Redbirds Clubhouse

Pujols slide into Towles legs causes rift

Albert Pujols slide into Astros catcher J.R. Towles legs in the 8th inning Tuesday night seems to have caused a bit of controversy. ( Photo at left taken by AP photographer Pat Sullivan)

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2008 Cardinals Rookies

Fun article by Dave Wilhelm of the Belleville, IL News Democrat about three Cardinal rookies in 2008 - Kyle McClellan, Rico Washington and Brian Barton.

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Why bother even playing in 2008?

Great article by Jeff Gordon in today's St. Louis Post Dispatch. According to the national "experts", there is really no reason for the Cardinals to even begin play this season. Predictions range from last to worst. No one believes we even have a chance....

Click HERE to read Jeff's full column

Does Cards payroll represent money well spent?

Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post Dispatch wrote a great column today about the money the Cardinals have commited to their payroll for 2008.

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Wally & the "Moon Shots"

In the summer of '54, a 24 year old Texan by the name of Wally Moon came to St. Louis with the unenviable task of replacing the legendary Enos Slaughter. By the end of the season, he had accomplished the mission by hitting .304 with 12 HR, 76 RBI and 18 SB and was named  NL Rookie of the year.

After 5 seasons in St. Louis, Moon was traded to the LA Dodgers. LA Times writer Steve Springer tells the story of how Moon found success in the old LA Coliseum.

Click HERE for full article

Cardinals in 2008

Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post Dispatch wrote two columns today outlining his thoughts about why this (and future) summers in St. louis are going to be something baseball fans can look forward to.

His first column outlines the Cardinals new approach to player development and retention (which Redbirds Clubhouse wholeheartedly agrees with). The Adam Wainwright deal underscores their commitment to those principles - develop young talent and keep 'em in the nest!

Click HERE to read the first column

His second column today lists 5 reasons why this summer at Busch Stadium mightbe better than we expected!

Click HERE to read the second column

Cards extend Wainwright contract

Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post Dispatch reports that Adam Wainwright and the Cardinals have agreed on a 4 year contract extension that will pay Wainwright $15 million over 4 years. The contract also includes an option for two additional years (2012 & 2013).

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Former Cardinal Percival at home with Rays

Martin Fennelly of the Tampa Tribune writes about Troy Percival, the new "chemistry professor" of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Rays pitcher David Price is one of baseball's best prospects, but he was just another sitting duck for Troy Percival's living genius.

Price recently came out of the ballpark and found his shiny white BMW with Percival's smiling face shrink-wrapped on its hood and Percival's No. 40 on the doors. Troy-ota.

Everyone howled.

"Classic Percy," Rays manager Joe Maddon said....

Click HERE to read the full article

Rick Ankiel changing course

Carlos Frias of the Palm Beach Post writes a great story about how turbulent family relationships and professional setbacks have led Rick Ankiel to re-create himself:

Ankiel's eight-year odyssey in the majors has ranged from horrific to heartwarming. The most promising young left-hander this side of Sandy Koufax mysteriously loses his ability to pitch, sort of regains his form, then gives up the mound to take on a Ruthian task: recreating himself from pitcher to power hitter.

"He's on the verge of doing something historic," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa says of the 28-year-old who will likely be his opening-day center fielder....

Click HERE to read the full article

Will Brian Barton head North?

Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes:

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa long ago advanced the notion that experience breaks ties at the end of spring training. The adage is being challenged this month.

Unable to carry more than five outfielders into the season, the Redbirds must decide whether veteran Juan Gonzalez or Rule 5 draftee Brian Barton better fits a 25-man roster....

Click HERE to read the full article 

Ted Simmons back in uniform

Great article by Adam McCalvy of MLB.com about one of the greatest catchers in Cardinal history:

Every day for two years in the early 1980s, the Brewers' starting catcher would sit with his backup to talk baseball. Ted Simmons often presented a test for young Ned Yost, which is why Yost had to smile earlier this spring when the Brewers' current catcher walked into the manager's office with a puzzled look on his face.

Simmons, now 58 and joining the coaching ranks after nearly 20 years out of uniform, had presented catcher Jason Kendall with a puzzle: Say you have a baserunner in a rundown and you run him back to the base, only there's another baserunner already occupying it. One of the runners is out, but Simmons told Kendall there is a way to get a double play out of the scenario.

Then Simmons turned around and walked away.....

Click HERE to read the full Ted Simmons article