now that you’ve found this page once, remember one of three ways to get back here. Bookmark the page, type “Roster Matrix” in the dark blue search box at the upper right or use the dropdown menu at the top of the page: “Players/Staff” > “Depth Charts/Roster Matrix”.

    For details behind past 2009 rosters and 2010 transactions to date, check out the earlier versions of the Cardinals organization roster matrix as follows.

    Link to previous matrices: Jan–March 2009, April 2009, May 2009, June 2009 July 2009-February 2010

    Transactions

    2/26: Signed IF Felipe Lopez. Signed 14 DSL players: C Fernando Baez, 2B Starlin Rodriguez, SS Rafael Medina, SS Junior Agustin, SS Daniel Barbuena, OF Amauris Capellan, OF Ronald Castillo, OF Eduardo Celestino, RHPs Ariel Gonzalez, Jean Carlos De La Cruz, Victor De Leon, Hansel De Los Santos, Eduardo Hiraldo and Arturo Toribio. Signed seven VSL players: C Jose Gomez, OF Jose Martinez (noted as Jo Martinez2 below), OF Jhohan Acevedo, RHPs Alberth Almeida, Silfredo Garcia, Anderson Gerdel and Geudy Guerra. New total 307.

    3/17: C Paul Vazquez retired. OF Kaiser Inojosa released. New total 305.

    3/18: Rule 5 pick LHP Ben Jukich returned to CIN after clearing outright waivers. New total 304.

    3/23: Seven released. Ps Justin Fiske, Andres Rosales, Jonathan Gonzalez, Reynier Gonzalez and Marco Gonzalez, 1B Matt Arburr and C Blake Murphy. New total 297.

    3/26: Ten released. Ps Brad Furnish, Tyler Lavigne, Randy Santos, Adam Veres, Santo Maertz, Charlie Zink, Pedro Rodriguez and Yoffri Martinez, OFs Travis Mitchell and Edwin Gomez. New total 287.

    3/31: SS Julio Lugo traded to Baltimore Orioles. New total 286. 40-man at 37.

    The St. Louis Cardinals Organization Roster Matrix (effective 03/31/10)

    St. Louis (25) 40-man (37)
    SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
    C Carpenter Franklin LaRue Pujols Schumaker Ryan Freese Holliday
    Lohse Kinney Molina Lopez Ludwick
    Penny Boggs Rasmus
    Wainwright Motte Craig
    McClellan Hawksworth Stavinoha
    T Miller (L) Mather
    Reyes (L)
    Memphis (24) 9 NRI
    SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
    O Perez Parise Anderson Hamilton Descalso Greene Solano Jay
    MacLane Salas Pagnozzi Gotay Howard Cazana

    		Scherer Shorey
    Ottavino Rundles (L) Robinson
    Ja Garcia (L) Meyer (L)
    R Hill Norrick (L)
    Walters
    Springfield (30) 7 NRI
    SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
    Lynn Freeman (L) S Hill A Brown Jo Garcia
    		 Kozma Folli Jones
    Hearne Sanchez T Cruz Jo Martinez1 Henley
    Gorgen Samuel Derba Sedbrook Ant. DeJesus
    Dickson Rapoport
    Kulik (L) Fick Luna
    Additon (L) Dew
    King
    Summers
    Daley, Jr.
    Mura
    Mulligan
    Palm Beach (22) 1 NRI
    SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
    Broderick Buursma Cutler Rivera Marmol M Carpenter Chambers
    Ri Castillo Eager C Smith A Castellanos Pham
    Nieto Bradford Morales Swauger
    Reifer
    Diapoules Garceau
    G Brown (L)
    Kopp
    Bittle
    Quad Cities (25+1) 2 NRI
    SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
    S Miller D Carpenter Stock Scruggs Stidham Curtis Parejo
    Fornataro Delgado Espinoza Bolivar Racobaldo Ingram
    Schneider Pichardo R Rodriguez
    Thomas McCully Bogany
    Cardenas (L) M Tapia
    Zawacki Frevert
    McGregor
    Rondon
    M Harris (mil)
    Batavia (23+1)
    2009 draft P Other P C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
    Calhoun (L) Blazek L DeLaCruz Adams Jackson N Vasquez Swinson
    Corrigan Hooker Castro Ahmady (susp) Goodwin
    Ju Edwards (L)
    Kelly Mayes Jo Edwards
    Siegrist (L) Conley
    Moss Shepherd
    Squatrito
    J Smith
    Simpson
    Terry
    Johnson City (29)
    2009 draft P Other P C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
    C Johnson A Ferrara (L) Tartamella J Rodriguez L Mateo Y Castillo Beatty
    Heim (L) North A Perez Obregon R Smith
    Kington Notti R Ruiz Lara
    Lawler Russell Alvarez R Rosario
    Butler Rada Hage
    Novak
    Daugherty (L) Ang. De Jesus
    M Thompson
    Extended spring
    Durham (L) Teran
    GCL (19+1)
    2009 draft P Other P C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
    M DeLaCruz (L) Calero D Medina Mambell Babrick
    Avendano Bighames (susp)
    A Castillo Rivero
    Munoz
    Orozco
    Pasen
    Regular spring
    H Hernamdez (L) A Garcia Washington Valera R DeLaCruz V Hill
    Rosenthal Moscatel
    DSL (46+1)
    SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
    A Tapia Concepcion J Castillo Pimentel W Perez G Hernandez Beras
    Santana L Mata L Perez V Ferreira J Lopez R Medina Encarnacion
    Jimenez Rudecindo Baez S Rodriguez Barbuena J Pena
    Uribe (L) Urena Agustin R Reyes
    Pinard D Rodriguez (L) Sandoval
    Herrera (L) Mercedes (L) Taveras
    S Lopez P Pena (L) Capellan
    Paulino Ro Castillo
    A Gonzalez Segundo (susp) Celestino
    JC DeLaCruz B Martinez
    DeLeon Estalis
    DeLosSantos L Polanco
    E Hiraldo
    A Toribio
    Regular spring
    Alcala
    VSL (39+1)
    SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
    Colorado (L) Cedeno Rivas R Perez Vivas O Medina H Garcia Argenal
    Bier Cueto Viloria Vargas R Garcia Martines
    Corpas Guzman Velazco H Martina Fonseca
    Nieves Jh Polanco Montero Inojoza
    Oraa Ulacio J Gomez A Castellano
    Escudero Jo Martinez2
    Almeida Solarte Acevedo
    S Garcia Weffer (L)
    Gerdel Montanez
    Guerra De Aguas (L)
    Echeverria (L)
    Villanueva (susp L)

    Codes
    (i): injured – on the disabled list
    (t): temporary inactive list
    (susp): suspended list
    (L) left-handed pitcher
    bold: on the Cardinals’ 40-man roster
    italics: non-roster spring training camp invitee
    (#+#) number of active players on the roster plus number of inactive (i+t+susp) players

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    Baseball, guns and money

    As most St. Louis Cardinals fans are aware, Ryan Franklin and his team received a considerable amount of notoriety over the past few days. The subject was the closer’s remarks over the posting of Major League Baseball’s “Weapons-Free Workplace Policy” in Florida and Arizona clubhouses this spring.

    The 36-year-old, who grew up in Arkansas and now lives on a 500-acre ranch in Oklahoma, told the Post-Dispatch this:

    “There are a few guys that screwed it up for everybody,” Franklin said. “If it wasn’t for the NFL guy a couple years ago bringing a weapon into a nightclub … you’ve just got to be smart.”


    Franklin was undoubtedly referring to former New York Giants star Plaxico Burress, whose unfortunate self-inflicted wound led to the loss of his job and his freedom. The former wide receiver is currently spending two years behind bars.

    Some writers have incorrectly assumed MLB’s action was a knee-jerk response to an incident in the NBA this season involving Gilbert Arenas. The Washington guard has been suspended indefinitely and faces criminal charges as a result of a gun-related episode. The difference between this one and Burress’ was that it played out inside the locker room rather than in a nightclub.

    An MLB official told the AP that their policy had been put in place last July following the Burress incident, but was just now being formally posted. Union head Michael Weiner acknowledged the issue was negotiated with the players in advance.

    The policy, which applies to players and employees alike, states that MLB “shall prohibit the possession or use of deadly weapons in any facility or venue owned, operated, or controlled by it.” Deadly weapons are defined as “any instrument designed primarily for use in inflicting death or injury to a human or animal.” Included are “firearms, explosives, daggers, metal knuckles, switchblade knives, and knives having blades exceeding five inches.”

    While Franklin’s comments seemed out there, now that a couple of days have passed, I decided to look around to see if his position had any seconds from corners of the baseball universe.

    If there are any, no one is speaking up.

    The New York Yankees, a team never short on controversy, were remarkably quiet on the issue. Andy Pettitte and C.C. Sabathia shrugged their shoulders, saying they have never seen a gun in their clubhouse or any other. Spring training instructor, gun owner and Hall of Famer Goose Gossage, who played from 1972 to 1994, agreed and added that he has never even heard a story about one.

    A story out of Pittsburgh noted that several of the Pirates players enjoy bow-hunting and brought their high-tech devices to the park. The quote offered was a joke from outfielder Brandon Moss, who had practiced his hobby at PNC Park on occasion.

    “I guess I’ll have to switch to rubber tips (on arrows),” Moss said.

    Players are competitive by nature and have long periods of downtime, which explains interest in varied hobbies such as golf, video games and even those involving weapons. Yet there seems proper a time and place for everything.

    Perhaps there are a few who believe their fame and wealth also offer a level of entitlement beyond that of the average citizen. Yet there seems no doubt that the vast majority of Americans save those in law enforcement would face serious repercussions if they carried weapons into their workplace.

    San Diego Padres pitcher Chris Young may have been speaking for the silent majority as he sees MLB’s policy simply formalizing standard practice.

    “I think every clubhouse had the no gun policy before,” Young said. “They’re just making it official. But anybody with common sense knows you shouldn’t be carrying guns in most places.”

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    A St. Louis Cardinals Twitter directory

    One man’s view of those to consider following on Twitter for St. Louis Cardinals-major and minor league-related information.

    Having been later than some to join the Twitter game, I recently shared my first-month thoughts about the hot social networking tool, both pros and cons. Now, I am going to take the next step to call out the identities of those I recommend St. Louis Cardinals fans who participate in Twitter should consider following.

    As spring training officially begins, the amount of information being tweeted and re-tweeted is increasing considerably. Unfortunately, also growing is the level of noise.

    Beyond being told what music is in their iPods and what they had for breakfast, perhaps my biggest pet peeve when following a baseball-related tweeter is the “yes-men” who re-tweet everything the beat reporters say, as if everyone who might possibly be interested doesn’t already follow the original source. (This is worse if you decide to monitor the team-related hashtags. See below.)

    Filtering out the inevitable noise can best be attempted by carefully selecting those who you follow on Twitter and occasionally weeding out those who don’t give you what you want. That simple thought led me to adopt an idea I saw a Mets blogger undertake recently – to summarize the various team-oriented individuals pumping good stuff out into the Twitterverse.

    Across all my personal interest levels, I have carefully selected 150 I currently follow, but will identify here the subset of 30 or so I think are most relevant to the masses of Cardinals fans. Some make sense for major league news only while others are obviously minor league-focused.

    I probably won’t remember everyone and apologize in advance if I inadvertently left you or your favorite information provider off the list. If there are some notables you like that I have forgotten, please feel free to call them out below.

    I won’t add explanation unless I think it is necessary to clarify the source. I am also not going to comment much on who tweets what outside of baseball as you can decide for yourself what interests you beyond Cardinals news and what does not, but all that follow offer ample Cardinals-related content.

    Remember, if you decide after the fact that following someone isn’t working out, you can easily and immediately unfollow them. I did it with Jose Canseco most recently when he went off on a profane tirade. It was clearly the right decision for both of us.

    To go to the Twitter home page of any of these to check out their recent tweets and perhaps follow them, you can either click on their names below or simply enter “twitter.com/xxxxxx” in your browser, where xxxxxx is any name listed. (Note that the capitals do not matter, but the underlines _ clearly do, such as with my account, B_Walton. Anywhere you see what appears to be a space in the linked names below, an underline _ is actually there.)

    Post-Dispatch: stl_cardinals, JoeStrauss, dgoold, miklasz

    Globe-Democrat: STLGlobeSPORTS, BJRains, RobRains

    MLB.com: stlcardinals, MatthewHLeach

    AP: rbfallstromAP

    Rightsholder broadcast media: Fox_Sports_MW, JohnMarecek (KTRS radio), CardsNationShow (Channel 5)

    The Cardinal Nation: ScoutStLouisMLB, B_Walton, Dustin_Mattison, jrocke217 (Josh Jones), stkerrick

    A few of the Cardinals players partake, but I would imagine they are learning that its two-way operation can become a challenge. The latter two often use Twitter to share religious-themed messages.

    Players: mattholliday7, MattPagnozzi, BlakeHawksworth

    Cardinals team: MLBSTLCardinals (official team account), TonyLaRussa, jluhnow

    Minor league affiliates: memphisredbirds, Sgf_Cardinals, RDSLetsPlay (Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter, FL) QCRiverBandits

    Blogs: C70, thebirdos, Future_Redbirds, PitchersHit8th, Fungoes

    Of course, there are literally hundreds of national writers and sites that also tweet occasionally about the Cardinals, but my focus here has been the handful of team-oriented ones with which I suggest you consider when getting started.

    Cardinals-related hashtags

    Hashtags are keywords included in tweets, identified by a hash sign (#) preceding them. The advantage for the reader is to be able to search on and/or regularly follow a topic area based on its hashtag, rather than by individual tweeters.

    The most important hashtag that is regularly used is #stlcards.  Its major downside is the volume of unwashed masses participating. Think of it as sort of the Twitter version of the Cards Talk message board, so be prepared to sort through considerably more chaff than wheat. Another problem is mounds of repetition as well-meaning twitter neophytes re-tweet comments from beat writers who everyone already follow – sometimes a day or two later.

    Another is #hpgf – short for “hyperventilating prospect geek fraternity.” The acronym was first coined by the Post-Dispatch’s Joe Strauss to poke at what he considers to be an overzealous subset of Cardinals minor league watchers. The #hpgf hashtag caught on with some as a quick way to summarize “Cardinals minor league prospect information” into just five characters, saving more of the 140-character maximum per tweet for content. Others only use it in a derogatory manner, however, so I have moved to #stlminors.

    A final thought

    Like anything else, Twitter can become a huge time burner or less politely, a major time waster. My recommendation is to start slowly with sources you think you know you want to follow and gradually work your way into it. If you have to step away from Twitter for a few hours or days, let the tweets go that appeared while you were gone. There will soon be plenty more where they came from.

    Good luck and good tweeting, Cardinals fans!

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    Long-living former Cardinals

    Stan Musial isn’t the oldest or even second-oldest former St. Louis Cardinals player living. The latter is the relatively-unknown Freddie Schmidt.

      In my annual New Years feature at The Cardinal Nation, I registered a sad note in pointing out the 2009 death of Herman Franks, who was the oldest living ex-Cardinal player at the age of 95 when he passed away last March 30. I believe Franks was also the last living Cardinals player to suit up for the major league club in the 1930’s.

      Don Lang has taken over from Franks as the oldest surviving former Cardinals player. The team’s 1948 third baseman will turn 95 years of age on March 15.

      In terms of the living ex-Cardinals player that played the longest ago for the club, I believe Marty Marion now holds that distinction. The then-22-year-old played his first major league game with St. Louis on April 16, 1940. Marion is now 92 years of age.

      The oldest Cardinals Hall of Famer still with us and also the one that played the longest ago from that group is of course Donora, Pennsylvania native Stan Musial, who debuted on September 17, 1941. Musial turned 89 last November.

      My heightened interest in Musial these days caused me to uncover an off-beat and amusing story about a Musial-signed item, relayed by Allentown (PA) Morning Call columnist Bill White. A beloved former schoolteacher in the area, Miss Jane Christman, was buried just before New Years along with her most prized possession – a baseball upon which was written a personal message from Stan the Man himself.

      I wonder how many more years will pass before we hear of the first Cardinals fan to be laid to rest with an Albert Pujols-signed item of memorabilia tucked alongside?

      1946 Cardinals team photoThat article led me to another White gem, this Saturday piece summarizing his conversation with Freddie Schmidt. Turns out Schmidt had read about the late Miss Christman and her Musial ball and contacted both Stan and the writer, White.

      Based on my research, I believe Schmidt is the second-oldest living former Cardinal, with only Lang having been born earlier. Schmidt celebrated his 94th birthday on February 9. White identified Schmidt as just the sixth-oldest living Phillie. (Schmidt is the first player on the left in the second row of the 1946 Cardinals team photo pictured.)

      A right-handed pitcher who appeared in 1944, 1946 and 1947 with St. Louis, Schmidt went 7-3 with a 3.15 ERA in 37 games as a rookie and added 3 1/3 scoreless frames of relief in the victorious World Series fight against the Browns. He missed the 1945 season due to World War II.

      The native of Connecticut first signed in 1937 and worked his way up through the system, making his major league debut on April 25, 1944. After leaving the Cardinals in a May 1947 trade with Philadelphia, the right-hander toiled six more years in the minors.

      Those who love baseball history and especially Cardinals history need to ensure you read White’s article recounting his meeting with Schmidt.

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      Is Cards Cash right for you?

      The St. Louis Cardinals have announced a new program to add money to tickets for spending at the ballpark. Like anything, there are benefits and risks.

        This past week, the St. Louis Cardinals announced a new program for 2010 called Cards Cash. It is essentially stored money loaded into the barcode of your game ticket which can be used at any Busch Stadium register, including concession stands, kiosks and the Team Store.

        The Cardinals have begun selling tickets with Cards Cash in the first three configurations that follow with the fourth coming in a couple of weeks:

        • Holliday Pack –7 games and $7 per ticket in complimentary Cards Cash for each of the specified games ($49 total value Cards Cash added per pack)

        • Outfield Loge Box Season Tickets – Full Season, Half-Season, and 27-game plans, with $5 per ticket in complimentary Cards Cash for each game ($405 total value Cards Cash added per seat for full season plan)

        • Group Tickets – groups of 25 or more may choose to add Cards Cash to their tickets and receive $12 Cards Cash value for only $10, or $6 value for only $5.

        • Single game individual tickets – when they go on sale in early March, a single-game Cards Cash feature will be offered in which fans can add Cards Cash and receive $12 value for only $10.

        The first two Cards Cash configurations offer a good deal – if you were planning to purchase these plans, that is. In that case, you have found money, so to speak. If you want to use the stored value, great, but if you don’t, you still receive the value from the tickets you bought. (Update: As always, be sure to compare per-game ticket prices across packages.)

        That is not so for the tickets that most people will buy, however – single game tickets and to a lesser extent, Group Tickets. In those cases, any money added to your ticket is nothing more than a loan to the Cardinals, which you can collect with interest – if and only if you follow all the rules.

        Otherwise, you are sunk.

        Don’t get me wrong. I like the concept and the use of new technology. It works well as a perk with the ticket packages. But until they work out the limitations in future seasons, the average fan has to be very careful when adding stored money to his or her single game ticket.

        If you know you are going to the game and plan to spend more than $10 on goodies, go for it. Just understand there is no turning back.

        As a public service, here are six questions and answers that illustrate the risk. (In case you can’t tell, I wrote these, not the Cardinals, but I do believe the answers are accurate.)

        Q: If I added Cards Cash to a single game ticket, but find out later that I can’t attend the game, can I get my money back?

        A: Sorry, no refunds on tickets or Cards Cash.

        Q: Well, can I move my stored money to a ticket for another game, then?

        A: No. If you don’t use the Cards Cash on the day of the original ticket, it is gone.

        Q: If I don’t spend the total stored value on my ticket the day I am at the game, can I keep my ticket and use my Cards Cash later in the season?

        A: No. See above. As an aside, you probably didn’t buy much at the game, as it doesn’t take much effort to make $10-$12 disappear pretty quickly.

        Q: What if I lose my stored value ticket or it is damaged once I am in the ballpark?

        A: It’s gone. It would be no different than if you lost a ten-dollar bill. (I hope you remember where you were sitting!)

        Q: What if I can’t attend the game for which I bought a ticket with Cards Cash and give the ticket to a friend (because I would never deal with scalpers)? Where does my stored value go?

        A: It stays with the ticket. You had better get your friend to pay you an extra $10 to cover your sunk cost and don’t forget to tell him he has a bonus.

        Q: If I don’t spend the total stored value on my ticket the day I am at the game, where does my money go?

        A: The Cardinals keep it.

        It would seem that an interpretation was made that Cards Cash does not fall under the Federal Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, shortened to “Credit CARD Act of 2009”. Enacted by Congress and signed by President Obama last May, among the many provisions of the Act is protection for consumers who purchase certain types of gift and stored value cards through the establishment of a five-year mandatory expiration date.

        Some states have enacted even stricter Gift Card Consumer Protection Laws, according to the non-profit publisher of Consumer Reports, ConsumersUnion.org. Missouri is apparently not among these states.

        The Credit CARD Act of 2009 specifically covers “general-use prepaid cards”, “gift certificates”, and “store gift cards”, but excludes “several other common types of prepaid cards, such as reloadable cards that are not marketed as gift cards, telephone cards, cards not marketed to the general public, and loyalty, award, or promotional cards,” according to the US Federal Reserve.

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        Cardinals loaded up the middle – with coaches

        I can’t say why, but this week, I seem to be fixated on the middle infield. Of Tony La Russa and his top coaches, do you know how many are former middle infielders?

          Can you believe the number is four of seven?

          Jose Oquendo at second base (Brian Walton photo)Along with La Russa, Dave McKay, Jose Oquendo (pictured making the turn in a 2007 minor league spring training workout) and Joe Pettini, ex-middle infielders all, the Cardinals staff includes one ex-catcher in Dave Duncan, a pitcher in bullpen coach Marty Mason and of course, the new hitting coach and former first baseman in Mark McGwire.

          La Russa, 65, signed his first pro contract with the Kansas City Athletics on the night he graduated from high school in 1962. He made his major league debut with Kansas City just one year later. La Russa did not return to the majors again until 1968, this time with the Oakland A’s.

          Tony went on to play parts of four seasons in Oakland before concluding his big-league playing career with Atlanta and the Chicago Cubs. Overall, his professional career spanned 16 seasons as he finished, ironically, as a player/coach with the Cardinals Triple-A affiliate in New Orleans in 1977.

          La Russa played at second base in 786 of his 1,028 minor league games and 63 of his 83 major league contests at second.

            First base coach McKay, who turns 60 next month, was originally signed by the Minnesota Twins in 1971 and spent four seasons in the minor leagues after breaking in during August 1975. After the 1976 season, McKay moved to Toronto in the expansion draft, where he was in the lineup for the first game in Blue Jays franchise history.

            After splitting time between Toronto and Triple-A Syracuse in 1979, McKay signed with the A’s in 1980. He played for Oakland through 1982 and returned to the minor leagues as a player-coach for the 1983 season before becoming La Russa’s bench coach in 1984.

            McKay was primarily a second baseman in the majors, playing 385 of his 653 games there, also spending time at third and shortstop.

              As a major league infielder, third base coach Oquendo is the most-known of the bunch for his playing exploits. Now 46, “Secret Weapon’s” professional playing career spanned 17 seasons, including big league time with the New York Mets (1983-84) and Cardinals (1986-95).

              In 1990, Oquendo established single-season major league records for the highest fielding percentage (.996) and fewest errors by a second baseman (three). He also led the league in fielding in 1989 and compiled a .992 fielding average at second base for his career.

              While Oquendo is famed for having played every position on the diamond as a Cardinal, his primary home as a major leaguer was second base. He played 649 of his 1163 career MLB games there.

                Pettini’s professional career began when he signed with the Montreal Expos as a non-drafted free agent in 1977. In 1980, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants, where he played for four seasons. He was signed by the Cardinals and played for Triple-A Louisville from 1984 through 1986.

                The Cardinals current bench coach breaks the mold as he was a shortstop, having played there in 106 of his 180 major league contests.

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                Gotay and the goats

                A look at St. Louis Cardinals second base non-roster invitees over the last five seasons.

                Ruben Gotay (AP/Gregory Bull)I have been thinking about the made-for-pre-spring camp excitement surrounding the assignment of uniform number 3 to St. Louis Cardinals non-roster invitee Ruben Gotay. There are those convinced the number means the infielder is considered a front-runner to make the opening day roster.

                We don’t need to look back very far to find history littered with bodies with pasts that look a lot like Gotay’s – former major leaguer with ample minor league time, especially most recently.

                This doesn’t mean I am pounding on Ruben, a Caribbean Series teammate of Yadier Molina with Team Puerto Rico in 2007, the latter who maybe not so coincidentally happens to wear number 4. I am just pointing out a well-established pattern. Recent results indicate former MLB second-base retreads auditioned in Cardinals spring camp just haven’t cut it no matter what number was on their back.

                Following are the players tried in similar circumstances over the last five springs. Only one of them ever made it far enough to claim a regular season major league roster spot with the Cardinals at any time, let alone opening day.

                That lone survivor was Joe Thurston last year and the only reason he made it was due to opportunity elsewhere in the infield – all the third basemen who managed to eliminate themselves from contention. Once there, Thurston remained, but didn’t produce consistently and wasn’t asked back for 2010.

                Of the others, one was cut by the conclusion of camp, while the remaining three toiled in Memphis for at least part of the subsequent season, a most possible 2010 destination for Gotay. Even with him included, the youngest at 27, the group averages the ripe old age of 31.

                One common thread is terrible spring training results at the plate, a collective .207 batting average. They weren’t so hot defensively, either. They averaged two errors each, despite the briefest of cameos by Dave Berg in 2006 and Wilton Guerrero the previous March.

                Spring Player Spring # Roster Age Errors BA ABs Disposition
                2010 Ruben Gotay 3 NRI 27
                2009 Joe Thurston 22 NRI 29 1 0.246 69 St. Louis
                2008 D’Angelo Jimenez 28 NRI 30 3 0.237 38 Memphis
                2007 Jolbert Cabrera 19 NRI 34 4 0.151 53 Memphis
                2006 Dave Berg 19 NRI 35 1 0.000 1 Released
                2005 Wilton Guerrero 19 NRI 30 0 0.125 8 Memphis
                Average 31 2 0.207 34

                Junior Spivey (AP/Todd Anderson)In terms of uniform numbers, while none had a number above 28, neither were any of the failed combatants issued 3 like Gotay. That doesn’t mean there hasn’t been a recent number 3 working at second base in spring camp, however.

                The group of NRIs does not include a pair of failed candidates in 2006. Believe it or not, coming into camp that spring, both Junior Spivey (pictured), wearing number 3, and Deivi Cruz, sporting number 35, were on the 40-man roster. That that didn’t last long and like the vast majority of the NRIs noted above, neither Spivey nor Cruz appeared in a regular-season game for St. Louis. Here is how they did in 2006 camp.

                Spring Player Spring # Roster Age Errors BA ABs Disposition
                2006 Junior Spivey 3 40-man 31 5 0.147 68 Memphis
                Deivi Cruz 35 40-man 33 0 0.146 41 Released
                Average 32 3 0.147 55

                Of course as was evident in the Thurston case last spring, opportunity can pop up even when it is not expected. Someone else’s misfortune can open a door that previously looked to be closed.

                Still, the future was far from bright for these infielders, even after leaving the Cardinals organization behind. Including Spivey and Cruz, of the earlier six, only two ever appeared in the major leagues again for any club following their brief stop in Cardinals camp. They are Jimenez (Washington, 2007) and Cabrera (Cincinnati, 2008).

                Thurston is in the Braves camp this spring at least, though on a minor league deal of course, and Gotay still has his Cardinals bid in front of him. I don’t like the chances of either, though…

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                Philly driver guilty in death of Cardinals fan

                The drunken driver who killed a St. Louis Cardinals fan and seriously injured another in Philadelphia last summer accepts a pair of guilty pleas.

                  In an update on a horrible story from last summer, the man accused of running over two St. Louis Cardinals fans with his speeding car outside Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park last July pleaded guilty on Tuesday to vehicular homicide and vehicular aggravated assault while intoxicated.

                  Citizens Bank Park (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)Now 20-year-old South Philadelphia resident Joseph Genovese Jr. ran a red light on Broad Street outside an afternoon Phillies-Cardinals game last July 10, striking St. Louis schoolteachers Cindy Grassi and Sandra Wacker.

                  Following two days on life support, Grassi, 53, died from her injuries while Wacker, then 36, was seriously injured. She suffered a traumatic brain injury, bruised lung and a broken leg which required her to spend months in recovery, first in Philadelphia, then back home in St. Louis. Doctors had to remove a part of Wacker’s skull to allow for swelling of the brain and when that piece of her skull was put back in place four months later, 69 staples were required.

                  The friends, who met as teachers at Mark Twain Elementary School in Brentwood, Mo., had traveled to a different ballpark each summer to watch the Cardinals play. Grassi had retired in 2007, while Wacker has now returned to teaching fourth grade.

                  Citizens Bank Park is relatively new, having opened in 2004, with wide boulevards and good sightlines in all directions. Yet nothing could protect the two teachers from Genovese’s speeding automobile. Prior to the accident, the man had bragged on his MySpace page of driving 120 mph on a drag-racing strip near the ballpark. After his arrest, his mugshot was featured on his MySpace page.

                  Genovese faces a sentence of up to 13 1/2 to 27 years in prison and will learn his fate on April 13.

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                  President’s Day Cardinals this and that

                  On a made-for-America holiday in between two former Presidents’ birthdays, following is a series of short news items including a serious plea with a bit of self-promotion sprinkled in.

                  Annabelle Faith Walters (Phillip Walters)Pray for Annabelle Walters

                  I was honored to have been selected by the Walters family to bring their story of the 13-week premature birth of Annabelle Faith Walters to St. Louis Cardinals fans last Thursday. Since then, there has been an outpouring of prayers and support for pitcher P.J. Walters and his family from all over the Cardinal Nation.

                  I set up a special thread on The Cardinal Nation / Scout.com message board for fans to offer their thoughts. New grandpa Phillip Walters stops by with periodic updates. After five says, Annabelle continues to fight but remains in serious condition. Please continue to give your support any way possible.

                  Walters feature at the Globe-Democrat

                  I was asked to tell Annabelle Walters’ story to the readers of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, which I did in this article. This “touching” photo of P.J.’s fingertip in Annabelle’s tiny palm was sent along by Phillip Walters.

                  Minor League Notebooks coming

                  The Walters article is the first evidence of my new collaboration with the Globe-Democrat for the 2010 season. I will be joining their stacked Cardinals-focused line up with a Minor League Notebook column starting next Thursday, February 24 and running weekly all season long. When schedules align with need, I may also be pitching in with game coverage articles for a handful of major league contests during the upcoming regular season.

                  I am delighted to be given the opportunity to reach an increasingly-wider audience by Globe-Democrat sports editor Rob Rains.

                  Back on radio

                  As I have done the past few years, I will be joining afternoon hosts Ken Miller and Matt Perrault from KXnO FOX Sports Radio in Des Moines every other week for an update on the Cardinals. The exciting new news is that KXnO just signed a multi-year agreement to join the Cardinals Radio Network. Among the other Cardinals experts who appear regularly on KXnO is FOX Sports Midwest’s Pat Parris.

                  FOX Fantasy Guide / Scout Prospect Guide

                  Annual subscribers to The Cardinal Nation/Scout.com Total Access Pass prior to this January 8 should soon be receiving in the mail your copy of the 2010 FOX Fantasy Guide / Scout Prospect Guide. The prospect section of the two-part Guide includes the top prospects from all 30 MLB organizations, the annual Scout.com top 300 prospect list and much more.

                  As always, The Cardinal Nation is responsible for the St. Louis Cardinals prospects section and this year’s article was written by yours truly. There is also a full fantasy baseball section to help you prepare for your drafts.

                  For those who aren’t annual subscribers, soon, if not already, the annual Guide will be available on newsstands from coast to coast for the very-reasonable price of $4.95.

                  The Fantasy Baseball Guide 2010

                  As I do every year, I am a contributor to The Fantasy Baseball Guide 2010, which has been on sale for several weeks now for $7.99. In addition to my player capsules, picks and pans, mock draft participation and the like, my essay on taking the 2009 National League Tout Wars expert league championship is featured.

                  Following are some of the highlights of The Fantasy Baseball Guide 2010, edited by my long-time friend and fantasy league foe Peter Kreutzer, more widely-known simply as “Rotoman”.

                  • Winning strategies – tips from the experts who won their leagues
                  • Rookies – who to target this season
                  • An NFBC-style mock draft tp prep you for your own draft
                  • Who to target and who to avoid – the experts offer over 300 picks and pans
                  • The ever-popular and must-have cheat sheets

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                  St. Louis Cardinals spring training radio and television schedules

                  Spring training television and radio plans for the 2010 St. Louis Cardinals.

                  Updated 2/13: Though I first posted this four weeks ago, on January 17, with tentative TV games, I am republishing it with today’s date, February 13. The reason is to bring it up front now that the Cardinals full spring broadcast schedule has been filled in on MLB.com, confirming the rest of the television games and adding the radio ones, too.

                  Again, what makes this list different is it includes both Cardinals AND their opponents’ spring training radio and television plans. After all, with satellite and internet services, catching an away broadcast is far better than missing out entirely!

                  New radio notes: KTRS 550 radio will break from their regular Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday-Sunday schedule to also broadcast a pair of Friday games, on March 12 and April 2. The latter game will be from Minneapolis. KTRS’ first game will be on Saturday, March 6, the first of 17. Check local listings as always, but generally the 116 stations across the Cardinals radio network will broadcast Saturday and Sunday spring training contests.

                  New television notes: FOX Sports Midwest will be carrying five spring games, three of them in conjunction with other FOX regional sports networks. Another FSM game will also appear simultaneously on ESPN. The two KSDK 5 games have now been confirmed per MLB.com.

                  Though it is not new news, remember the very first Cardinals spring game on Thursday, March 4 against the Mets will be televised on SportsNet New York. It will be the first of a dozen (now 13 as of February 19) St. Louis spring games televised by some network.

                  Bookmark this page as it will be updated when additional information is made available. It is also always accessible from the task bar at the top of the page via “Events/Info” > “Television and Radio”.

                  Day Date Home Visitor Time (ET) Radio GDA$ XM& TV MLB Net%
                  Thursday 4-Mar Mets Cardinals 1:10 SNY MLB Net/.TV
                  Friday 5-Mar Cardinals Mets 1:05
                  Saturday 6-Mar Marlins Cardinals 1:05 KTRS GDA 183
                  Sunday 7-Mar Cardinals Marlins 1:05 KTRS GDA 183
                  Monday 8-Mar Red Sox Cardinals 1:05
                  Tuesday 9-Mar Twins Cardinals 1:05 KTRS/KSTP GDA 178
                  Wednesday 10-Mar Cardinals Nationals 1:05
                  Thursday 11-Mar Marlins Cardinals 1:05 KTRS GDA 183
                  Friday 12-Mar Cardinals Red Sox 1:05 KTRS GDA 183
                  Saturday 13-Mar Cardinals Astros 1:05 KTRS GDA KSDK
                  Sunday 14-Mar Nationals Cardinals 1:05 KTRS GDA 184
                  Monday 15-Mar Mets Cardinals 1:10 GDA SNY MLB.TV
                  Tuesday 16-Mar Cardinals Nationals 1:05 KTRS GDA
                  Wednesday 17-Mar open
                  Thursday 18-Mar Cardinals Braves 1:05 KTRS GDA 183
                  Friday 19-Mar Marlins Cardinals# 1:05 GDA FS Midwest/Florida/SPSO MLB Net/.TV
                  Nationals Cardinals# 7:05 WFED GDA
                  Saturday 20-Mar Cardinals Mets 1:05 KTRS/WFAN GDA 183 KSDK MLB.TV
                  Sunday 21-Mar Braves Cardinals 1:05 KTRS GDA 184
                  Monday 22-Mar Astros Cardinals# 1:05 GDA 184 FS Midwest/Houston/SPSO MLB.TV
                  (3/12 makeup) Cardinals Red Sox# 1:05 KTRS GDA?
                  Tuesday 23-Mar open
                  Wednesday 24-Mar Cardinals Orioles 1:05 Bal 105.7 GDA 176 FS Midwest/SPSO MLB.TV
                  Thursday 25-Mar Cardinals Mets 1:05 KTRS GDA 183 FS Midwest/SPSO/ESPN MLB.TV
                  Friday 26-Mar Nationals Cardinals 1:05 WFED GDA 183
                  Saturday 27-Mar Cardinals Marlins 1:05 KTRS GDA 183
                  Sunday 28-Mar Mets Cardinals 1:10 KTRS/WFAN GDA 183 WPIX – NY MLB.TV
                  Monday 29-Mar Cardinals Twins 1:05 ESPN
                  Tuesday 30-Mar Mets Cardinals 1:10 KTRS GDA 183 SNY MLB Net 9PM / .TV live
                  Wednesday 31-Mar Cardinals Nationals 1:05
                  Thursday 1-Apr Cardinals Marlins 12:05 KTRS GDA 183
                  Friday 2-Apr Twins* Cardinals 5:10 (CT) KTRS GDA 176 FS Midwest/North MLB Net/.TV
                  Saturday 3-Apr Twins* Cardinals 1:10 (CT) KTRS GDA 176 FS North MLB.TV
                  Times are local
                  # split squad
                  * in Minneapolis
                  Jupiter dates in bold
                  $ MLB Gameday Audio
                  % MLB Network & .TV
                  & XM Satellite Radio

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                  Defending Cardinals Nation to the Cardinal Nation

                  A St. Louis Cardinals promotional program new to some has them strangely angry.

                    This is the time of the year when the well of story ideas becomes driest, just before players report to spring training and actual news on the field of play becomes available to report and discuss.

                    I guess I am guilty of the same, writing about such a storyline here. Yet in a way, I feel the need to defend those who do not defend themselves and those of us who happen to like the term “Cardinal Nation” in whatever derivative used.

                    The other day, Alvin Reid of the Globe-Democrat launched off into a long editorial, expressing his disgust with the St. Louis Cardinals organization’s promotional offering to provide perks to fans for a fee. Apparently, Reid just discovered the existence of “Cardinals Nation”, a program which has been in place for several years now and is a duplicate of ones in a number of other major league cities.

                    I was prepared to let it pass until I read a second reaction piece, even stronger than the first. Reid’s column spawned a profanity-laced rant from AT Hooks at insidestl.com, in which he declared “’Cardinal Nation’ is Dead”. I guess some think swearing is a necessary part of being considered edgy. Putting that aside, why Hooks feels he can make this declaration on behalf of everyone based on an ongoing and relatively minor team promotion is beyond me.

                    In terms of full disclosure, I once actually signed up for “Cardinals Nation” a few years back simply to get MLB Gameday Audio at a reduced rate. It gave me what I wanted from it. Others might like the special ticket offers. Whatever.

                    Whether or not people choose to pay their money for the program is certainly up to them, but the thought of somehow trying to tie this to one’s fandom level is a pretty ridiculous concept, even when there is apparently nothing else to write about.

                    Both Reid and Hooks were sloppy in their use of the terminology, confusing the variations on the words “Cardinals Nation”. Given this blog’s name and its parent are turns of the phrase (for the record, with the latter’s URL and site active long before the Cardinals introduced their offering), as a public service I thought I should clarify some of its uses.

                    • “Cardinals Nation”: A promotional program offered by the St. Louis Cardinals for $19.95 per season. (logo above)
                    • “Cardinal Nation”: A generic term to characterize the team’s fan base shared by all.

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                    Random newspaper-related thoughts

                    A series of somewhat-related, somewhat non-related newspaper-oriented items in the news.

                      Today, I will note some newspaper-related thoughts that have been banging around inside my head, of course inspired by things I’ve read and heard recently.

                      New York Times reportedly going to subscription model

                      Last month, New York Magazine ran a very interesting article about the internal debates within the New York Times that has apparently culminated in the paper moving to some type of subscription model for their online edition in the near future.

                      As advertising revenues plummet, newspapers are feeling more and more pressure to identify new sources of revenue. Whether or not a subscription model is the solution remains a very open question.

                      Post-Dispatch parent shows profit again

                      That led me to recent reports regarding Lee Enterprises, parent of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and publisher of 53 daily newspapers in 23 states. Last month, Lee announced its second consecutive quarterly profit, certainly good news on the heels of some tough times for the Davenport, Iowa concern.

                      Still, there was a double digit revenue decline. Profit was possible due to cutting costs faster than ad revenue shrunk. Lee eliminated 1,000 jobs in its fiscal 2009 on a base of 8,200. Their ad revenue dropped 16.4 percent from the same quarter a year earlier.

                      After reportedly outsourcing printing and delivery operations, Lee wants to cut expenses even deeper.

                      “Acrimonious” negotiations for new union contract

                      Since at least last May, Lee has been negotiating with the St. Louis Newspaper Guild on a new three-year contract. A key tenet of Lee’s ongoing position, as reported by the Guild, is what amounts to a 23% wage cut over three years – 15% in the first year, 5% in the second year and 5% in the third.

                      Last week, the Guild noted the involvement of a federal mediator and reported Lee “has turned more acrimonious in its negotiations with the Guild.”

                      There was speculation the matter could come to a head in a matter of weeks.

                      Post-Dispatch Cardinals coverage defended

                      Next up is P-D baseball writer Derrick Goold, who appeared with Mike Claiborne on KTRS 550 Radio Hot Stove Show on Wednesday. Goold was there to promote his new book, “100 Things Cardinal Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die,” now on sale at retailers such as Amazon.com.

                      During their chat, Claiborne suggested that the Post-Dispatch’s investment in Cardinals coverage – “three writers and two columnists – is unusually high these days.” Goold doesn’t see it that way.

                      “I think it is reasonable to put those kinds of resources behind a team like the Cardinals,” Goold replied. “What the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald put into the Red Sox is very similar, or the Chicago Tribune puts into covering the Chicago Cubs…

                      “I think you see that in towns where they have franchises that are part of baseball royalty…”

                      Goold went on to note the “insatiable” demand Cardinals fans have for news about their favorite club. That opportunity inevitably leads to competition…

                      Newspaper wars

                      Though this is not baseball-related, it seemed worth noting. As the story of the sale of the Rams evolved over recent weeks, the Post-Dispatch and Globe-Democrat seemed to be taking swipes at each other over who was in the bidding and who wasn’t. It came to a head in a dispute between the two papers over who broke the story of the sale to Illinois businessman Shahid Khan and how.

                      Blogging for spring bucks

                      That leads me to my sixth and final item. Baseball writer Mark Zuckerman was among those fired when the Washington Times recently discontinued their sports section. Limited to blogging to reach his Washington Nationals-focused audience, Zuckerman recently ran a fund drive with readers that netted him $5,300 in less than two weeks to cover his trip to spring training.

                      In return, Zuckerman offered his sponsors special content and the opportunity to suggest questions to players and officials. He modeled his idea on a similar approach charted by a laid-off former newspaperman from Cincinnati.

                      In closing

                      My first thought was that Zuckerman lives much better in spring training than I do, but the far more important point is that his readers obviously like what he does enough to let their wallets do their talking. Impressive.

                      Taking this post full circle, the Zuckerman plan seems to offer readers the opportunity to pay for exactly what they want to read, rather than an entire entity like the New York Times.

                      One thing for sure – there will be continued evolution in how we receive our news. It should be fascinating to watch and be a part of.

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                      Bonds’ ex-media expert pans Cardinals McGwire plan

                      Former Giants media relations director labels any plan “naïve” that keeps Mark McGwire from answering further questions about his past.

                        As the entire baseball universe knows, former St. Louis Cardinals home run hero-turned hitting coach Mark McGwire conducted a series of planned interviews last month to discuss his admission of past steroids use.

                        The Six-Minute Media Briefing (Dustin Mattison photo)Following a blueprint established by the crisis management firm headed up by former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, neither McGwire’s explanations nor the process followed to grant media access met with positive reactions from many corners.

                        Add Blake Rhodes to the long list of the unimpressed. Before you incorrectly write him off as just another angry member of the hordes, understand that he’s been there, having worn the shoe on the other foot.

                        The 16-year former employee of the San Francisco Giants once served as the club’s Director of Media Relations. In that role, he guided Barry Bonds through a media maze he described as 40-50 deep every day during some very troubled times, including when the outfielder was under investigation by a grand jury. As most fans are aware, Bonds took the major league single-season home run record away from McGwire in 2001.

                        Rhodes sees a similar media relations storm on the horizon for the Cardinals and McGwire this spring and is not positive about what has been done to date. In a Wednesday morning radio interview on KTRS 550 Radio in St. Louis, host McGraw Milhaven asked Rhodes to grade Fleischer’s work with McGwire.

                        “I would give him a ‘C’ to ‘C-minus’… I don’t think that Mark was coached very well previous to doing his interviews. I don’t they put him in the best foot forward,” Rhodes said.

                        Rhodes is now a vice president with Xenophon Strategies, where he leverages his experience in media and public relations, strategic communications, crisis management, brand marketing and special events.

                        In an article posted on the company’s website entitled “Let’s Find Out if McGwire Is a Team Player – Some Strategies to Mitigate the Media Distraction”, Rhodes articulates a simple, two-part approach for how he believes the McGwire situation should be handled starting next week.

                        The intent is to minimize disruptions to the remainder of the Cardinals family by making McGwire available at certain pre-defined times to answer the inevitable questions. As Rhodes explained to me, the potential distractions should not be taken for granted.

                        “To reach the playoffs, there needs to be a focus on the task at hand on the field.  Quite frankly, with all of the media attention it will be hard to find that focus.  I know. I saw it first hand,” Rhodes said on Tuesday.

                        His first recommendation is for the Cardinals to “hold a media conference in Jupiter on the day the pitchers and catchers report, Feb. 17.” The next would be for the club to allocate early afternoon time for press conferences with McGwire on the Cardinals’ arrival day in each road city throughout the regular season.

                        For such a strategy to work, McGwire would need to put the team ahead of his own interests, Rhodes notes.

                        Quoted in a Tuesday article posted at USAToday.com, St. Louis general manager John Mozeliak seemed to indicate the Cardinals aren’t on the Rhodes Plan. In other words, McGwire is apparently done talking about his past.

                        “He’s answered more than 250 questions on this, and he reached out to multiple levels of media,” Mozeliak told Mel Antonen. “He’s not required to do any more. If (reporters) want to talk to him about players, hitting and the experience, that’s fine.”

                        Other past steroid users caught in recent years, including New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez and Andy Pettitte, held news conferences as spring training began to clear questions based on their off-season admissions. As a result, the press seemed to back off.

                        In the Wednesday radio interview, Milhaven asked Rhodes his view if the Cardinals do in fact believe they can move ahead with McGwire only talking baseball this spring while avoiding further media questions about his past.

                        “I think they are naïve if they think that,” Rhodes concluded.

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                        Could the Cardinals have done better than Skip?

                        What might the St. Louis Cardinals have seen in the second base market next year had they not locked up Skip Schumaker for 2011?

                          As most St. Louis Cardinals fans know by now, the club and second baseman Skip Schumaker came to an agreement on a two-year contract to avoid arbitration. The base amounts are $2 million in 2010 and $2.7 million next year with additional appearance-related bonuses that could take the total to $5 million.

                          Skip Schumaker (AP Photo/Morry Gash)My initial view was slightly positive as it looks to be a case where both sides gave a bit. The Cards took two years at a decent price and Skip received another year of security, something he said was important to him.

                          Based on the comps I posted earlier for The Cardinal Nation subscribers, I believe Skip had a decent chance of winning his arbitration case. Had he made over $2.4 million this year via arbitration, barring a collapse he would have made more next year ($3-$3.5M would not seem unreasonable). At that price, the Cards could have been tempted to non-tender Schumaker next winter.

                          Instead, this way Skip knows he can stay and the club will at most spend $5 million over two years to cover the position. The alternative may have been to spend as much as $6 million to keep him for the two years going year-by-year or finding a new second baseman for 2011 that would cost $3 million or less.

                          Another factor to consider is the lack of proven depth in the Cardinals outfield. Schumaker has demonstrated his ability to play all three positions, increasing his value to the club.

                          According to The Biz of Baseball, the rate of multi-year contracts for arbitration-eligible players who exchanged figures with clubs is slightly up this year. In 2009, 11 of 46 eligible players received multiple years while here in 2010, 12 of 44 have gone that route, with 12 situations still open, heading toward hearings.

                          As the discussion continued on The Cardinal Nation message board, another perspective was put forward. Among the legitimate questions posed:

                          • Is Skip is good enough to warrant the need to lock him up for an extra year?
                          • Is the potential of saving a million dollars worth giving up the non-tender option for the Cardinals?
                          • Is Skip more than a platoon second baseman who struggles in the field?
                          • Is Schumaker a value at this price?

                          I decided to take a quick and dirty look at what the second base market might be like next year, using this year as a guide. This effort is not to suggest the Cardinals should not have signed Schumaker to a 2010 contract, but more to consider what their alternatives might have looked like a year into the future.

                          I am assuming Skip’s immediate replacement would not have come from within. While Daniel Descalso is a fringe top ten prospect in the organization, he is not a sure thing with just one-half year of standout offensive performance in three professional seasons and a sub-.700 OPS over the remainder of his minor league career. There isn’t anyone on Descalso’s heels, either. Our annual Cardinals Top 40 Prospect List at The Cardinal Nation includes just one second baseman for the second consecutive year.

                          This winter, there were nine free agent second basemen on the market. Eight of them have found homes for 2010, the lone exception being former Cardinal Felipe Lopez.  Most are in their 30’s. Five of the nine could be free agents again next winter. Though he was not a free agent, I included Schumaker in the group for comparison.

                          I listed the 2009 contributions of each player, using OPS+ for offense and UZR at second base for defense. With those scores, I ranked each of the players from 1-to-10 in each category and added the two numbers. Like in golf, low score is better. The ten second basemen are listed in that sequence.

                          Further, to the right, I listed the players’ 2010 and 2011 salaries, noting any additions, such as options or incentives.

                          Free agent 2B 2010 team Age 2009 OPS+ 2009 UZR Score 2010 $M 2011 $M Other
                          Felipe Lopez FA 29 111 7.8 2.5
                          Marco Scutaro BOS 34 111 0.3 7.5 $6 $6.5 2012 option
                          Craig Counsell MIL 39 105 5.0 7.5 $2.1 plus incentives
                          Ronnie Belliard LAD 34 105 2.0 9.5 $0.85 plus incentives
                          Freddy Sanchez SF 32 96 7.4 10 $6 $6
                          Orlando Hudson MIN 33 109 -3.3 11 $5
                          Jamey Carroll LAD 36 90 2.7 13 $1.35 $2.5 plus incentives
                          Adam Kennedy WAS 34 101 -4.7 15.5 $1.25 $2 2011 club option
                          Skip Schumaker * STL 30 101 -7.7 16.5 $2 $2.7 plus incentives
                          Kelly Johnson ARI 28 83 -0.1 17 $2.35

                          * Not a free agent

                          Based on these measures of offensive and defensive contribution in 2009, Lopez stood substantially taller than any of the other nine. In between big-bucks signees Marco Scutaro and Freddy Sanchez are a pair of aging reserves coming off nice years, Craig Counsell and another ex-Cardinal, Ronnie Belliard.

                          Amid questions about his wrist, his defense and second-half falloff, new Minnesota Twin Orlando Hudson leads off the bottom five. In a most interesting comparison, both of the second basemen paid by the Cardinals last year posted OPS+ marks of 101, Adam Kennedy with Oakland and Schumaker. The former had a less-negative UZR.

                          Bringing up the rear is Kelly Johnson, who had a subpar year offensively with Atlanta and looks to rebound with Arizona in 2010. A year ago, some Cardinals fans endorsed a straight up trade of Johnson for Ryan Ludwick, an indication of Johnson’s prior success.

                          Conclusions?

                          A quick spreadsheet analysis like this of a single season has its obvious limitations, but if the 2009-10 free agent market is any indication of what 2010-11 will be like, then it certainly seems like a Schumaker replacement could be out there for the taking at a comparable price next winter.

                          My question is whether the likes of Counsell, Belliard, Carroll, Kennedy or Johnson would really be any better than Schumaker in 2011. At least Skip has the chance of improving his defense this coming season, and in doing so, perhaps moving up in the scoring hierarchy. His offense probably is where it is going to be. Clearly the top tier of Scutaro, Sanchez and Hudson are out of Skip’s league price-wise.

                          Then there’s Lopez, with the best 2009 UZR at second base and tied for the top OPS+ last season. Why is he still out of work?

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                          Quad Cities River Bandits silence radio broadcasts

                          Quad Cities River Bandits fans won’t be hearing Ben Chiswick’s familiar voice calling games in 2010. In fact, they won’t be hearing anyone talking up their hometown heroes.

                          It was announced in December that Chiswick, Quad Cities Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations, had left the River Bandits after five years. The radio voice of the St. Louis Cardinals Class A affiliate for 140 games each season was the club’s longest-tenured full-time employee, going back prior to the ownership change following the 2007 season. Chiswick has since taken the similar job with Midwest League competitor West Michigan Whitecaps.

                          The same day Chiswick’s departure was made public, his replacement was introduced, Tommy Thrall. Thrall had been the Director of Broadcasting and Communications for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans of the Carolina League.

                          It was not clearly stated that Thrall’s new position is simply Director of Media Relations. I have since received emails from Thrall, but did not catch the subtlety in his signature block, the missing Director of Broadcasting part.

                          The blank was filled in for me when I happened upon the blog of South Bend’s broadcaster Owen Serey. As he recapped the various moves among his Midwest League peers, Serey noted that Quad Cities has discontinued radio broadcasts of their games for 2010.

                          Finally, the light bulb came on for me; or should I say it went off? Obviously the Bandits don’t need a broadcaster if they aren’t going to be broadcasting games. Very disappointing news.

                          Back in March 2008, the River Bandits and Miller Media Group, the owner of WYEC (93.9 FM, Geneseo, Illinois), had announced a three-year agreement to air the team’s 140-game schedule on the station. Games were also streamed on the team’s website.

                          Ending the deal a year early seems especially counterintuitive as the Quad Cities baseball operation is definitely on the rise. Total attendance (236,401) and average attendance (3,694) last season were both the highest since 1995 and rank among the top five years the history of the franchise. Since the ownership change, attendance has grown 64 percent on a per-game basis (from 2,254 in 2007) and 59 percent on an annual view (from 148,773).

                          A 2009 study by Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal ranked the Quad Cities #31 of 239 minor league sports markets, best of all Cardinals minor league affiliate metro areas.

                          In confirming the news, Miller Media Group’s Kewanee, Illinois cluster sales manager Fletcher M. Ford was quite direct. He explained how the change was made and communicated.

                          “Your Easy Choice 93.9 WYEC was served notice from Kirk A. Goodman, Vice President and General Manager in late 2009 explaining the intention of the Quad City River Bandits not having a radio broadcast partner in the upcoming season for its fans,” Ford explained.

                          Ford wanted to make it clear that Miller Media Group was not a part of any evaluation process.

                          “This decision was made solely by the management of the Quad City River Bandits,” Ford said.

                          Goodman offered further details.

                          “We are indeed discontinuing our radio broadcast,” Goodman stated Monday. “We were being charged a very high rate to be on a station located 55 miles from our ballpark and in addition to that cost and the expense of paying for the salary and travel for a broadcaster did not make fiscal sense for our team.”

                          Apparently no alternatives that offered a match could be found.

                          “We made an effort to bring the broadcast to a more local station but none of the formats of the stations for the two main radio groups in our market worked with what we were willing to offer in return.

                          “It was strictly a financial decision…to pay what was necessary for our broadcast to be on the air was not worth the return we saw from having a broadcast,” Goodman said.

                          At least one lower-level Cardinals affiliate in a smaller metropolitan area continues with radio, the Batavia Muckdogs of the New York-Penn League, a short-season club.

                          All may not be lost for River Bandits fans with stronger radios or internet service as the team will still be heard as the opponent on some broadcasts. Other clubs in the 14-team Midwest League continuing with radio include South Bend and West Michigan (obviously) along with Fort Wayne, Burlington, Kane County and Dayton.

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                          Cardinals-based Cubs commentary

                          I’ve been noticing a number of interesting news items relating to the St. Louis Cardinals National League Central Division rivals from Chicago.

                          Heavy debt load

                          There is a segment of Cardinals watchers that never seem to be satisfied with the expenditures ownership allocates to the player payroll. One area often singled out is the over $20 million annual debt service required as a result of the construction of the new Busch Stadium. That is $20 million that could be used to buy free agents, goes one line of thinking.

                          Generally speaking, I am pretty sure those complainers are from outside St. Louis, apparently preferring to have seen an increase in the local tax burden to build the new stadium instead. Then there are those that have no idea how to pay for anything and just irrationally complain. They are my favorites.

                          Reaction to crumbling concrete, 2004 (AP photo/ Nam Y. Huh)It could be worse, folks. You could be in Chicago.

                          The good news is that deep-pocketed Ricketts family of the TD Ameritrade fortune bought the Cubs in October. The bad news is that the LLC put in place for the acquisition is $900 million in the hole after the Ricketts loaned themselves $200 million for working capital and improvements to crumbling Wrigley Field.

                          Forbes notes that the Cubs 2009 payroll of $134 million was third-highest in MLB but “stacked with high-priced players with no-trade clauses.” Their conclusion is that the combination of “high debt and bloated payroll makes it highly unlikely they will be able to improve any time soon.”

                          It is also worth noting that having a wealthy name-brand family purchase your favorite team isn’t necessarily the ticket to success. Just ask Royals fans how David Glass and his Walmart money have improved the KC clan.

                          Update: The Cubs have announced the Executive Club, an all-inclusive area on the Suite level, where seats are $300 per game or $24,300 for the season.

                          2010 roster changes

                          As Cardinals fans know, their winter roster changes included big steps like keeping Matt Holliday and signing Brad Penny, but also involved allowing a number of lesser players to leave.

                          The Cubbies made one huge addition by subtraction move when troubled outfielder Milton Bradley and his bad contract were shipped off to Seattle. In return, they took on another ugly deal in pitcher Carlos Silva. At least I have never heard anything negative about Silva’s clubhouse demeanor.

                          To that end, I have read several reports speculating that the Cubs recent addition of first baseman Kevin Millar was more about chemistry than baseball. The 38-year-old was a part-timer last season in Toronto and over the last couple of years batted .230 with an OPS of barely .700. Yet one of the self-styled “idiots” from the 2004 Red Sox is also known as a fun-loving, free spirited guy – just the opposite of the sullen, explosive Bradley.

                          I wonder if Sweet Lou Piniella can deal with the other extreme?

                          Here is a brief summary of the Cubs comings and goings this winter, courtesy of The Sports Xchange.

                          ARRIVALS: RHP Carlos Silva (trade with Mariners), RHP Jeff Gray (trade with A’s), OF Marlon Byrd (free agent from Rangers), 1B/3B Chad Tracy (minor league free agent from Diamondbacks), OF/1B Xavier Nady (free agent from Yankees), 1B Kevin Millar (minor league free agent from Blue Jays).

                          DEPARTURES: OF Milton Bradley (traded to Mariners), RHP Rich Harden (free agent, signed with Rangers), INF/OF Jake Fox (traded to A’s), INF Aaron Miles (traded to A’s, then traded to Reds), LHP Neal Cotts (non-tendered, signed minor league deal with Pirates), RHP Aaron Heilman (traded to Diamondbacks), OF So Taguchi (released, signed with Japanese team), OF Reed Johnson (free agent, signed with Dodgers), RHP Kevin Gregg (free agent, signed with Blue Jays).

                          Lou on Mac and hitting

                          Speaking of Lou speaking, his recent comments at an awards dinner in the Big Apple were reported in The New York Times. The Cubs manager says he forgives Mark McGwire and thinks the support of Albert Pujols will go a long way for the new Cardinals hitting coach, who he thinks will “do a nice job.”

                          A former hitting coach himself with the Yankees, Piniella also has some suggestions. He wonders whether McGwire will need to learn how to deal with today’s ballplayers and offered this interesting advice for working with major league hitters:

                          “You don’t really need to change any mechanics.”

                          Hmmm.

                          The Times piece ends with a totally unrealistic view of how McGwire will be greeted at Wrigley this summer.

                          “I think Cub fans will treat him fine,” Piniella said. “We have a great rivalry. He’ll be accepted well. I think they feel he confessed and it’s over with.”

                          Yeah, right. McGwire might be wise to investigate whether any of the Wrigley hard hats pictured above are still for sale.

                          La Russa on Chicago

                          Like Tony La Russa, Piniella’s current contract ends after the 2010 season and Lou has suggested it might be his last in the Windy City. In the same interview from which I reported his White Sox-related remarks, La Russa also made it very clear he doesn’t ever see himself taking his friend Piniella’s job.

                          “You’ve got a double-headed whammy there. I have a lot of friends and fans that I’m close to with the White Sox. And you know White Sox and Cubs, they don’t mix. I’ve got friends and fans that I’m close to in St. Louis, and the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cubs don’t mix. So I think if there is one place that I don’t fit, just because of my past, it would be the Chicago Cubs.”

                          Spring training handout debated

                          The Cubs made a preliminary decision on their spring training future, opting to stay in Mesa, Arizona rather than move to Naples, Florida. There is just one small problem – how to pay for the replacement for Hohokam Stadium.

                          The idea on the table is a controversial “Cubs Tax”. Under the proposal, other Arizona spring training teams would be assessed a ticket surcharge to build up a kitty for the Cubbies’ new den. Not surprisingly, cross-town rivals the Chicago White Sox and the Arizona Diamondbacks have already come out against the half-baked idea.

                          It appears that the next key date is in mid-July, at which time Naples could re-enter the fray if the Arizona folks cannot come up with a more realistic plan.

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                          Will post-dugout La Russa return to Chicago?

                          Recent remarks by Tony La Russa rekindle questions about his post-managing future.

                            In Thursday interview with “Chicago Tribune Live” on Comcast SportsNet, St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa discussed the possibility of returning to the Windy City to work again for Chicago White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.

                            (In the chat, La Russa also made it clear why he would never be a good fit to manage the Cubs, noting his White Sox and Cardinals roots, and quashed the likelihood of Mark McGwire playing again, an idea he first floated before backpedaling away from.)

                            Here is La Russa’s quote about his former boss and close friend Reinsdorf:

                            “I don’t ever think that is going to be an issue, because I think he’s got his (management) team,” La Russa said. “If I ever left the field and went upstairs, which I hope to do some time maybe soon, I’d like to work for an owner that I like and that I respect as much as I do Jerry, because I want to be motivated to make him happy.”

                            Tony La Russa in 1980 (Getty Images)La Russa was already manager of the White Sox when Reinsdorf and partner Eddie Einhorn purchased the American League team in 1981. He had been hired by Bill Veeck to take over the reins of the big league club during the 1979 season.

                            After La Russa supporter Roland Hemond was removed as Sox general manager, Ken “Hawk” Harrelson took over. He put considerable pressure on both La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan as the Sox got off to a losing record in early 1986. The media picked up the tension as well.

                            Reinsdorf, as quoted in “Tony La Russa: Man on a Mission” by Rob Rains, was aware of the internal problems but hoped they would pass.

                            “I just told Tony, ‘Give me to the end of the year,’ and we would work something out,” Reinsdorf recalled.

                            It didn’t work. Just 64 games into the 1986 season, with the approval of his bosses, Harrelson fired both La Russa and Duncan. It was a move that Reinsdorf regrets to this day.

                            “I was incredibly naïve,” Reinsdorf said. “Eddie [Einhorn] and I spent a lot of time with Hawk and he was diagnosing the team’s problems and he was right on. We thought he was the guy to fix the problems. He wasn’t. That was the mistake we made. We brought the wrong guy in to try to fix the problems. Hawk’s heart was in the right place.

                            “I never should have allowed Tony to be fired. I’ve often said that was the biggest mistake I’ve ever made. I knew it was wrong. I knew it was a mistake. And I let it happen anyway,” Reinsdorf said.

                            Just as when La Russa was hired in St. Louis, arriving with the support of a friend and former co-worker in GM Walt Jocketty, so was his move to Oakland well-greased.

                            Before he allowed La Russa’s firing, Reinsdorf called then-Oakland president Roy Eisenhardt to see if there was interest.

                            “I told him things weren’t going well here and I asked him, ‘If we make a change and let Tony go will you hire him?’ He said, ‘In a heartbeat.’ So I knew even before we fired Tony he was going to get another job right away,” Reinsdorf said.

                            Fast-forwarding to today, La Russa only committed to a one-year deal to manage the Cardinals in 2010. I believe it to be his first one-year-only contract since back when he was with the White Sox 30 years ago.

                            Whenever La Russa leaves the dugout, will he remain in St. Louis?

                            His long-standing support from team chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. seems as strong as ever and his working relationship with GM John Mozeliak appears good. DeWitt’s son, Bill DeWitt III, has been installed as team president. Yet the internal political tension and intrigue in some quarters remain, especially in relation to minor league operations.

                            In the existing structure of the Cardinals front office, where would La Russa fit? None of the above would appear to be going anywhere any time soon. If there isn’t a job in St. Louis, La Russa could find one most anywhere, but where would he have strong past support?

                            What type of assignment would be appropriate for a man with La Russa’s accomplishments? I question whether in his retirement La Russa would want to take on the rigors of a general manager’s job, but if not, what about team president?

                            One logical thought would be in Jocketty’s new home in Cincinnati. Walt already holds both positions, President of Baseball Operations and General Manager, but perhaps would consider bringing in La Russa as his GM. That doesn’t seem right for post-managing Tony, though.

                            Where would be a better place to land than in Chicago? The Sox don’t have a president today. Their hierarchy consists of Chairman Reinsdorf, Vice-Chairman Einhorn, VP and GM Kenny Williams, and etc.

                            While La Russa was careful in his Chicago remarks not to step on toes of those in the current Sox hierarchy, he is probably quite aware of this possibility as well.

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                            Kyle McClellan looks for a return to 2008 this spring

                            Trying to make the St. Louis Cardinals rotation in 2010, Kyle McClellan’s results in his first two major league camps were dramatically different.

                              On KTRS Radio 550’s Hot Stove show Thursday evening, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle McClellan discussed his winter preparation for the 2010 season. While the right-hander is preparing for the second consecutive winter to come to camp as a starter, the difference this time is that his fate of remaining in the rotation will be in his own hands.

                              Kyle McClellan (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)One year ago, McClellan was the safety net for Chris Carpenter, whose status was somewhat uncertain as the ace was coming off various ailments, most recently nerve transposition surgery in his elbow in November 2008. This time around, the 25-year-old has to be considered the front-runner for the fifth spot in the rotation, vacated by unsigned John Smoltz and another now ex-Cardinal, Todd Wellemeyer.

                              Though his four-pitch arsenal and two years of major league relief experience are clear assets, McClellan doesn’t yet own the job. His competitors will include veteran Rich Hill, as well as farm system prospects Jaime Garcia, P.J. Walters and perhaps Mitchell Boggs, all with a bit of MLB time themselves.

                              In his radio spot, McClellan mentioned he took off 15 pounds over the winter and focused on increasing his lower body strength. He is among the first wave of arrivals in Cardinals camp in Jupiter, Florida, almost two weeks ahead of the mandatory reporting date, reports Joe Strauss in a Post-Dispatch blog entry.

                              While trained in the minor leagues as a starter, McClellan’s elbow problems in 2005 and 2006 drove him into a relief role with Palm Beach then Springfield upon his return in 2007. He began with Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery followed by nerve transposition surgery the following season (a procedure done two years later on both Carpenter and Albert Pujols).

                              Despite never having appeared above Double-A, a strong and surprising performance in 2008 spring training camp (1.38 ERA in 13 innings) opened the way for McClellan to make the major league squad. He never returned to the minor leagues.

                              Perhaps it was the uncertainty of his role a year ago, but his spring 2009 performance was quite the opposite. In fact, I seriously wondered at the time if McClellan would have made the Cardinals opening day roster had he not sufficiently proven himself in his rookie season of 2008.

                              Last spring, he had just one start and made eight other Florida appearances in relief. McClellan was hit hard and often for 17 earned runs on 23 hits and eight walks in 17 innings. The math worked out to a tidy, though unsightly 9.00 ERA. In his defense, McClellan’s March troubles did not follow him north for the regular season as he slipped back into his familiar relief role.

                              We will see between now and the start of April if McClellan is able to follow the clear path in front of him and solidify that fifth spot in the Cardinals rotation. While we don’t yet know for sure what his personal Plan “B” will be, if McClellan doesn’t make the rotation, I suspect he will be returned to his regular set up assignment rather than remain a starter down in Triple-A Memphis.

                              A year ago, I backed the idea of the Cardinals making the full commitment to McClellan starting. Assuming the major league pen is strong this spring, I would still be in favor of continuing to let him start. Since the Cardinals believe McClellan has starter’s stuff, then why wouldn’t the best long-term approach for everyone involved be to allow him more than a month of spring training to either prove or disprove it once and for all?

                              If one of the top five in the Cardinals rotation go down during the first half, an experienced major leaguer could be ready to be promoted and step in. Worst case, even if the experiment is still not working after a dozen or so Triple-A starts, McClellan could always be returned to the major league pen, serving as a nice, low-cost boost for the stretch run.

                              Yet I don’t think they would consider having him intern as a starter in the minors this year any more than they did last. Even if he is not an immediate success starting, based on past work, McClellan will most likely remain one of the best seven relievers in the eyes of Tony La Russa and Dave Duncan. As such, his spot on the major league roster seems written in ink, even as his 2010 role remains open.

                              In other words, while McClellan prefers to start, he may only have a month of play to prove he is up to the task.

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                              Albert Pujols: On his contract

                              Wanting to set the record straight about his contract status, the Cardinals first baseman takes his story directly to the fans.

                                In an interview that is unusual in its length, 21 minutes, St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols sat down with Katie Felts from KSDK NewsChannel 5 the other day and covered a wide variety of topics.

                                Albert Pujols (KSDK)As this did not receive nearly as much coverage as some of the reports it intended to address, I am including the video here, as well as a brief summary.

                                Set at his workout facility, Pujols begins with a review of his off-season training schedule and his winter routine. The discussion moves to the Cardinals prospects for 2010, his view of Mark McGwire’s return and some of his great teammates in the past.

                                In an interesting reply, Albert avoided accepting the idea that the addition of Matt Holliday helped him personally, but did acknowledge the outfielder helped the team. Pujols relates how he told Jim Edmonds that the latter’s decision not to play last season was “a mistake” and offers a scouting report after having worked out with the new Brewers outfielder for two weeks.

                                Pujols then joked about his retirement day in 10-15 years. At that point, about 17 minutes in, he reiterated his desire to retire as a Cardinal. He mentioned several times this is a business.

                                Rather than risk misrepresenting Pujols, what follows are his direct comments concerning his future intentions and how the subject is being covered by the media.

                                “…The fans have embraced me. Playing in front of the best fans in baseball, I don’t think I can play anyplace else.

                                “Somebody wrote something a couple of weeks ago in an article about me that I don’t mind playing somewhere else. That is not what I said. What I said is that if I become a free agent, I am not going to sit down in my house. I love this game. I need to play somewhere. If the Cardinals don’t give me the opportunity to keep playing, it will have to be somewhere else to play.

                                “The headline was ‘Albert Pujols doesn’t mind playing somewhere else,’ like that I want to leave. C’mon guys. That is getting old. I hope you can play this piece tonight. It is getting old about my contract because it is not about me. I still got a couple of years left here. Do I want to be here? Yes. I want to be here forever. I want to finish my career here… Why would I want to go somewhere else?

                                “I think the fans need to understand that and sometimes don’t read too much what the papers say, you know, because they just want to create headlines to try to sell papers, you know. I feel sad that sometimes the fans get caught up into all of that…”

                                Pujols reiterated what he said his agent had made clear earlier – that Holliday’s decision was not a part of his own decision. This was in the context of whether he played a personal role in Holliday’s signing, a suggestion he waved off. Pujols closed the contract discussion with this remark.

                                “…Why keep talking about something that isn’t going to happen for two years? I mean maybe talking for about the last year and a half. Another headline about ‘Albert Pujols Leaving St. Louis’. I ain’t going nowhere for two years, and hopefully, I ain’t going nowhere for the rest of my career.”

                                I could not find a headline similar to what Pujols quoted, but here is the link to the article to which I suspect he was referring. It was from the Post-Dispatch, dated January 18 and entitled “El Hombre in No Rush for Extension”. As a point of comparison, another very different account of Pujols’ remarks was posted the same day at the Globe-Democrat.

                                The story continues as Joe Strauss noted in his weekly chat Wednesday that the Cardinals have “engaged Pujols and his agent, Dan Lozano, in contract talks.” As one would expect, neither side immediately commented.

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                                Cardinals to appear eight times on FOX Network in 2010

                                FOX Sports will carry eight St. Louis Cardinals Saturday afternoon games during the 2010 season.

                                  MLB on FOX NetworkThough the St. Louis Cardinals official spring training and regular season broadcast schedule may be a week or more away from announcement, we are starting to get a partial view, led by eight confirmed games on the FOX Network.

                                  In addition, in 2010, FOX Sports’ 15th straight season as the national broadcast home of MLB, the network will cover the All-Star Game from Anaheim, California, the National League Championship Series and the World Series.

                                  2010 MLB on FOX REGULAR SEASON BROADCAST SCHEDULE (Cardinals subset)

                                  (Note: Schedule Subject to Change; All Times 4:00 PM Eastern Unless Noted)

                                  Saturday, April 10, 2010 (*3:00 PM ET)
                                  St. Louis Cardinals at Milwaukee Brewers

                                  Saturday, April 17, 2009
                                  New York Mets at St. Louis Cardinals

                                  Saturday, May 29, 2010
                                  St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs

                                  Saturday, June 5, 2010
                                  Milwaukee Brewers at St. Louis Cardinals

                                  Saturday, July 3, 2010
                                  Milwaukee Brewers at St. Louis Cardinals

                                  Saturday, July 17, 2010
                                  Los Angeles Dodgers at St. Louis Cardinals

                                  Saturday, August 14, 2010
                                  Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals

                                  Saturday, September 11, 2010
                                  St. Louis Cardinals at Atlanta Braves

                                  Click here to see the entire 2010 FOX Network MLB schedule.

                                  Previously disclosed: In addition to opening day at Cincinnati on Monday, April 5, ESPN will carry these early-season Cardinals Sunday night games: April 11 at Milwaukee and April 18 vs. the New York Mets.

                                  For a preliminary view of Cardinals spring training broadcasts, click here.

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                                  Current Cardinals heritage spans eight decades

                                  Those working for and around the St. Louis Cardinals today reach back to the 1940’s.

                                    Nothing particularly profound coming in this post. I was just thinking about the recent departure of the longest-tenured St. Louis Cardinals player, Rick Ankiel. He just missed having been a three-decade Cardinal, and was the last link to the 1990’s as an active player. The newest member of the Kansas City Royals made his major league debut with St. Louis in 1999.

                                    Mark McGwire / Rick Ankiel Upper Deck 2000 cardAs one player from the 1990’s departed, another returned as a coach as Mark McGwire restored his tie to a pair of earlier decades of Cardinals history. To that end, I jotted down a list of people with and around the organization as part of their job today, in and out of uniform, and their first decade of major league Cardinals service.

                                    Albert Pujols, who joined the team on opening day 2001, has become the dean of the current players in terms of service with St. Louis, but of course Red Schoendienst has been around the longest. Red, a special assistant to the general manager, made his St. Louis debut in 1945. As such, he has now been with the organization at the major league level in parts of eight different decades.

                                    The first decade of appearance in the Cardinals major league uniform is noted below. There has been at least one arrival during each ten-year period since the 1940’s.

                                    1940’s: Red Schoendienst

                                    1950’s: Bob Gibson

                                    1960’s: Mike Shannon, Lou Brock

                                    1970’s: Al Hrabosky

                                    1980’s: Jose Oquendo, Rick Horton, Mike Jorgensen, Jack Clark

                                    1990’s: Andy Benes, Alan Benes, Mark McGwire, Tony La Russa, Dave McKay, Dave Duncan

                                    2000’s: Too many to count

                                    Did I miss anyone who once wore the major league uniform and is employed in some capacity around the team today? Sound off below.

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                                    Projected Top Five St. Louis Cardinals Stories of 2010

                                    A look ahead to the top projected stories across the Cardinal Nation in 2010.

                                      First, we looked at the top 20 stories affecting the St. Louis Cardinals this past year. Now it is time to predict the top story lines for 2010 as well.

                                      Cardinals clinch 2009 NL Central Division (AP photo)Right up front, I will set aside the easiest and most logical entry – the results of the 2010 team on the field. The nature of that story has yet to be determined, shaped by the items discussed here and many more plotlines not yet developed.

                                      Another top story I will not be including is the signing of Matt Holliday. It occurred on January 5, so technically would qualify as a 2010 story, but the reality is that the excitement was quickly over in this calendar year. Now, Mr. Holliday simply needs to produce – for the next seven or eight years.

                                      As I developed my list and their ranking, I considered the staying power of the story, how long it might remain in the headlines, as well as its potential impact on the 2010 Cardinals and the organization’s future.

                                      Without further ado, here are my projected top five St. Louis Cardinals stories of 2010. As always, your comments are welcome below.

                                      5. Continued closer concern?

                                      Ryan Franklin did a fine job closing games for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2009, far better than his career norms would suggest. He was an All-Star for the first time, was the August Delivery Man of the Month for MLB and came in second for the NL Rolaids Relief Man of the Year.

                                      Yet Franklin faltered down the stretch and through the far-too-brief post-season. Possible reasons offered up revolved around fatigue and overwork rather than a new contract. Yet to date, the team has not added any external proven relief help for 2010 and is making rumblings they may not. If a Plan “B” is needed for the ninth inning, its details remain cloudy.

                                      Perhaps Franklin will surprise as he did in 2009, providing stability to a questionable situation coming into the season. Or perhaps the law of averages will catch up with the veteran right-hander, who turns 37 years of age during the first week of March.

                                      4. Will Freese ice down third base?

                                      When compiling the Cardinals top prospect list at the main The Cardinal Nation site as I do each winter, it struck me that our rankings named five different individuals as the organization’s top third base prospect over the last five years.

                                      In the past, when Scott Rolen anchored the position in the majors every year, it didn’t matter, but times have changed. With now-departed Troy Glaus missing most of 2009, third base became the weakest link on the entire team offensively. It also had the most uncertainty, with seven different players receiving regular-season starts at the position – and that didn’t include Joe Mather, once the leader during spring training.

                                      David Freese heads into camp for the second consecutive spring as the favorite to take the job, but is hardly a lock. Many observers, myself included, believe the team needs to add a veteran as insurance in case Freese has a meltdown either on the field or off.

                                      While there are plenty of options around, including Allen Craig, Julio Lugo, Ruben Gotay, Tyler Greene and Mather, none are likely considered starting material at third base. Further, there is no obvious help at the position in the upper levels of the minor league system.

                                      On the other hand, if Freese demonstrates he can handle the job, the Cardinals could have as much as five more years of cost-controlled stability at an important position that was a major problem for them in 2009.

                                      3. La Russa’s future plans

                                      Now 65 year-old, previously-ageless Tony La Russa has begun to publicly admit the inevitable – that he will not manage forever. In taking several weeks to decide whether or not to return in 2010 and then accepting only a one-year contract, La Russa made that clear.

                                      Bringing Mark McGwire back into baseball provided a new vehicle for the fiery La Russa to keep his us-against-the-world competitive juices flowing. His ongoing, unwavering and at times, irrational support of his former slugger and new hitting coach is keeping him on the hot seat.

                                      By ownership shelling out the money to re-sign Matt Holliday and add Brad Penny, La Russa has been presented with a club that comes into the season with high expectations. If the team does well and presents La Russa with his third World Series championship, the temptation to ride out on top may be too tempting to pass up.

                                      Yet if the backfire from the McGwire move continues and/or his loaded 2010 team struggles, might La Russa decide to call it quits?

                                      The manager comes into the season 211 wins short of John McGraw for second on MLB’s all-time list. I tend to side with those who think La Russa will remain in the dugout at least long enough to achieve 212 victories.

                                      Another way to look at it is that Albert Pujols will presumably stay in St. Louis at least two more years. It is hard to come up with a strong case that La Russa would yet walk away from a player who one day may become the greatest in the history of the franchise and one of the best ever to play the game.

                                      2. The McGwire reaction

                                      The return of McGwire from self-imposed isolation was a risky move from the start. La Russa wanted it and ownership agreed. Despite high-profile external crisis-management assistance, the rollout of McGwire’s apology for steroid use did not go well. His credibility remains in question in many corners and as such, he remains a divisive figure both within the Cardinal Nation and across baseball as a whole.

                                      If the 2010 Cardinals get off to a fast start with their bats, the pressure may diminish a bit and if the hitters are viewed to be successful all season long, McGwire will be singled out for a considerable helping of praise. On the other hand, if the offense falters early, the entire season could tip over what on the surface was the simple hire of a hitting coach.

                                      If the going remains tough, could any of the principals involved, La Russa, Bill DeWitt/John Mozeliak or McGwire himself, decide to pull the plug? If La Russa decides to retire from managing after the season, what will McGwire do? Finally, as 2010 nears its close, national writers will again be faced with the question of whether or not to vote for McGwire for the Hall of Fame, rekindling heat on this story.

                                      1. Pujols’ pending payday

                                      With ownership’s commitment to spend at least $120 million additional on Holliday, Pujols’ previously-expressed concern over whether there will continue to be a competitive team around him in the future should have been answered. Granted, the first baseman has two more years on his current contract, but his post-Holliday signing comments were both encouraging (wants to remain a Cardinal, will consider a discount) and concerning (no issue with testing the free agent market if necessary) at the same time.

                                      Pujols said he is willing to entertain contract talks until the season begins but not during. As such, if a deal is not done soon, the buzz will quiet until October. By that time, as a player with ten years in the majors, five with the same team, Pujols could not be traded without his consent, an unlikely occurrence anyway.

                                      With the Cardinals already set to remain pretty much intact for 2011, the noise over Pujols’ future plans could reach a deafening level come fall. Unresolved, his contract status could become the biggest story of all for the 2010 Cardinals and has the potential to remain there for the next year, too.

                                      Link to The Cardinal Nation Blog’s top 20 stories of the year countdown

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                                      Rochester group increases share of money-losing Batavia Muckdogs

                                      Each year Rochester Community Baseball operates the Batavia Muckdogs, they pick up five percent ownership – but there is a catch.

                                        Batavia residents might have breathed a sigh of relief last week when the impending move of a New York-Penn League team to Norwalk, Connecticut for the 2010 season was finally announced and it wasn’t their Muckdogs packing their bags. Instead, the citizens of Oneonta, New York lost their minor league treasure, as the Tigers will be on the move.

                                        Batavia MuckdogsAny euphoria in the upstate New York burg may have been extremely short-lived, however. On Saturday, at least one uneasy shareholder at the annual meeting of the Muckdogs’ funding source, Rochester Community Baseball (RCB), was asking tough questions about Batavia’s professional baseball future.

                                        In their two years of operating the St. Louis Cardinals affiliate in Batavia, RCB has lost just under $400,000 in the venture, roughly $250,000 the first season and $150,000 in 2009. This has pulled the larger entity, which operates the Rochester Red Wings of the International League, into the red for the first time since 1997. While RCB leaders assure constituents the Triple-A franchise remains their priority, continued losses for both clubs will only increase the level of protest.

                                        In a very interesting disclosure, RCB president Gary Larder explained that the Muckdogs’ owner, Genesee County Baseball Club, is ceding RCB five percent equity in the team for every season RCB operates it – if the team is sold. With a commitment already in place to operate the Muckdogs in 2010, the Rochester share of ownership will grow to 15 percent this year.

                                        If one assumes the franchise is worth $4 million to $5 million, RCB could net $600,000 to $750,000 from a sale of the Muckdogs next winter. That would be enough to cover a potential third year of continued losses in 2010 and perhaps even allow for a small profit if the flow of red ink can be stemmed this season.

                                        As reported by the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Larder said the following. “We really don’t know what’s going to happen with Batavia.”

                                        Apparently nobody does. There is no indication the Batavians want to sell their team anytime soon and unlock RCB’s slowly-growing share. At this rate, they will still own the majority of the team for six more years.

                                        It is unclear what RCB gets if they decide to walk away before then. Are they essentially stuck in an arrangement that forces them to operate the team until they gain over 50 percent ownership before they could collect their ownership stake and get out? Would they and their shareholders be willing to endure potentially ten years of losses?

                                        Apparently none of the shareholders posed these questions on Saturday.

                                        Perhaps Genesee County Baseball Club remains satisfied to watch their share erode at the rate of five percent per year. Maybe the local community will get sufficiently behind the team that it finally makes money for RCB, alleviating some of their shareholder pressure.

                                        Even if so, this arrangement seems only to be buying Batavia ownership time until the day finally comes when they can no longer live off their equity.

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                                        Reviewing the predictions: TCN Blog’s top five Cardinals stories of 2009

                                        A look back at the top projected stories across the Cardinal Nation in 2009 from one year ago.

                                          A little over a year ago, last January 3, I published my predictions of what I thought would evolve into the top five stories across the Cardinal Nation in 2009. With the benefit of full hindsight, including the top 20 stories of 2009 countdown finally in the books, this is a look back at my initial forecast.

                                          The original top five projections follow, along with where the stories actually ended up, including links to the before and after articles. I won’t be repeating my 2009 summaries here, so click on the links if you’d like to read the detailed stories.

                                          2009 prediction story Prediction rank Actual rank 2009 actual story
                                          Lame duck La Russa 1 5 The successful odd couple – Mo and TLR
                                          Chris Carpenter’s health 2 3 Cy close and closer
                                          Calm or chaos at the closer’s position? 3 8 Franklin the finisher
                                          The future of Rick Ankiel 4 16 Change in centerfield
                                          When will Colby Rasmus arrive? 5 16 Change in centerfield

                                          Generally speaking, none of the five stories I thought would grab the headlines in 2009 turned out to be as big as expected. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Let’s review each as several stories morphed into others.

                                          1. Lame duck La Russa

                                          Oddly enough, unlike in 2007, when Tony La Russa’s expiring contract seemed to hold an unusually-strong level of interest with the local scribes all summer long, it was not nearly as big of an issue in 2009. This was the case despite the fact his contract was again up following the season.

                                          The relative calm may have been due to a combination of several factors, including the fast start of the 2009 team, which went 16-7 in April, as well as a divestiture of several veteran players over the last two years who clashed with the longtime skipper.

                                          Certainly, the saga of the family Duncan (2009 story #12) added to the La Russa uncertainty but also in a way diverted attention from La Russa personally. When push came to shove, Tony took his first-ever one-year contract to return for 2010.

                                          With the controversy over the return of Mark McGwire added to the mix, La Russa’s future should again remain a curiosity during the 2010 season and into the fall.

                                          2. Chris Carpenter’s health

                                          While this was a non-story, a good thing, the fact is that Carpenter’s health was a major factor in 2009. Because the ace missed about five weeks due to an oblique strained in his second start of the season, he ended up making just 28 starts, compared to 32 to 34 for his Cy Young Award competitors.

                                          Those voters who left Carpenter off their ballots entirely cited this as a reason for doing so and this most certainly affected other voters’ placement of Carpenter second or third instead of first or second.

                                          As such, given Carp finished just seven points short of winning his second Cy Young, it is not a stretch at all to say his health cost him the award.

                                          Of course, in the bigger picture, the injury was relatively insignificant. It was early in the season, during a time when the team was consistently winning and most importantly, neither lingered nor was connected to his past shoulder, elbow and nerve ailments. He still won 17 games, second-most in the NL behind teammate Adam Wainwright, and captured the league ERA title.

                                          In his age 35 season, Carpenter’s continued well-being will remain a critical success factor for the 2010 Cardinals.

                                          3.  Calm or chaos at the closer’s position?

                                          Not only was the identity of the 2009 closer unknown last January, it still was unresolved as the season began. The main question was “Which of the young contenders would take the job, Jason Motte or Chris Perez?”

                                          As we quickly learned, the answer was “neither”.

                                          Motte owned the job for one game, a blown save on opening day. Perez was given his chances, but his inconsistency soon put him back in Memphis before being traded away. 36-year-old Ryan Franklin, the last man standing, took over and put together a fantastic season.

                                          Yet a contract extension followed by a final-month failure which continued in the National League Division Series re-opened questions about the stability of the position in 2010. The Cardinals have reportedly assured Franklin that the job is his, but have also expressed concern over his supposed late-season fatigue and have at least thought about other options.

                                          This story may be back in 2010.

                                          4. The future of Rick Ankiel
                                          5. When will Colby Rasmus arrive and who will play centerfield?

                                          These two stories became intertwined. Yet even together, they placed just 16th in my final countdown.

                                          Compared to the acrimonious end to 2008 spring training for Colby Rasmus, followed by an ineffective and injury-plagued season with Memphis, 2009 seemed calmer for the 22-year-old. His making the big league roster did not seem to be in jeopardy this past spring, but the concern was replaced by an uneasy competition with Rick Ankiel, a stated favorite of his manager and beloved by the fan base for his revival from numerous past setbacks.

                                          As the season went on, illness and fatigue affected Rasmus as injury hampered Ankiel, yet their trajectory was very different. The latter continued in a downward spiral that ended in him leaving via free agency with no real attempt made to keep him after 13 years in the organization.

                                          The former doubled Ankiel’s starts in centerfield, 104 to 52, and was one of the team’s post-season standouts. Rasmus is clearly the present and future, while Ankiel will forever hold memories of the past as well as the wonderment of what might have been.

                                          Next up: In the final article of this series, I will outline my predictions for the top five Cardinals stories of 2010.

                                          Link to The Cardinal Nation Blog’s top 20 stories of the year countdown

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