The Cardinal Nation blog

The man behind the Mark McGwire media plan has lost a couple of high-profile gigs.

Long-time St. Louis Cardinals scout received his profession’s highest honor.

St. Louis Cardinals prospects stack up very differently when looking at potential contribution at the major league level this season.

The St. Louis Cardinals’ GM isn’t considered by a Sports Illustrated writer to be among the top half in his field.

Joe Torre recounts the story of how the Yankees wanted him as GM and Tony La Russa as manager back in October 1995. Imagine how the MLB landscape might have changed.

The name of the venerable author and humorist may be added to the highway currently honoring the former St. Louis Cardinals slugger.

Having last pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals in October, John Smoltz was in the news this weekend – on the political pages.

In an odd twist, the wrong McGwire may turn out to be the family’s anti-steroid spokesman.

St. Louis Cardinals prospect Mark Hamilton may be just as blocked in the outfield as he is at his natural position, first base.

Jay McGwire’s book is coming out. Here is hoping his family members aren’t actually surprised.

Reaction to MLB’s new weapons policy beyond St. Louis Cardinal Ryan Franklin’s widely-reported remarks.

Stan Musial isn’t the oldest or even second-oldest former St. Louis Cardinals player living. The latter is the relatively-unknown Freddie Schmidt.

The St. Louis Cardinals coaching staff is full of former middle infielders, starting with the manager.

A look at St. Louis Cardinals second base non-roster invitees over the last five seasons.

A series of short news items including a serious plea with a bit of self-promotion sprinkled in.

Former Giants media relations director labels any plan “naïve” that keeps Mark McGwire from answering further questions about his past.

What might the St. Louis Cardinals have seen in the second base market next year had they not locked up Skip Schumaker for 2011?

Recent remarks by Tony La Russa rekindle questions about his post-managing future.

Trying to make the St. Louis Cardinals rotation in 2010, Kyle McClellan’s results in his first two major league camps were dramatically different.

Wanting to set the record straight about his contract status, the Cardinals first baseman takes his story directly to the fans.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Erroneous news on a supposed new Matt Holliday offer from the St. Louis Cardinals is amplified all over cyberspace before being pulled.

Why might both Scott Boras and the St. Louis Cardinals consider a shorter-term contact for free agent Matt Holliday?

Is Mark DeRosa’s reported two year, $12 million deal with the San Francisco Giants out of line with the market? If not, why didn’t the St. Louis Cardinals jump in?

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.

Why has Mark McGwire’s coming out party remained in his most familiar place – limboland?

St. Louis 2009-drafted outfielder Tyler Bighames tests positive for drug of abuse.

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

The agent of former Cardinals outfielder Chris Duncan is making some interesting claims.

The MLB Players Association plays a powerful, but almost-invisible role in placement of top free agents.

There may be something for Matt Holliday to learn from this week’s Johnny Damon saga and a similar story from over two decades ago.

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

Can the St. Louis Cardinals learn anything from a dissection of the New York Yankees’ 2008 pursuit of Mark Teixeira?

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

The St. Louis Cardinals are getting to the point where they need to force Scott Boras to declare his hand regarding Matt Holliday.

An errant tweet pre-announced a new MLB initiative. You can get in on the ground floor.

A pair of former big bats from the Colorado Rockies are now free agents. The St. Louis Cardinals are thinking about at least one of them.

The St. Louis Cardinals are experiencing some extra spice in their Holliday cooking due to an unwanted touch of Bay while the GM puts the heat on the super agent.

Passed over in the Hall of Fame veterans committee vote was the winningest St. Louis Cardinals owner ever, Sam Breadon.

Rather than retiring the number of every new Hall of Famer, the St. Louis Cardinals need a two-tiered system.

Whitey Herzog and the other six most-winning St. Louis Cardinals managers in club history are either in or locks for the Hall of Fame.

Why is the Matt Holliday contract situation causing heightened emotions across Cardinal Nation?

St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguer Jefferson Segundo receives a 50-day suspension, the second from the organization since the season ended, fifth in 2009 and 16th in the last five years.

Recent comments attributed to management and the union are positive, but will they actually get to work on it?

A quick look at several St. Louis Cardinals prospect-related items.

Minnesota’s Joe Mauer missed the first month and won the AL MVP in a landslide while Chris Carpenter lost the NL Cy Young Award because he missed 30 games.

Using an MVP-like scoring system for the Cy Young Award keeps Tim Lincecum on top.

St. Louis minor league hitting master Dan Radison is moving to the Washington Nationals as their first base coach.

Would a hypothetical expansion of the 2009 National League Cy Young Award vote to five places have changed the winner?

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Colby Rasmus made an appearance in the 2009 National League Rookie of the Year voting.

A collection of recent St. Louis Cardinals-related links of interest with a little commentary sprinkled in.

The St. Louis Cardinals owner during a record period of prosperity is being considered for election to Baseball’s Hall of Fame.

St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa reportedly declined an offer from the Washington Nationals to interview for their managerial job.

Former Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog is again up for Veterans Committee voting for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Toronto has made a habit of claiming former Cardinals off the waiver wire. Could the two rekindle trade talks, too?

St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer Lou Brock is currently auctioning off 78 memorabilia items.

Intended only as fun, this award has been created to honor the highest level of hitting futility by a St. Louis Cardinals pitcher in a season.

Looking at past good-hitting pitchers on the St. Louis Cardinals.

Creating a new award to recognize the best-hitting St. Louis Cardinals pitcher during the previous season.

Many items owned by the late Cardinals outfielder Curt Flood will soon be sold at auction.

A collection of recent St. Louis Cardinals-related links of interest with a little commentary sprinkled in.

How many awards will Albert Pujols take home this season?

How much playing time did those called up from Memphis to St. Louis actually receive in the final days of the 2009 season?

Why might Bud Selig be looking at Mark McGwire differently than he does at Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez?

Two former Cleveland stars face off Wednesday night for other teams while the Cardinals’ aces are under contract at least three more seasons.

Summarizing the trenches dug over the return of Mark McGwire.

Matt Holliday’s Oakland results following Mark McGwire’s winter instruction leave some major questions as to its effectiveness.

Will Mark McGwire become the next St. Louis Cardinals’ hitting coach? Could he do it without shedding his considerable personal baggage first?

A collection of recent St. Louis Cardinals-related links of interest with a little commentary mixed in.

It looks like a number of big money teams will get in on the Matt Holliday chase. Every one decreases the Cardinals’ dwindling chances of retaining him.

Comparing and contrasting Mark McGwire’s recent comments about Albert Pujols’ value with a famous 2001 interview critical of escalating MLB player salaries.

Two former Cardinals take new jobs a bit closer to their ex-home.