Cardinals News

St. Louis Cardinals exploit two forms of charity
Comment
July 4
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"San Francisco didn't play good defense Thursday night. The Giants also gave the Cardinals extra baserunners by intentionally walking Albert Pujols two more times. For a change, the Cards exploited both forms of charity. Led by Ryan Ludwick's timely RBI singles in the first and fifth inning, they rolled to a 5-2 victory. This ought to help some of their much-maligned hitters relax at the plate. "You need constant reinforcement in this game," Cards manager Tony La Russa said after the game. "Everybody needs success sometimes to keep their confidence up." The big story of the night was, of course, Todd Wellemeyer's commanding performance. He repaid pitching coach Dave Duncan's confidence by ..."
Cards rescued by ... what else? Pujols power
Comment
July 4
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Mark DeRosa has been with the Cardinals less than a week, but he already knows he's seen it all. "He's from another planet," said DeRosa, limited to watching and not playing right now because of injury. The "he" in question is Albert Pujols and, as they say, maybe he really can do it all. His eighth-inning grand slam Friday night merely broke Stan Musial's club records for most slams in a season (Pujols has four) and for a career (Pujols has 10). It was Pujols' sixth hit in seven at-bats with the bases loaded this season, and he's knocked in an astounding 20 runs in bases-filled spots this year. But, after Pujols had erased a 3-0 Reds lead in the eighth, Pujols turned instructor with the ..."
Pujols slams Reds
Comment
July 4
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Maybe, as they say, Albert Pujols really can do it all. We know what he can accomplish with the bases loaded. His eighth-inning grand slam Friday night merely broke two of Stan Musial's club records for most slams in a season and for a career. It was his sixth hit in seven at-bats with the bases loaded this season, four of them grand slams, and he's knocked in an astounding 20 runs in bases-filled spots this year. But, after the Cincinnati Reds had tied the game at 4-4 in their half of the eighth after Pujols had erased a 3-0 Reds lead, Pujols turned instructor. With rookie Jarrett Hoffpauir, who had walked on four pitches in his major league debut ahead of Pujols' slam, at bat himself ..."
Grand Pujols slams Reds
Comment
July 4
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"It appeared the Reds would end Friday one game out of first place in the National League, with some momentum and a lot of confidence. Instead, they find themselves three games out, in fourth place and dealing with the sting of a 7-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. That's what happens when you mess with Albert Pujols. Pujols' grand slam off David Weathers in the eighth inning felt like a knockout blow. It gave the Cardinals a 4-3 lead. The Reds, however, got off the mat and tied it in the bottom of the inning. But the Cardinals scored three unearned runs in the ninth to reseal the victory, and Pujols drove in one of those, too. "He beat us by himself," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "He ..."
Cardinals land Latin American talent Wagner Mateo
Comment
July 3
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"At a ceremony this morning in Santo Domingo, St. Louis Cardinals farm director/VP Jeff Luhnow presented coveted talent Wagner Mateo with a Cardinals jersey, a symbolic gesture that the organization had just taken its boldest move yet into the realm of international player acquisition. The international signing period opened today, and the Cardinals announced this morning that they finalized a deal with the 16-year-old outfielder from the Dominican Republic. Mateo, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound center fielder, bats and throws lefthanded. He was born on March 30, 1993, and according to reports his birth date was cleared during an investigation of prospects by Major League Baseball. Mateo played in ..."
Cardinals dump Giants, Zito
Comment
July 3
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Give the Dodgers their props, even if you bust a spleen doing it. They lost Manny Ramirez to a 50-game drug suspension but not an inch of ground. In fact, they gained. As Ramirez returns to the lineup tonight, the Dodgers stand 7 1/2 games ahead of the second-place Giants, who completed a 5-5 trip with a sickly 5-2 loss to the Cardinals on Thursday night. When Ramirez left for his little "vacation," the Giants were 6 1/2 back. One could say the Giants did not take advantage of a great gift, which ultimately might cost them a longshot bid to win the West. On the other hand, Juan Pierre replaced Ramirez and played out of his mind. Plus, while the Dodgers went 29-21 in Ramirez's absence, the ..."
Mateo is bold move for Birds
Comment
July 3
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"When farm director Jeff Luhnow presented teenager Wagner Mateo with a Cardinals jersey Thursday morning at a press conference in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, it was a symbolic gesture of the organization's boldest stride yet into the realm of international talent. The signing bonus already said enough. The Cardinals announced a deal with the 16-year-old outfielder on Thursday, the first day of baseball's international signing period. To land Mateo, who is considered one of the top prizes in this year's class of Dominican free agents, the Cardinals signed him to a record bonus of $3.1 million, edging J.D. Drew's $3 million bonus as the most the franchise has paid to a newly signed ..."
Lohse happy with return to mound
Comment
July 3
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Reality smacked Kyle Lohse Thursday night at Hammons Field. His name was Mitch Moreland. Facing his second hitter since leaving a June 3 start against the Cincinnati Reds with a strained right forearm muscle, Lohse surrendered a solo home run to the Frisco right fielder only moments into his rehab assignment with the Springfield Cardinals. "That kind of shakes you up a little bit," Lohse said with a half-grin. "It reminds you, 'OK, let's focus here.'" Nine years after his first taste of Double-A, Lohse found Thursday's sip both satisfying and sobering. After struggling through a 25-pitch first inning, Lohse cruised through the next three, then tired while encountering turbulence in his ..."
Brendan Ryan hits his stride
Comment
July 3
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Brendan Ryan broke a one-for-15 skid Thursday night with two hits and two runs as the leadoff man against San Francisco lefthander Barry Zito. Coming into the game, Ryan had one hit and two strikeouts in his last 15 at-bats. He was batting just .246 against lefthanded pitching before going two for three against the former Cy Young Award winner. Ryan began the game with a single, making him the first of five consecutive Cardinals to reach base. In the fifth, Ryan doubled to center following Colby Rasmus' leadoff single, and both runners eventually came around to score. "I'm trying to keep it simple," Ryan said after the Cardinals 5-2 victory. "For me it's defense first and that's what Tony ..."
Wellemeyer rebounds in 5-2 win over Giants
Comment
July 3
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Despite his best effort to paint a positive veneer over the widening cracks in his season, Cardinals starter Todd Wellemeyer had something stronger than his erratic performances tugging at him. He had his doubt. The righthander finally negotiated a truce in the seasonlong battle with his mechanics, pitching 7 1/3 strong innings to hoist the Cardinals to a 5-2 victory against San Francisco on Thursday at Busch Stadium. Wellemeyer said it was the first time this season that he was confident in his pitches because he was consistent with his delivery. He walked off the field to an ovation from the crowd of 41,875 feeling different. He felt right. MORE CARDINALS CARDINAL BEAT: Daily blog of ..."
Cardinals, Yankees sign hyped Dominican prospects
Comment
July 3
SI.com
 
"The St. Louis Cardinals gave a $3.1 million signing bonus to 16-year-old outfielder Wagner Mateo, considered to be among the top amateur free agents from Latin America. The New York Yankees on Thursday also gave a $3 million bonus to a 16-year-old Dominican prospect, catcher Gary Sanchez. Cardinals vice president Jeff Luhnow announced details of their signing at a news conference in Santo Domingo. "We have a tradition of competing and winning and Dominicans have been a big part of that success. We hope that one day soon, Wagner joins Albert Pujols and helps us win," Luhnow said. Mateo, who is from Santo Domingo, is 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds. He throws and bats left-handed. He represented the ..."
Cardinals' player development is paying off
Comment
July 2
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 columnist Jeff Gordon
"The Cardinals are getting a nice payoff this season from their commitment to player development. As exasperating as this season has been, where would this team be without all the capable work from promoted players? How could this team have stayed in contention with so many key injuries and so many "established" players struggling? The Cards have used 15 rookies this season, including nine that made their major league debuts. That absurd number included a journeyman (Joe Thurston) and players plucked from other organizations (Brian Barden, Daivd Freese). Let's add up the contributions from top rookies developed by this organization: COLBY RASMUS: Remarkably, he has been the team's best ..."
St. Louis Cardinals' Ludwick shows signs improved performance at plate
Comment
July 2
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Ryan Ludwick is starting to look a little bit more like a cleanup hitter. The Cardinals' right fielder was one for three with a walk in Wednesday night's 2-1 win over the San Francisco Giants, and he recorded his 39th RBI with a first-inning single that drove in Skip Schumaker after an intentional walk to Albert Pujols. One night earlier, Ludwick hit a double and his first triple of the season with the bases empty against Randy Johnson. It was his first game with two extra-base hits since he hit two home runs against the Cubs on April 17. "I'm just trying to put together good at-bats and I feel like I've done that in the last four days," Ludwick said. "All you can do is control going up ..."
Cardinals sign touted Dominican teen
Comment
July 2
MLB.com
 
"The Cardinals continued their recent push into Latin America with a major signing on Thursday, as they announced a deal with 16-year-old Dominican outfielder Wagner Mateo. Once all but a non-factor in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, the Cardinals have increased their efforts in those areas in recent years. Mateo is the highest-profile fruit of that labor to date. According to multiple reports, he will receive a bonus of $3 million or a little more. That would be the second-largest bonus ever paid to a Latin American free agent, and the largest to a hitter, trailing only the $4.25 million the A's gave pitcher Michael Ynoa last year. "This agreement is a significant step for the ..."
Rasmus' walk-off lifts Cards over Giants
Comment
July 2
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The Giants' carnival of scoring folded its tent Wednesday night. After stomping on, sliding into and trotting over home plate 29 times in their previous four games, the Giants found the dish elusive against Adam Wainwright, who struck out 12 in nine innings. So they lost to the Cardinals 2-1 on Colby Rasmus' home run leading off the 10th inning, on a 3-2 fastball from Bobby Howry, after the Giants thought they retired Rasmus twice. First, Pablo Sandoval ran to the dugout rail and dropped Rasmus' catchable pop foul. Then, home-plate umpire Bob Davidson kept his right arm holstered on a 2-2 sinker that looked a bit low, but maybe not. Howry stormed out of the clubhouse quickly after the ..."
Renteria still looks good to the Cardinals
Comment
July 2
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Edgar Renteria's two-year, $18.5 million contract was criticized by those who believe the Giants grossly overpaid a declining player who would not have received nearly as much money from anyone else in a buyers' market. Renteria called that hogwash Wednesday. He said the Giants were one of three teams that offered healthy multiyear deals. The question arose after Cardinals manager Tony La Russa revealed that St. Louis wanted to sign him last winter, too. Renteria recalled his agent discussing interest from St. Louis, for whom he played six seasons (1999-2004), but said it did not make an offer. La Russa called Renteria "one of our favorites" when he was a Cardinal and seemed taken aback ..."
Colby Rasmus goes deep to rescue Redbirds
Comment
July 2
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Cardinals rookie Colby Rasmus turned an unlikely second chance into a game-ending home run that made someone else the hero. After his at-bat had been spared by a dropped fly ball in foul territory, Rasmus launched a full-count pitch from San Francisco reliever Bob Howry to deep right-center field for a 2-1 victory against the Giants on Wednesday. Rasmus' first career game-ender - and the first by a Cardinals rookie since three years before he was born - kept the Cardinals from wasting Adam Wainwright's finest start of the season. The righthander pitched most of the game with a one-run lead, defused the Giants' decisive inning and kept a frazzled lineup in a game it almost cost him. "What ..."
St. Louis Cardinals' Ludwick shows signs improved performance at plate
Comment
July 2
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Ryan Ludwick is starting to look a little bit more like a cleanup hitter. The Cardinals' right fielder was one for three with a walk in Wednesday night's 2-1 win over the San Francisco Giants, and he recorded his 39th RBI with a first-inning single that drove in Skip Schumaker after an intentional walk to Albert Pujols. One night earlier, Ludwick hit a double and his first triple of the season with the bases empty against Randy Johnson. It was his first game with two extra-base hits since he hit two home runs against the Cubs on April 17. "I'm just trying to put together good at-bats and I feel like I've done that in the last four days," Ludwick said. "All you can do is control going up ..."
Exam relieves Cardinals' DeRosa
Comment
July 2
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Infielder Mark DeRosa spent a restless night at a St. Louis hotel Tuesday mimicking a swing that hasn't yet produced a hit as a Cardinal and worrying about a sore wrist that could keep him from taking swings at all. The next morning brought encouraging news. "Best-case scenario," DeRosa called it. The newly acquired third baseman and outfielder sustained a strained left wrist during an at-bat Tuesday. After no structural damage was found in the wrist, DeRosa received an injection in the area, and he'll miss at least three days. The Cardinals elected not to put him on the disabled list, a move manager Tony La Russa called optimistic. "The fact that he felt better (Wednesday), that he was ..."
Giants fall on homer in 10th
Comment
July 2
San Jose Mercury News
 
"The Giants watched for years as opposing managers gave the four-finger salute to Barry Bonds. Wednesday night, they wiggled back. Manager Bruce Bochy intentionally walked Albert Pujols, the force of nature in the St. Louis Cardinals' lineup, in each of his first two plate appearances. But when the Cardinals got the winning hit in the 10th inning of their 2-1 victory, their supernova-hot slugger was standing in the on-deck circle. Colby Rasmus sent the red-clad faithful home happy, going deep on a 3-2 fastball from Bob Howry as the Cardinals snapped the Giants' three-game winning streak. Pujols' looming presence probably influenced Howry's decision to throw a straight fastball instead of ..."
Cards' DeRosa injures left wrist
Comment
July 1
MLB.com
 
"Three games into his Cardinals career, Mark DeRosa is hurt. He and the club are just hoping it's not too serious. DeRosa injured his left wrist on a swing in the fourth inning of St. Louis' 6-3 loss to San Francisco on Tuesday night. He remained in the game for one more inning, but removed himself before taking another at-bat. He is expected to be reexamined on Wednesday. "I took a swing there my second at-bat and felt a little tweak in my left wrist," DeRosa said. "I went in to hit off the tee after coming in from playing the field, and it just didn't feel right. I felt like I should come out of the game and get it looked at." Pitcher Chris Carpenter was removed for a pinch-hitter in the ..."
Giants come up aces
Comment
July 1
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"In May they constructed a modest 13-14 record despite their league's third-lowest ERA. Tuesday night at Busch Stadium the Cardinals walked away from the best month ever by perhaps the best player in the game with a 12-17 consolation prize. Unable to produce a critical hit other than first baseman Albert Pujols' two home runs off winning pitcher Randy Johnson (8-5), the Cardinals fell heavily, 6-3, to the San Francisco Giants before a crowd of 37,174. Clipped for six earned runs in five innings, starting pitcher Chris Carpenter (5-3) may have seen his opportunity to make the All-Star Game evaporate. Even worse, the Cardinals' great expectations for infielder Mark DeRosa may have suffered a ..."
Glaus is ready to rehab in Florida
Comment
July 1
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"The Cardinals may be closer to gaining another impact bat. Out of sight since opening day, third baseman Troy Glaus is headed to the team's minor-league facility in Jupiter, Fla., to begin working out under the supervision of the team's training staff and, according to club officials, could be within two weeks of going on a rehab assignment. Glaus is expected to leave Arizona for Florida on Thursday. There, he will work out for seven to 10 days while the club evaluates his recovery from surgery in January to repair a muscle near his right shoulder."
Giants take it to Cardinals
Comment
July 1
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Winning behind their ace was one thing, destroying the opponents' ace was quite another. The Giants have done both here. They followed Tim Lincecum's two-hit shutout by mauling Chris Carpenter for six runs in five innings and beating the Cardinals 6-3 on Tuesday night. With their eighth win in 11 games, the Giants moved a season-high eight over .500 (42-34), assured no worse than a .500 trip and completed a rousing June (17-10) that establishes them among the elites in a league short on dominating teams. "Hats off to the offense tonight," Randy Johnson said after surrendering all three of St. Louis' runs on Albert Pujols' 29th and 30th homers. The first was a solo that traveled so far ... ..."
Two Pujols homers don't cost Randy Johnson win No. 303
Comment
July 1
San Jose Mercury News
 
"The Giants completed their best month in a half-decade with perhaps their most impressive all-around game of the season. Randy Johnson cast Goliath's shadow on the mound, and his lightly regarded offense cast plenty of smooth stones Tuesday to beat one of the game's best pitchers in a 6-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Albert Pujols hit two home runs off Johnson, but those were just bottle rockets to entertain the home fans. Pujols couldn't shield the Giants from battering Chris Carpenter on their way to finishing June with a 17-10 record — their highest victory total in a month since they won 18 games in June 2004. Johnson picked up his 303rd career victory while proving he can ..."
Glaus is ready to rehab in Florida
Comment
July 1
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"The Cardinals may be closer to gaining another impact bat. Out of sight since opening day, third baseman Troy Glaus is headed to the team's minor-league facility in Jupiter, Fla., to begin working out under the supervision of the team's training staff and, according to club officials, could be within two weeks of going on a rehab assignment. Glaus is expected to leave Arizona for Florida on Thursday. There, he will work out for seven to 10 days while the club evaluates his recovery from surgery in January to repair a muscle near his right shoulder. "It's improving," general manager John Mozeliak said Tuesday. "The next few weeks are critical." Until this week Mozeliak has consistently ..."
Giants' Lincecum pitches two-hit shutout against Cardinals
Comment
June 30
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti already counted the boxes on his pocket schedule: If the National League wants Tim Lincecum to start the All-Star Game, he'd be fully rested for the assignment. After Monday night, how could N.L. Manager Charlie Manuel pick anyone else? Climbing the same bump where the All-Stars will converge next month, Lincecum gave the Giants what might have been the most masterful start of his young career. Combining classic power with Madduxian precision, Lincecum needed just 95 pitches to finish a career-best two-hitter in a 10-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Last year, Lincecum became the first Giants pitcher to lead the majors in strikeouts and he ..."
Is Mark DeRosa the St. Louis Cardinals' Shaq?
Comment
June 30
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 columnist Bryan Burwell
"In the heart of this city where they are always accustomed to getting what they want, the street vendors and caricature artists who line the bustling streets of Time Square have already created drawings that depict LeBron James in a Knicks jersey. You will see soon enough how this is a Cardinals story, so bear with me. Presumptuous Knicks fans have thought for a while that it was a foregone conclusion that James would be leaving Cleveland as a free agent after next season. They couldn't imagine a circumstance where a smaller Midwest city with a serious inferiority complex to the Big Apple (hmmm, now does that sound familiar?) would ever have a chance to hold onto its superstar once New ..."
Not in the Cards for Greene
Comment
June 30
Toronto Sun
 
"Even when Khalil Greene homered in his first three games after coming off on the 15-day disabled list with social anxiety disorder, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa held off celebrating. "When he had success in Kansas City, that wasn't really the test," La Russa said. "The test is, when you struggle and how you handle it." Greene struggled the next five games, going 1-for-17, and the anxiety resurfaced. St. Louis placed him on the DL for a second time yesterday. "We just felt it was a move we had to make," La Russa said. Greene, acquired in the off-season from the Padres, is batting .200 with five home runs and 19 RBIs. His eight errors are one shy of the team high despite playing in ..."
Cardinals' Clayton Mortensen has rough debut
Comment
June 30
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Righthander Clayton Mortensen became the 14th rookie to play for the St. Louis Cardinals when he relieved against the San Francisco Giants in the seventh inning tonight. It was not an auspicious debut. Mortensen, 7-4 at Class AAA Memphis, allowed five runs in his first inning although only one was earned, because of an error by second baseman Skip Schumaker. Then, in his second inning (the eighth), he allowed a home run into Big Mac Land by Juan Uribe as the Giants took a 10-0 lead, and the Giants won by the same score."
Cardinals' Khalil Greene returns to DL
Comment
June 30
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"The Cardinals returned infielder Khalil Greene to the disabled list with social anxiety disorder Monday, a day after Greene was removed from a 6-2 loss following an ineffective performance at the plate and at third base. The move, made Monday morning, occurs 11 days after the club activated Greene from a previous stay on the disabled list necessitated by the same condition. "It's pretty much the same thing as before but my understanding is that he's under a different treatment program right now," general manager John Mozeliak said shortly before the Cardinals' series opener against the San Francisco Giants. Mozeliak classified Greene's second trip to the disabled list as "more open-ended" ..."
Cardinals get nowhere vs. San Francisco Giants
Comment
June 30
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"The Cardinals were fortunate to limit their dubious distinctions to one on Monday night at Busch Stadium. Quietly, very quietly, manager Tony La Russa absorbed his 1,000th loss as Cardinals manager. Little notice was paid as the San Francisco Giants executed a rapid-fire 10-0 takedown before 37,737 at Busch Stadium. At least the home team got a hit ... two, in fact. Giants starting pitcher and reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum (8-2) threatened to make a historic parlay as he carried a perfect game for 4 2/3 innings before center fielder Rick Ankiel lobbed a single to shallow right field. By then, the Giants led 4-0 on a night that offered scant suspense beyond the locals' ..."
Cards duo looks to lead NL into St. Louis
Comment
June 29
MLB.com
 
"It's almost time to uncross your fingers, St. Louis.The dream of having Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols and catcher Yadier Molina start for the National League in this year's All-Star Game at Busch Stadium next month is no longer just a fantasy. It's becoming a reality.Thanks to the votes of the fans, Pujols and Molina are on the verge of suiting up in St. Louis' biggest baseball bash since the Cardinals won the 2006 World Series. The baseball stars are aligning, and while balloting for the July 14 All-Star Game concludes this week, it's not too late to let your click be heard online.In-stadium voting has ended, but fans can still vote online for starters up to 25 times with the 2009 ..."
Twins' Francisco Liriano finds his form in 6-2 win over St. Louis Cardinals
Comment
June 29
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"If he had inflicted another five innings of hell, Francisco Liriano appeared headed to baseball purgatory. But the Twins' prayers were answered Sunday: Liriano pitched like an angel. Liriano, whose spot in the Twins' rotation was probably at stake, forgot about "five innings of living hell" and instead delivered seven innings of triumph, or something close to it, in carrying the Twins to a 6-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Justin Morneau pounded a three-run home run in the first inning, and Brendan Harris knocked in a couple more runs, giving the Twins as many runs in one game as they had in the first two games here combined. But the Twins were obviously happiest about the ..."
Mozeliak goes for contending and retooling
Comment
June 29
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 columnist Jeff Gordon
"Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak proved willing to sacrifice future assets to make the present less tense. "I get beat up a lot - and the organization gets beat up - for not making these short-term decisions," Mozeliak observed Sunday. But acquiring gritty infielder/outfielder Mark DeRosa could actually pay long-term dividends without undermining the organizational reconstruction. Contending and retooling are NOT mutually exclusive concepts. Let's walk through the particulars: -- Although DeRosa could become a free agent after this season, he seems open to making this a longer-term relationship. DeRosa always enjoyed playing against the Cardinals, and he feels a good vibe in ..."
Trade for DeRosa proves Cards are serious about winning
Comment
June 29
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Moments after a loss Sunday, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols paused at the door to the players' lounge and reflected on the previous night's acquisition of former Cleveland Indians infielder-outfielder Mark DeRosa. "I guess we're trying to win," Pujols said. By trading reliever Chris Perez and a player to be named for DeRosa and the remainder of his $5.5 million salary, the Cardinals and general manager John Mozeliak altered their earlier long-term vision to address a team need. "There are times when you have to react to situations that are now," Mozeliak said before the Cardinals took the field for a 6-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins. "There are other times when you can have vision ..."
Khalil Greene likely to go on DL
Comment
June 29
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"The trade of righthanded reliever Chris Perez to Cleveland on Saturday night for Mark DeRosa left the Cardinals with 12 pitchers, and manager Tony La Russa admitted Sunday, "I don't like (12)." Pitching coach Dave Duncan had surmised before Sunday's game that righthander Kyle Lohse, recovering from a strained forearm flexor, might be the 13th pitcher when he returns after one or perhaps two rehab starts. But La Russa said after Sunday's 6-2 loss to Minnesota, a 13th pitcher might come sooner than later. "(Thirteen pitchers) was too good for us," said La Russa. Unfortunately, the roster move that will make this possible, probably as early as today, is one the Cardinals don't want to make. ..."
Bad start leads Piñeiro to ninth loss of season
Comment
June 29
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Joel Piñeiro doesn't feel like the losingest pitcher in baseball - he's actually tied with Cincinnati's Micah Owings at nine losses. And with an excellent 3.44 earned-run average, he shouldn't have to feel that way. Having had three infield errors committed behind him, costing him two unearned runs, Piñeiro lost for the ninth time in his past 11 decisions Sunday as the Minnesota Twins concluded interleague play at Busch Stadium with a 6-2 win over the Cardinals. Oddly, the American League's loss leader, Francisco Liriano, was the opposing pitcher. But the Twins lefthander's loss total remained at eight as Liriano (4-8), once one of the top lefthanders in the American League before elbow ..."
Cardinals expect Mark DeRosa to improve team's output at the plate
Comment
June 29
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Saturday night's acquisition of Mark DeRosa struck his new clubhouse as a welcome move. For DeRosa, it represented an inevitable one. Subject of trade speculation for more than a month, the versatile DeRosa was told a move was pending before Cleveland Indians manager Eric Wedge held him out of Saturday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. DeRosa found out his destination during the game. MORE CARDINALS CARDINAL BEAT: Daily blog of news and notes from spring training BIRD LAND: Derrick Goold's baseball blog SOUND OFF: Cards Talk forum CHATS: Joe Strauss Live P-D PHOTOS: Cardinals galleries P-D VIDEOS: See all the spring training videos P-D STORIES: Last 14 days of Cards coverage "I did think ..."
Brewers asked about DeRosa
Comment
June 28
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
 
"Assistant general manager Gord Ash confirmed Sunday that the Brewers had interest in Cleveland second baseman Mark DeRosa, who was traded to St. Louis in a move that should help the Cardinals greatly in the NL Central race. Ash said general manager Doug Melvin contacted the Indians about DeRosa but didn't have what Cleveland wanted – young, major league-ready pitching. St. Louis sent young reliever Chris Perez and a player to be named to the Indians in the trade. "They didn't feel like we had the type of players they were looking for," said Ash. "The big thing will be who the second player is. I would imagine it's a pretty good player. "(The Cardinals') interest in him is similar to ours – ..."
Padres' Gonzalez outwalks Pujols
Comment
June 28
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 columnist Rick Hummel
"The Cardinals' Albert Pujols almost universally is deemed the most feared hitter in the National League, if not all of baseball. But despite his whopping lead in intentional walks - he's on a record-setting pace - Pujols, strangely, does not lead the National League in total walks. Pujols, who has 24 intentional walks, probably will break the major-league record for intentional walks issued to a righthanded hitter. Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs had 37 in 2001. San Francisco's Barry Bonds, a lefthanded hitter, has set the bar well beyond reach with a staggering 120 walks in 2004, a couple of years after dangerous Jeff Kent, who used to hit behind Bonds, had moved on to Houston. But the ..."
Deal set for young outfielder
Comment
June 28
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"The Cardinals and representatives for 16-year-old Dominican outfielder Wagner Mateo have agreed in principal on a signing bonus that would make Mateo the franchise's highest-priced amateur acquisition out of the Caribbean, according to sources familiar with the situation. Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak refused to confirm a deal being in place, citing baseball's prohibition against officially signing players out of the Caribbean until July 2. But sources insist the Cardinals have swayed the 6-foot-1 player with an offer worth about $3.1 million. ESPN Deportes also reported a deal being in place Friday afternoon. Mozeliak returned last week from a trip to the Dominican to attend a ..."
Cardinals' Khalil Greene out again due to anxiety relapse
Comment
June 28
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Infielder Khalil Greene was absent from the lineup for a second straight game Saturday after experiencing what the club hopes is only a temporary setback in his battle against an anxiety-related disorder. Greene was hitless in 13 consecutive at-bats against the New York Mets last week; frustration over his performance apparently played a part Thursday in him again showing symptoms of the condition. Manager Tony La Russa said that he might start Greene today in the Cardinals' series finale against the Minnesota Twins. He also denied Greene's difficulty in New York prevented him from being used as a late-inning defensive replacement Saturday. Greene wasn't available for comment following ..."
Cardinals' Ryan Franklin eyes a closer role in All-Star Game
Comment
June 28
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"The Cardinals are all but certain to send first baseman and two-time league MVP Albert Pujols to his eighth All-Star Game and Gold Glove catcher Yadier Molina to his first when they host next month's midsummer classic at Busch Stadium. Chris Carpenter, who started the 2005 All-Star Game in Detroit before winning that year's NL Cy Young Award, can cite worthy credentials this season that begin with a 5-2 record and a 1.78 ERA. Ryan Franklin wants to be in the discussion as well. Actually, Franklin wants very much to be part of the two-day festival and the game that swears, "This Time, it Counts." "It would mean a lot. I'm not going to sit here and pretend to downplay it. I'd be very proud ..."
Redbirds get DeRosa in trade
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June 28
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Moving decisively to add an offensive jolt to their listing lineup and another option at third base, the Cardinals acquired Mark DeRosa from the Cleveland Indians late Saturday night. To acquire the veteran and his 50 RBIs this season the Cardinals sent to Cleveland big-league reliever Chris Perez, who long had been viewed as the Cardinals' closer of future. DeRosa is expected to be in St. Louis in time for Sunday's series finale against the Minnesota Twins, and the club plans a noon press conference at Busch Stadium to formally introduce the newest Redbird. "The way I look at it is we accomplished several of the things that we set out to do - we added some consistent offense, a ..."
Cardinals bash Twins 5-3 at Busch
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June 28
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Albert Pujols watched some hitting videos Saturday morning. Because of that, the Cardinals replayed their recent formula for success. Extending a run rapidly nearing historic proportions, Pujols again boosted his team's offense within an unusual but most welcome 5-3 win Saturday over the Minnesota Twins. Pujols reached Twins starting pitcher Kevin Slowey (10-3) for a two-run home run worth a 2-0 first inning lead, then hit another two-run shot in the third inning when the Cardinals turned a 3-2 deficit into a 5-3 lead. Pujols' barrage came six days after he went on a similar rampage for six RBIs in Kansas City. Saturday's power display extended his major league lead in home runs and RBIs, ..."
DeRosa deal elicits mixed feelings
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June 28
MLB.com
 
"On the one hand, the Cubs players were happy to hear that Mark DeRosa was back in the National League Central. But he's playing for the wrong team. "I think it [stinks]," Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot said of the deal that sent DeRosa from the Cleveland Indians to the St. Louis Cardinals for Chris Perez and a player to be named. DeRosa played two seasons with the Cubs, and was one of the most versatile -- and some would say most valuable -- players on the team, which won two division titles those years. But now he'll be playing for their Central rivals, who have a 3 1/2-game lead over the Cubs. "He's going to the Cardinals," Theriot said Sunday. "What do you want me to say? 'It's good? I'm ..."
For La Russa, it's always about the winning - still
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June 28
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Twenty years later, Tony La Russa still has a unique connection with the 1989 A's. "One of the neat things that happens, especially when you share a championship, whether it's a West division in '83 (with the White Sox) or what we did with the A's or here in St. Louis, you form a special bond you keep forever," La Russa said. "We remain friends. And I remain in touch with a lot of those guys." Tuesday night, two days after La Russa became the third manager to win 2,500 games, following legends Connie Mack and John McGraw, the A's held a reunion at the Coliseum for his '89 team that had too many holes and begged for some higher-ranking perspective. La Russa could have given it, but he was ..."
After losing nine of 11, Tribe trades DeRosa to St. Louis Cardinals
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June 28
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Mark DeRosa was handed a get-out-of-jail-free card Saturday night. The Indians traded DeRosa to the St. Louis Cardinals for right-handed reliever Chris Perez and a player to be named. The transaction was announced shortly after the Tribe's 7-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds at Progressive Field. Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro said it was finalized during the game. Nothing like the trade of a quality player to distract from another defeat. The Indians slipped to 31-45, last in the AL Central. The Cardinals are 41-35 after a victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday. They are nose-to-nose with the Milwaukee Brewers (40-34) at the top of the NL Central. DeRosa, acquired from the ..."
Gardy not mimicking La Russa
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June 27
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Cardinals manager Tony La Russa likes to bat his pitcher eighth in the order. That way, the No. 9 hitter has a chance to be on base for Albert Pujols, who normally is the No. 3 hitter. La Russa also feels the No. 9 hitter can be like a second leadoff hitter. And the Cardinals have, at times, scored more runs that way than with the pitcher batting ninth. So while Cardinals rigthander Adam Wainwright was penciled in as the No. 8 hitter on Friday, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was asked if he would ever do that. "I don't want to take the time and go, 'Tony, why are we doing this?'" Gardenhire said with a chuckle. "I don't want to hurt my brain any more. "He understands this league. He has been ..."