The Cardinal Nation blog

A look back at the top projected stories across the Cardinal Nation in 2009 from one year ago.

The addition of Mark DeRosa, then Matt Holliday defined the 2009 St. Louis Cardinals season.

It is once again time for my view of the top 20 stores across the St. Louis Cardinals Nation during this past year.

One report has St. Louis Cardinals second base prospect Daniel Descalso joining the spring third base scrum, but it seems an isolated thought.

The continued greatness of Albert Pujols was not taken for granted as he earned his third NL Most Valuable Player Award in 2009.

New and changed uniform numbers for players invited to St. Louis Cardinals major league spring training.

A search through baseball history is underway to identify a most unusual Stan Musial photo.

Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright led the St. Louis Cardinals pitching staff all season long but fell short in individual recognition.

Diffusing the ongoing outrage over Mark McGwire may require a clarification of the end objective.

For the ongoing services of outfielder Matt Holliday, the St. Louis Cardinals and agent Scott Boras carried out an intricate dance for months.

The 2009 St. Louis Cardinals won their division handily, but carried a final-month slump into a quick post-season exit.

Working together, the manager and GM brought great results for the 2009 St. Louis Cardinals.

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright tells those who value baserunners more than runs scored where they can stick their views.

Just as his Cardinals centerfield predecessor Ray Lankford did, Jim Edmonds wants to return after a year out of the game.

The St. Louis Cardinals wouldn’t have to wait until their arbitration cases are settled to make their next move, but they may have good reasons for doing so.

Preliminary spring training television and radio plans for the 2010 St. Louis Cardinals.

Will Brad Penny become the 2010 St. Louis Cardinals’ version of 2009’s Joel Pineiro, the unsung hero?

Just as when Mark McGwire spoke out, St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa is catching considerable heat for what he said and did not say.

A big question turned into a strength of the 2009 Cardinals as Ryan Franklin seized the closer’s job and solidified the bullpen.

In a major surprise, former slugger Mark McGwire was introduced in October as the club’s new hitting coach, and in early 2010, stepped out of the shadows.

One aspect of Mark McGwire’s tearful interview on MLB Network is a stumbling block to many – his view of the impact of steroids on his results.

Autograph prices at the St. Louis Cardinals fan event, Winter Warm-Up, demonstrate an appreciation of the down economy.

After the St. Louis Cardinals ate the final year of Adam Kennedy’s contract, they turned second base over to neophyte Skip Schumaker – and it worked!

If the Cardinals ever reach the point of considering the unthinkable, trading Albert Pujols, Mark Teixeira’s history provides an important lesson.

McGwire story and association with Yardbarker leads to national exposure for Cardinals-oriented blog.

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa wants Mark McGwire to become a late-season pinch-hitter and expects him in St. Louis next weekend.

Why the conditions may be right for the St. Louis Cardinals to move to lock up Albert Pujols.

Now that the Cardinals have agreed to terms with outfielder Matt Holliday on a record-setting new contract, is the jury in on the big trade that brought him to St. Louis in the first place?

Already suspended for drug use, Cardinals outfield prospect is arrested for DUI and other violations.

Eight different players had a piece of the St. Louis Cardinals’ starting third base job in 2009. None of them did much of anything with it.

Initial impressions of strengths and weaknesses of using Twitter for baseball-related news.

Trying to return from disc replacement surgery in his neck proved to be too much for Chris Duncan, who was traded to Boston in late July for middle infielder Julio Lugo in a move that unearthed a number of issues.

The youngest Triple-A and Double-A clubs in baseball both made the playoffs, the first time that was accomplished by Cardinals’ clubs in a quarter of a century.

Whitey Herzog, the leader of the 1980’s St. Louis Cardinals, was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame.