The Cardinal Nation blog

Completing his first decade as the on-field leader of the St. Louis Cardinals, first baseman Albert Pujols racked up a series of milestones during 2010.

The long-time manager-pitching coach duo will be back leading the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011 despite a difficult 2010.

On consecutive days in late May, starters Brad Penny and Kyle Lohse went down with injuries that would wreck their personal seasons and arguably that of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Performance on the field in 2010 seemed to confirm the passing of the torch of ‘the ace of the St. Louis Cardinals’ from Chris Carpenter to Adam Wainwright.

2010 was a big year for the greatest St. Louis Cardinal ever, Stan Musial.

The St. Louis Cardinals experienced both highs and lows during a series sweep in Cincinnati on August 9-11.

The St. Louis Cardinals added veteran Lance Berkman to be their 2011 right fielder.

Rookie left-hander Jaime Garcia surged onto the scene for the St. Louis Cardinals, winning 13 games and finishing third in the National League Rookie of the Year vote.

Whitey Herzog entered Baseball’s Hall of Fame and his number was retired by the St. Louis Cardinals in July.

Middle infield play was a major concern for the 2010 St. Louis Cardinals. Not everyone is comfortable with the changes made for 2011.

Third base was a major problem for the St. Louis Cardinals for the second consecutive season.

Starting in June, the St. Louis Cardinals called on five minor league castoffs with below-average results.

The St. Louis Cardinals’ first pick in the 2010 draft received near-record money and a major league contract.

The St. Louis Cardinals’ second-year outfielder went through some bumps and bruises on and off the field.

The St. Louis Cardinals’ former slugger became their hitting coach, apologized for the past, and moved ahead.

The Cardinals promoted a new farm director and filled key open positions following a minor league season of improvement on the field.

The St. Louis Cardinals fired their bullpen coach and promoted his replacement from within.

Annual series looking back at the top news items affecting the St. Louis Cardinals over the previous 12 months.

Autograph prices at the St. Louis Cardinals fan event, Winter Warm-Up, are generally flat to slightly down for 2011.

Considering the candidacies of four former St. Louis Cardinals on the 2011 Hall of Fame ballot.

Looking at ERA+ marks by the St. Louis Cardinals’ top three pitchers over the Albert Pujols years.

Looking at OPS+ marks by the St. Louis Cardinals’ top three hitters over the Albert Pujols years.

How does the current middle of the St. Louis Cardinals lineup compare to their 2004 predecessors?

The St. Louis Cardinals are reportedly remaking Colby Rasmus into a 175-pound opposite-field slash-and-run hitter.

Looking for clues as to the most likely batting order for the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals.

A series of quick updates on St. Louis Cardinals subjects currently in the news.

The St. Louis Cardinals have made a pair of changes to their starting lineup for 2011, in the outfield and at shortstop. What might the impact be?

Which St. Louis Cardinals players may benefit or suffer from the club’s recent roster moves?

The St. Louis Cardinals appear to be shopping shortstop Brendan Ryan, but will he generate trade interest?

How MLB managerial openings were filled and how St. Louis Cardinals third base coach Jose Oquendo stacked up.

Why would a former commissioner want Major League Baseball players to push for team ownership shares?

An imaginary conversation about the St. Louis Cardinals’ new left-handed reliever, Brian Tallet – using real facts.

A series of quick updates on St. Louis Cardinals subjects currently in the news.

Identifying how efficient each team had to be with its money to reach the playoffs and the cost efficiency of individual St. Louis Cardinals players.

One columnist suggests the St. Louis Cardinals should sign Derek Jeter to replace Albert Pujols.

Looking at WAR and player salaries to determine which players helped and hurt the 2010 St. Louis Cardinals.

Looking at WAR and player payrolls to determine which clubs got their money’s worth.

Intended only in fun, this award honors the highest level of hitting futility by a St. Louis Cardinals pitcher in a season.

The Boston Red Sox shrewdly saw a compensation draft pick in a player the St. Louis Cardinals simply wanted to be rid of.

The St. Louis Cardinals placed seven prospects on their 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 draft, more than 27 organizations. Does it mean anything?

Adam Wainwright again takes our annual recognition for the top hitting performance by a St. Louis Cardinals pitcher.

Relative newcomer to social media rates among top independent sports bloggers using Twitter.

The St. Louis Cardinals full system roster view reflects changes made during the entire 2010-11 off-season.

Major League Baseball’s plan to add two wild cards may be off the table for 2011, but is far from dead.

According to a media report, the Florida Marlins expected Colby Rasmus from the St. Louis Cardinals in return for Dan Uggla.

A series of quick updates on St. Louis Cardinals subjects currently in the news.

Even considering a trade for Florida’s Dan Uggla would require a major change in strategy for the St. Louis Cardinals, but it has been done before.

Two former St. Louis Cardinals infielders with ties to the Mets are among the candidates for the open New York managerial job. Do they have a chance?

It is big news when Cardinals outfielder Colby Rasmus buys a new house – simply because it is in St. Louis!

With 21 Gold Glove Awards over the last ten years, the St. Louis Cardinals almost doubled the next closest team and added another 13 Sliver Slugger Awards.

The St. Louis Cardinals look to upgrade at shortstop over second base for 2011.

The St. Louis Cardinals have only six minor league free agents this year. What might that tell us?

The St. Louis Cardinals will be taking on their Double-A club in Springfield, MO on March 29.

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols now says he wants to get a new contract done before the 2011 season begins.

A quick look back at brief time one of baseball’s greatest managers spent in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

Could the St. Louis Cardinals’ chance of keeping Albert Pujols beyond 2011 be heading south?

Do the colorful necklaces worn by professional athletes meet their manufacturer’s claims?

Is it better for a team to spend its entire payroll budget early or hold some in reserve?

The top-ranked free agent from the St. Louis Cardinals has already been released.

Word that St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Colby Rasmus is selling his St. Louis-area home fans trade speculation flames for some.

There is a lot of buzz about soon-to-be free agent infielder Miguel Tejada possibly heading to St. Louis. No one is talking about a major fly in the ointment, however.

Word is that the White Sox are targeting St. Louis Cardinals centerfielder Colby Rasmus in trade, with Chicago offering a player with a very familiar profile and red flags attached.

Questioning reasons assigned to focus areas for the St. Louis Cardinals minor league system.

Rochester is back to manage the still-for-sale Batavia Muckdogs for 2011, but none of the underlying financial problems have changed.

Calling out a pair of interesting articles about the St. Louis Cardinals star player and his former teammate (along with his current manager, sort of).

Looking at when the 2010 St. Louis Cardinals’ offense scored their runs indicates an increased number of blowouts compared to 2009.

The indefinite waiting to learn of future plans has moved from the manager of St. Louis Cardinals to pitching coach Dave Duncan.

News from the St. Louis Cardinals Class A affiliate in the Quad Cities includes a key job opening and release of their 2011 schedule.

Comparing the year-to-year change in the St. Louis Cardinals offensive results from 2009 to 2010 to the National League as a whole.

Comparing Mark McGwire’s 2010 St. Louis Cardinals offense to Hal McRae’s 2009 version shows six more runs scored but a 6% drop in home runs.

The St. Louis Cardinals have decided upon their manager for 2011, but three coaching positions remain unsettled.

Performance of his relief pitchers was not the reason the St. Louis Cardinals fired bullpen coach Marty Mason.

A signal from the St. Louis Cardinals camp that hitting coach Mark McGwire may not return in 2011.

A quick look at two proposals to expand Major League Baseball’s Wild Cards.

One theory suggests Tony La Russa should not sign a one-year contract to return to the St. Louis Cardinals. I disagree with the logic.

An apparent typo in a service time date has led to an incorrect conclusion on several prominent sites.

A group of 36 contracts to go on the block includes ones signed by seven St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famers.

Is St. Louis Cardinals third base coach Jose Oquendo a good candidate to move up?

Another talented outfielder from the past was traded away by the St. Louis Cardinals.

Sporting News magazine has taken on the task of ranking cities based on sporting success.

A rash of managerial ejections highlights poor umpiring decisions helping to decide MLB playoff games.

Wondering from where and why the recent trade rumors about St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Colby Rasmus originated.

Former Memphis and St. Louis second baseman Jarrett Hoffpauir has moved from Toronto to San Diego.

In a surprise, second baseman Daniel Descalso became the late-season third baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Links to four St. Louis Cardinals major and minor league schedules already released for 2011.

Some statistical highlights and just-misses in another stellar season for St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols.

On Saturday, St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday hit his sixth last at-bat game-winning hit since August 2009.

Friday night’s suicide squeeze by Matt Pagnozzi was the St. Louis Cardinals’ first in three years.

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter collected his 17th complete game for the club, the most over the last decade, but few compared to past greats.

Toronto’s outgoing manager Cito Gaston doesn’t have much good to say about Tony La Russa.

Catch FOX Sports Midwest’s live and interactive chat during Wednesday afternoon’s St. Louis Cardinals game. Join our discussion!

How might the record deal for Texas Rangers television rights affect the St. Louis Cardinals?

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols continues to put his name among MLB’s greats, this time for combined seasons of 40 home runs and 115 RBI.

There is a much better chance that the commissioner of Major League Baseball might actually share some valuable information if asked a few tough questions.

Albert Pujols is competing with some of baseball’s greatest ever as he compiled his sixth 40 home run season in 2010.

Catch FOX Sports Midwest’s live and interactive chat during Friday afternoon’s St. Louis Cardinals game. Join our discussion!

How much might Jason LaRue’s injury have affected Cardinals minor league results?

With nine games to go vs. NL Central this season, the St. Louis Cardinals are on track to post a rare losing divisional record.

Albert Pujols already has more 36 doubles-36 home run seasons than anyone in MLB history.

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina did something that has only been accomplished 25 times in 90 years.