The Cardinal Nation blog

Brian Walton’s look back at the biggest stories across the St. Louis Cardinal Nation during 2008 continues with those ranked six through ten.

On Tuesday, starting at 10:00 a.m. Central, MLB.com is running a free replay of the St. Louis Cardinals Game 7 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in the 1982 World Series. Where were you, Cards fans?

Brian Walton’s look back at the biggest stories across the St. Louis Cardinal Nation during 2008 continues with those ranked 11 through 15.

During the 2008 regular season, the St. Louis Cardinals called up eleven different players from the minors for their first exposure to the big leagues, the most in the Tony La Russa era.

St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Adam Kennedy had laser eye surgery last off-season. Did it matter? Should it?

Mark Teixeira’s signing with the New York Yankees means the biggest spending club in baseball is set at first base for the next eight seasons. Albert Pujols is tied to the St. Louis Cardinals for only the next three.

Or Happy Chanukah / Ramadan / Kwanzaa / Festivus! Enjoy your Holiday season, in whatever manner you celebrate it. Thank you for being some of the initial visitors to this site, still not yet two weeks old. Please also consider using this opportunity to make a quick reply to say “hello” and share Season’s Greetings. [...]

The St. Louis Cardinals would be better off if free agent left-hander Odalis Perez lands in the National League Central – with one of their competitors!

A look back at the biggest stories across the St. Louis Cardinal Nation during 2008 begins with numbers 16 through 20.

Former St. Louis Cardinals minor league player and coach Todd Steverson has been named first base coach for the Oakland A’s.

The St. Louis Cardinals have signed a pair of minor league relievers, right-hander Luis Orozco from Colombia and Venezuelan lefty Julio Castellano.

Former St. Louis Cardinals Mark Mulder, Jim Edmonds and Braden Looper are in the news as all three search for new 2009 homes.

St. Louis Cardinals execs Jeff Luhnow and Moises Rodriguez fill in gaps in the story of troubled and well-traveled Japanese LHP Katsuhiko Maekawa, recently signed by the club.

St. Louis Cardinals prospect P.J. Walters further improves his stock with a solid pitching performance in the Puerto Rican Winter League.

The St. Louis Cardinals have reportedly signed LHP Katsuhiko Maekawa to a minor league contract.

A family Holiday debate led to a surprising conclusion about the recent contribution levels of two Japanese outfielders, one a St. Louis Cardinals reserve from a few years back and the other a Chicago Cubs starter in 2008.

The parent of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Lee Enterprises, Inc. is on the verge of bankruptcy. They also own a minority stake in the St. Louis Cardinals.

The St. Louis Cardinals are considering a pair of 33-year-old Japanese free agent pitchers that are outside of the expensive posting process, Kenshin Kawakami and Koji Uehara.

I reported the St. Louis Cardinals signing of Justin Knoedler almost a month ago. Everyone else finally realized it yesterday. Shameless commercial follows…

As the St. Louis Cardinals increase their brick and mortar investment in Venezuela, the Houston Astros are bailing out.

Their Rochester saviors lost over $250,000 running the Batavia Muckdogs in 2008. While there are plans to try to fix that in 2009, the losses can’t continue.

The St. Louis Cardinals signed “Joey Ballgame”, Joe Thurston, to a minor league deal so their middle infield problems are solved. Well, not exactly. Instead, what we seem to have here is the 2009 version of D’Angelo Jimenez – without the major league service time.

The cost of acquiring Brian Fuentes or any other Type A free agent went up due to the Cardinals’ decision to not offer Braden Looper arbitration. Is it part of a bigger plan?

The St. Louis Cardinals seem to be pushing special ticket deals more furiously than ever before. Is the economy a factor?

Mark Mulder is supposedly making progress in his recovery. The St. Louis Cardinals should run screaming in the other direction. Better yet, they should encourage the Cincinnati Reds to get into the game for the perennially-rehabbing lefty. It seems only fitting.

Former St. Louis infielder Ken Oberkfell remains loyal to the New York Mets as many Cardinals fans remain loyal to him.

Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle is not counting the St. Louis Cardinals out of the 2009 National League Central race, though he sees the local Astros at risk of hitting bottom.

The St. Louis Cardinals did not offer contracts to lefty relievers Randy Flores and Tyler Johnson, making them free agents, saving money and opening roster spots. Infielder Aaron Miles was also cut loose. Could the Twins and Nick Punto (pictured) partially be to blame? How might the Cards fill the openings?

Brian Walton relives the loss of Anthony Reyes as the St. Louis Cardinals lose Luis Perdomo and Cody Haerther and add Russ Haltiwanger in the Rule 5 Draft.

Albert Pujols and the Dominican Republic World Baseball Classic team will train near the St. Louis Cardinals in Jupiter, Florida and will play each other in a March 5 exhibition.

Brian Walton’s responses to reader questions submitted via email. (Click on the page title, “Cardinals Mailbag”, to view the mail items and responses.)

Brian Walton notes the St. Louis Cardinals are saving money by re-using minor league uniforms.

Brian Walton relays Cody Haerther’s goodbye to St. Louis Cardinals fans as he moves to Toronto via the Rule 5 Draft.

Brian Walton is wondering if St. Louis Cardinals reliever Randy Flores will be given his walking papers on Friday.

Brian Walton looks in on the relationship between St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and top prospect Colby Rasmus.

Lists of some of the top current St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers and past major leaguers. (Remember to click on the title to see the entire post.)

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