The Cardinal Nation blog

A look ahead to the top projected stories across the Cardinal Nation in 2013.

A look back at the top projected stories across the Cardinal Nation in 2012 from one year ago.

In the 2012 National League Division Series, the St. Louis Cardinals came back to defeat the favored Washington Nationals.

Needing just one win to return to the World Series, the St. Louis Cardinals lost three straight to San Francisco in the National League Championship Series.

In the first-ever National League Wild Card game, the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Atlanta Braves on the road.

Veteran St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina continues to improve each season. 2012 was no exception.

Veteran right-hander Kyle Lohse made what appears to be his final St. Louis Cardinals season a memorable one.

On November 13, 2011, Mike Matheny was named as the new manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, replacing retired Tony La Russa. While his club was unable to repeat as World Champions, the 42-year-old had a solid first season in the job. Prior to his hire, Matheny had been a special assistant to general manager [...]

Two young St. Louis Cardinals players assumed major roles for the 2012 playoff-bound club, centerfielder Jon Jay and first baseman Allen Craig.

Another major contributor to the St. Louis Cardinals 2011 World Championship missed most of 2012 due to a series of injuries.

The St. Louis Cardinals relied heavily on Chris Carpenter in 2011, but the veteran right-hander was unavailable for much of 2012.

St. Louis Cardinals had five selections in the first round of the 2012 draft, their most in over two decades.

In his first year in the St. Louis Cardinals’ rotation, second-year pitcher Lance Lynn led his team in victories.

The St. Louis Cardinals ninth-inning relief situation changed 180 degrees between 2011 and 2012.

The 2012 St. Louis Cardinals made an under-the-radar trade at the deadline that met their needs perfectly, adding reliever Edward Mujica.

The 2012 St. Louis Cardinals had a surprise standout at shortstop during the final weeks of the season – former first-rounder Pete Kozma.

Twice, rookie right-hander Joe Kelly moved into the rotation for others and delivered for the 2012 St. Louis Cardinals.

The St. Louis Cardinals’ top prospect made his major league debut in September.

The St. Louis Cardinals’ hitting coach and former star left one home for another with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The St. Louis Cardinals’ Double-A affiliate in Springfield, MO took home its first Texas League title.

The St. Louis Cardinals changed two Class-A affiliates for the 2013 and 2014 seasons, returning to familiar locations.

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

Seven lower-odds storylines possibly ahead for the 2012 St. Louis Cardinals. Or not.

Readers vote to select their top stories of the year for the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals.

A look ahead to the top projected stories across the Cardinal Nation in 2012.

A look back at the top projected stories across the Cardinal Nation in 2011 from one year ago.

In 2011, the underdog St. Louis Cardinals won their 11th championship of Major League Baseball.

St. Louis Cardinals’ superstar first baseman Albert Pujols left behind his only home as a professional for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

The St. Louis Cardinals’ managerial stability has ended with the retirement of Tony La Russa.

No team in history overcame a Wild Card deficit of 10 or more games to win the World Series – until the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals did it.

The St. Louis Cardinals defeated NL Central rival and 2011 Division champion Milwaukee Brewers in the Championship Series.

The St. Louis Cardinals have a new manager and several new coaches, ushering in a new era for the defending champions.

How important was the Colby Rasmus trade in helping the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals become World Champions?

Long-time Houston Astros star Lance Berkman enjoyed a career revitalization in St. Louis in 2011.

St. Louis Cardinals’ third baseman David Freese won the Most Valuable Player Award in both the National League Championship Series and the World Series.

Three young position players made significant contributions along the way to the St. Louis Cardinals’ 2011 World Series title.

Three rookie pitchers not on the roster to open the season contributed to the St. Louis Cardinals World Championship push.

How many clubs could lose one of their top two starters for the entire season and still win the World Series? The 2011 St. Louis Cardinals could and did.

The St. Louis Cardinals starting middle infielders to begin 2011 did not last the season, with more change likely for 2012.

Four veteran relievers began the 2011 season with the St. Louis Cardinals but they did not perform and were soon gone, replaced by younger men.

Eight different relievers collected saves and four of them lost the closers job, but the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals secured the conversions when they were needed the most.

The St. Louis Cardinals catcher had his top year as a hitter, though his defensive metrics were down. Oh yeah, his team won the World Series and he is heading toward free agency.

The St. Louis Cardinals and their veteran rotation anchor have good reasons to stay together for two more seasons.

The St. Louis Cardinals locked up their most promising young major league pitcher for as many as six years into the future.

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

A look ahead to the top projected stories across the Cardinal Nation in 2011.

The top stories of the year for the 2010 St. Louis Cardinals as selected by the readers of this blog.

A look back at the top projected stories across the Cardinal Nation in 2010 from one year ago.

Readers complete their selection of top stories of the year for the 2010 St. Louis Cardinals.

Readers select their top stories of the year for the 2010 St. Louis Cardinals.

Readers select their top stories of the year for the 2010 St. Louis Cardinals.

Readers select their top stories of the year for the 2010 St. Louis Cardinals.

The St. Louis Cardinals were expected to repeat as division-winners in 2010. Instead, they missed the playoffs entirely.

Though agent Scott Boras took Matt Holliday into free agency one year ago, the outfielder returned to the St. Louis Cardinals via the biggest contract team history.

The Ryan Ludwick for Jake Westbrook trade was one of the biggest and arguably the most surprising story of the St. Louis Cardinals’ 2010 season.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.)