Redbirds Clubhouse

Be back soon......

STL_Cardinals, originally uploaded by Spydawebb.

Back when I was a kid, there were five TV Channels and they would usually shut down for the night at about 1 am. They'd play the National Anthem with some patriotic scene on the screen and then...... nothing. The station would go dark until 6 am when the news came on.

Well boys and girls, the clock has hit 1 am here at the Redbirds Clubhouse. It's time for me to do some other things for awhile. I'll still follow the Redbirds religiously and you'll still find me at the games.... I just won't be posting for awhile.

In the meantime, I'd value your comments and suggestions about what you like about the site, what you don't like, and features you'd like to see here at the Clubhouse once the clock hits 6 am again.

Thanks for visiting!

Barden's first blast leads Birds

2009-03-30 St. Louis Cardinals Brian Barden
Originally uploaded by rosepetal236

Mon 4/13/09 - Cards 2 D'Backs 1 - With family, friends, wife and daughter in the stands, Brian Barden hit his first major league home run (a solo shot in the eighth in inning) that turned out to be the game winning run. Albert Pujols also hit his fourth homer of the season in the fourth inning.

Not to be overlooked is Todd Wellemeyer's strong outing on the mound. He bounced back from a rough start against Pittsburgh last Wednesday to hold Arizona to one run over seven innings.

BOX SCORE HERE

GAME STORY HERE

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Next Game: Tuesday, April 14, 2009

St. Louis @ Arizona (8:40 pm)

Chris Carpenter (1-0, 0.00) vs. Max Scherzer (0-0, 0.00)

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Redbirds Clubhouse Notes:

• Streakers - Ryan Ludwick has a career high 17 game hitting streak that dates back to the end of last season, while Chris Duncan has a 7 game hitting streak.
• The Redbirds pitching staff compiled a 17 inning scoreless streak that finally ended last night in the fourth inning.
• Tonight's starter Chris Carpenter is 3-0, 2.54 ERA in his career vs. the Diamondbacks

Lohse masterful as Cardinals sweep Astros

Kyle Lohse, Cardinals
Originally uploaded by danny wild

Sun 4/12/09 - Cards 3 Astros 0 - Kyle Lohse filled the scoreboard with Easter goose eggs on Sunday when he threw a three hit complete game shutout. He needed just 2:10 minutes to lead the Cardinals to their first series sweep of the season.

Khalil Greene supplied most of the offense as he went 3-4, stole a base, scored a run and drove in another.

BOX SCORE HERE

GAME STORY HERE

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Next Game: Monday, April 13, 2009

St. Louis @ Arizona (8:40 pm)

Todd Wellemeyer (0-1, 9.00) vs. Doug Davis (1-0, 7.20)

What more can be said about Albert Pujols?

Sat 4/11/09 - Cards 11 Astros 2 - Albert Pujols - 2-4, 2 HR, 7 RBI! The Cardinals collected 19 hits on the afternoon and Adam Wainwright earned his first victory of the season with five shutout innings.

BOX SCORE HERE

GAME STORY HERE

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Fri 4/10/09 - Cards 5 Astros 3 - Joel Pineiro threw a strong 6.2 innings while Ryan Ludwick homered, doubled, and drove in two runs in the Redbird victory.

BOX SCORE HERE

GAME STORY HERE

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Next Game: Sunday, April 12, 2009

Houston @ St. Louis (1:15 pm)

Wandy Rodriguez (0-0, 1.50) vs. Kyle Lohse (1-0, 2.57)

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Albert Pujols' performance in yesterday's game was one of those things I used to read about in those cheap paperback sports books when I was a kid. Beloved sports hero steps to the plate and homers to win the game. The thing is, we're watching the real thing day after day here in St. Louis. Bernie Miklasz talks about the magic of Albert Pujols in his column today.

, originally uploaded by Dizfactor1980.

Stellar '09 debut for Chris Carpenter

Thur 4/9/09 - Cards 2 Pirates 1 - Thursday's game started on a cloudy dreary day and ended two and a half hours later in a steady rain. However, fans in Cardinal Nation could be seen patting one another on the back, laughing and smiling as if the sun were shining and the birds were chirping. Why? The "Ace" had returned!

The story on Thursday was Chris Carpenter who earned his first victory since 2006 in convincing fashion. Seven innings, one hit allowed, seven strikeouts. He threw 61 of 92 pitches for strikes and induced 10 groundouts. No matter how you slice it, Carp was money on Thursday. Welcome back big guy!

BOX SCORE HERE

GAME STORY HERE

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Next Game: Friday, April 10, 2009

Houston @ St. Louis (7:15 pm)

Mike Hampton (0-0, 0.00) vs. Joel Pineiro (0-0, 0.00)

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It's difficult not to be optimistic after Chris Carpenter's performance on Thursday. To understand what an impact his health could have on this team, take a look back at the 2005 Cardinals and see how Carpenter boosted the performance of the entire rotation.

Chris Carpenter, originally uploaded by danny wild.

Wellemeyer not sharp - Cards lose

Wed 4/8/09 - Pirates 7 Cards 4 - Todd Wellemeyer's night got off to a rough start and never got better. He escaped a rough first inning, stranding runners on second and third. Unfortunately, the Pirates scored four in the second and never looked back. Brad Thompson entered the game in the sixth and gave up a double and a home run to push the Pirate tally to seven.

Frankly, the Cardinal offense wasn't much better than their pitching. Joe Thurston and David Freese had two hits apiece, but the rest of the lineup would hit safely only three times. The Cardinals did receive five walks on the night, but only one of those walks would turn into a run.

BOX SCORE HERE

GAME STORY HERE

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Next Game: Thursday, April 9, 2009

Pittsburgh @ St. Louis (12:40 pm)

Ross Ohlendorf (0-0, 0.00) vs. Chris Carpenter (0-0, 0.00)

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Despite the fact that the game was basically over before it started, there's nothing quite like attending your first game of the season. When you get your first glimpse of the green field, you know winter is finally over! Last night was chilly once the sun went down, but the full moon was quite beautiful. And one thing is still true - despite costing an arm and a leg, beer just always seems to taste better at the ballpark!

Busch Stadium, originally uploaded by indiepepe.

Bird bounce back, bomb Bucs

Tue 4/7/09 - Cards 9 Pirates 3 - Memories of Monday's Opening Day debacle were wiped away when the Redbirds fired off their big cannons Tuesday night. Chris Duncan took the first shot when he launched a two out, two run homer in the bottom of the first to give the Cardinals a lead they would not relinquish. Two innings later, Albert Pujols fired his first volley of 2009, a two run shot. Not to be outdone, Yadier Molina popped a solo shot in the fifth.

Started Kyle Lohse was the recipient of the power display and he delivered a solid performance as well going seven innings while giving up just five hits and striking out four. Reliever Dennys Reyes pitched a scoreless eighth in his Cardinal debut, and Brad Thompson closed out the game with an uneventful ninth.

BOX SCORE HERE

GAME STORY HERE

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Next Game: Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Pittsburgh @ St. Louis (7:15 pm)

Zach Duke (0-0, 0.00) vs. Todd Wellemeyer (0-0, 0.00)

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Congratulations to Cardinal rookie Colby Rasmus on his first major league hit. Props should also be awarded to Cardinal pitcher Joel Pineiro, the perpetrator of a major league prank involving Rasmus' keepsake first hit ball.

Colby Rasmus, originally uploaded by danny wild.

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Redbirds Clubhouse Notes:

• Check out the sharp, clean new look of the Baseball Reference website.
• A new baseball movie Sugar is getting rave reviews. The story of a Dominican pitcher trying to make it to the big leagues is set at Modern Woodman Park, home of the Cardinals Midwest League affiliate Quad Cities River Bandits.
• Speaking of the River Bandits, they are offering unique Van by the River promotion this summer.

Pirates put the freeze on Opening Day

Mon 4/6/09 - Pirates 6 Cards 4 - The 2009 edition of the St. Louis Cardinals made their debut at a frigid Busch Stadium amid the celebration and ceremony usually reserved for visiting presidential candidates (or George Clooney). Their performance on the field warmed the crowd as they held the Pirates to two runs over the first eight innings. Ryan Ludwick did his part to shape a potential storybook ending by drilling a solo homer in the eighth to give the Cardinals a late inning lead.

Unfortunately, the day would not have a fairy tale ending and the home team would not bound joyfully into the dugout with their first victory of the year. Instead, un-annointed rookie closer Jason Motte would serve up four runs in the ninth and remind us all of the late inning frustrations we endured throughout 2008.

BOX SCORE HERE

GAME STORY HERE

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Next Game: Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Pittsburgh @ St. Louis (7:15 pm)

Ian Snell (0-0, 0.00) vs. Kyle Lohse (0-0, 0.00)

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Scenes from Opening Day.... One of the things I enjoyed most about Opening Day 2009 were the photos from Post Dispatch photographer Chris Lee of the Cardinal Hall of Famers and the shot of Albert Pujols fixing Stan Musial's collar. Of course, no Opening Day in St. Louis would be complete without the Budweiser Clydesdales!

Clythesdales2, originally uploaded by Spydawebb.

2009 St. Louis Cardinals Opening Day

The long wait is over!

Monday, April 6, 2009

Pittsburgh @ St. Louis, 3:15pm

Maholm (0-0, 0.00) vs. Wainwright (0-0, 0.00)

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We've waited all winter and now it's here. Tomorrow the Cardinals will kick off their 2009 season amid the pomp and circumstance that is customary on Opening Day in St. Louis. Assuming snow doesn't ruin the festivities, here's the lineup for tomorrow:

1. Brendan Ryan, 2B
2. Rick Ankiel, CF
3. Albert Pujols, 1B
4. Khalil Greene, SS
5. Ryan Ludwick, RF
6. Yadier Molina, C
7. Chris Duncan, LF
8. Brian Barden, 3B
9. Adam Wainwright, P

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Finally, how about a little music from Cardinal organist Ernie Hays to get you in the mood for some baseball...

Cardinals beat Memphis in final exhibition

Sat 4/4/09 - Cards 7 Redbirds 3 - The St. Louis Cardinals won their final 2009 pre-season game in Memphis, TN on Saturday. Joel Pineiro threw seven innings giving up only three hits. Rick Ankiel and Khalil Greene both homered. The Cardinals finished their 2009 pre-season schedule with a record of 22-12-2 (record includes split squad and exhibition games).

BOX SCORE HERE

GAME STORY HERE

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Cards bomb baby Birds in Memphis

Fri 4/3/09 - Cards 13 Redbirds 1 - Before making their way to St. Louis for Opening Day on Monday, the Cardinals stopped in Memphis for a two game exhibition series against their AAA farm club. The big club shellacked their minor league affiliate, pounding out 12 hits (five for extra bases). As usual, Albert Pujols appears to be ready for the season to start. He put on a show, going 3-5 with two doubles, a home run, and six RBI.

BOX SCORE HERE

GAME STORY HERE

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Saturday's Game

St. Louis @ Memphis (Memphis, TN), 1:05 pm

On the mound: Joel Pineiro

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The Memphis Redbirds are the AAA affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They play in Autozone Park a downtown baseball stadium built in 2000. Here are a few photos of the ballpark:

Play Ball, originally uploaded by Angela's Snaps.

Autozone Park Redbirds Staduim, originally uploaded by memphisphotorepository.

IMG_1593.JPG, originally uploaded by kamala77.

Suite seats, originally uploaded by theogeo.

Cards win Florida finale - finish spring 19-12

Thu 4/2/09 - Cards 6 Marlins 3 - The Cardinals ended a successful 2009 Grapefruit League campaign with a ninth inning, come from behind victory over their Roger Dean Stadium neighbors, the Florida Marlins. OF Colby Rasmus homered and drove in three runs while new 3B David Freese had three hits. Jason Motte picked up his fifth save of the spring, striking out two.

BOX SCORE HERE

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Friday's Game

St. Louis @ Memphis (Memphis, TN), 7:05 pm

On the mound: P.J. Walters

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Yesterday the Cards sent OF Joe Mather to AAA Memphis. Here is the St. Louis Cardinals 2009 Opening Day 25 man roster:

Rotation	Bullpen	Infield	Outfield	Bench
Carpenter	Franklin	Pujols	Ankiel	LaRue
Lohse	McClellan	Schumaker	Ludwick	Thurston
Wainwright	Miller	Freese	Duncan	Ryan
Pineiro	Reyes	K. Greene	Rasmus	Barden
Wellemeyer	Thompson	Molina
	Kinney
	Motte	Glaus (DL)

Cardinals power up - split two in Florida

Tue 3/31/09 - Cards 7 Orioles 3 - The Redbirds blasted three home runs (Duncan, LaRue, Mather) on the afternoon. Adam Wainwright picked up his second Grapefruit League victory working five innings and striking out four.

BOX SCORE HERE

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Wed 4/1/09 - Mets 5 Cards 2 - The Cardinals powered up early with home runs by Chris Duncan and Rick Ankiel but they failed to score again in the 5-2 loss. Kyle Lohse was successful against everyone but Mets C Omir Santos who touched him for two home runs in six innings.

BOX SCORE HERE

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Cardinals OF Chris Duncan (shown here in a July, 2008 game vs. New York) hit his third and fourth home runs of the spring this week. He raised his spring average to .306 and has collected a team high 19 RBI in Florida.

Mets Cardinals Baseball, originally uploaded by Chris_Duncan's_Chick.

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Thursday's Game

St. Louis @ Florida (Jupiter, FL), 12:05 pm

On the mound: Todd Wellemeyer

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Redbird Notes and Links:

• Cardinal sources indicated yesterday that 3B Troy Glaus may not be ready until June. He will continue his rehab in Arizona until he is ready for baseball activities.
• RHP Chris Carpenter has been scratched from Friday's start. Before you choke on your morning coffee, the reason is described as a "mild calf strain" and Carpenter will be ready for his fist start of the season next Thursday vs. Pittsburgh.