The Cardinal Nation blog

A look ahead to the top projected stories across the Cardinal Nation in 2010.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

No one could have predicted how the shortstop position would have evolved for the 2009 St. Louis Cardinals.

The 2009 St. Louis Cardinals’ centerfield featured a transition from the veteran to the kid along with some interesting twists.

The St. Louis Cardinals again added a future Hall of Fame pitcher nearing the end of his career but it didn’t end like in 1926.

The St. Louis Cardinals ventured into unfamiliar territory when making their first-round pick in the 2009 draft.

Major changes occurred among the Cardinals minor league coaching ranks following an uneven 2009 season.

The sweetest amateur free agent signing in St. Louis Cardinals team history quickly went sour.

Some believe St. Louis Cardinals prospects are overvalued internally and are untouchable via trade. Others are reluctant to paint with such a wide brush.

David Freese, the early leader to take the interim third base job for the St. Louis Cardinals, is slowed by injuries resulting from a January car accident.

The final article in Brian Walton’s series looking back at the biggest stories across the St. Louis Cardinal Nation during 2008 and now, looking ahead to 2009.

Brian Walton’s look back at the biggest stories across the St. Louis Cardinal Nation during 2008 continues with the top five.

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

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

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

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.)