The Cardinal Nation blog

Game scores put recent St. Louis Cardinals pitching dominance of Shelby Miller and Adam Wainwright into historical perspective.

The current closer of the St. Louis Cardinals, Edward Mujica, is eligible to become a free agent following this season.

Is it a bad thing for some to compare new St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Seth Maness with another former Cardinals hurler, Brad Thompson?

The St. Louis Cardinals stellar set up man in 2012 lost his interim closer job and now is struggling in his old role. A former major leaguer offers his feelings as to why.

Former Brewers pitcher Zack Greinke wishes he had not made critical comments about St. Louis pitcher Chris Carpenter before the 2011 NLCS.

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina’s new record label has established a web presence.

A look back at every opening day pitcher in the 16-year history of the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds.

Meet St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Joe Kelly at the St. Louis Sports Co on Thursday, April 11 and win a free autographed 8×10 photo here at The Cardinal Nation blog!

The St. Louis Cardinals catcher is entering the music business.

Why Matt Adams should be the biggest backer of defensive success by Matt Carpenter and Daniel Descalso with St. Louis.

Just 10 games into spring training, St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny is almost ready to declare his fifth starter.

Spring pitching phenom Michael Wacha would likely not be a St. Louis Cardinal had Albert Pujols remained.

Despite a lot of activity, the bottom line for the St. Louis Cardinals middle infield has barely changed since the end of 2012.

Five St. Louis Cardinals players will soon be taking leave from the club’s spring training camps to participate in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

Comparing ERAs of St. Louis Cardinals pitchers with and without Dave Duncan as pitching coach.

First baseman Matt Adams’ chance of making the St. Louis Cardinals out of spring camp took a couple of blows over the weekend.

Considering the current state of the St. Louis Cardinals rotation and beyond.

The St. Louis Cardinals came down to the last days on a pair of arbitration hearings in 2009. Could it happen again with David Freese in 2013?

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday doesn’t believe current penalties for performance enhancing drugs are strict enough.

St. Louis Cardinals photos from Monday’s third and final session of the 2013 Winter Warm-Up at St. Louis’ Hyatt Regency at the Arch.

Selected St. Louis Cardinals player photos from Sunday’s second day of the 2013 Winter Warm-Up at St. Louis’ Hyatt Regency at the Arch.

The St. Louis Cardinals exchanged arbitration figures with David Freese, Marc Rzepczynski and Jason Motte on Friday.

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

The St. Louis Cardinals have five players eligible for salary arbitration in 2013. Two key milestones in the process occur this week.

Kyle Lohse is part of a subset of qualifying free agents still looking for a contract. Is the problem the system or his price?

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

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.

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.

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.

New Chicago Cub Edwin Jackson and four other well-traveled starting pitchers share one prior fact – they are all former St. Louis Cardinals.

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

A look back at some prominent St. Louis Cardinals to have worn the number 12 jersey.

The hot market for free agent pitching could improve the rotation bids of young St. Louis Cardinals starting pitchers.

Four St. Louis Cardinals players will not be participating in catcher Yadier Molina’s charity events in Daytona Beach this weekend as expected.

Three current St. Louis Cardinals may play and two popular former Cardinals will be coaching in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

Catcher Yadier Molina is assembling family and St. Louis Cardinals teammates for a charity softball game in Daytona Beach.

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese was involved in a Thursday afternoon automobile accident. Should any explanation be provided?

The St. Louis Cardinals are pleased with the progress shown by two injured players, but does that mean the club should stop looking for alternatives?

An unrealistic trade proposal sending Carlos Beltran to the New York Yankees apparently cooked up by a New York Post writer was rejected by the St. Louis Cardinals.

A look at the numbers indicates a 2012 National League Silver Slugger Award was given to the wrong outfielder.

If you were running the St. Louis Cardinals, would you be willing to give up one of your top pitching prospects for a shortstop? Would you have a choice?

Rick Ankiel is reportedly considering a return to the mound. Does he owe St. Louis rights of refusal? Should the Cardinals consider him?

Considering the St. Louis Cardinals’ roster alternatives if Jaime Garcia is out.

Adam Wainwright struck out 10 Washington Nationals, but his St. Louis Cardinals lost on Sunday.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Carlos Beltran hit a home run from each side of the plate on Sunday, a rare occurrence.

If St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright is looking ahead to the National League Division Series, Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones doesn’t appear concerned about it.

The 2012 St. Louis Cardinals reached another offensive balance milestone on Saturday, this one in run production.

Vote on what you think would be an acceptable result from St. Louis Cardinals Chris Carpenter’s 2012 debut.

Five 2012 St. Louis Cardinals have 20 or more home runs, but one, catcher Yadier Molina, really stands out.

Looking at the top winning pitchers in recent seasons to evaluate one aspect of Kyle Lohse’s 2012 Cy Young Award candidacy.

Looking at several records set by Hall of Famer Stan Musial being approached by today’s MLB stars.

The St. Louis Cardinals have three hitters with 20 or more home runs and two more with 19. We look at how that distribution stacks up in team history.

Looking at runs scored against the St. Louis Cardinals by the catcher then behind the plate.

Looking into St. Louis Cardinal Jason Motte’s numbers compared to other MLB closers.

Why couldn’t the 2012 St. Louis Cardinals re-use a lineup trick first deployed by Tony La Russa in September 2000?

The identity of the tallest men to ever play second base for the St. Louis Cardinals may be very surprising. We’ve seen three this season alone.

Will Chris Carpenter return to starting in September for the St. Louis Cardinals? Who might his pitching partner be?

Wondering why the St. Louis Cardinals elected to promote shortstop Pete Kozma over Ryan Jackson on Friday.

The St. Louis Cardinals’ two best pitchers this season are heading for free agency this fall and next. Should the team try to lock up the second before losing the first?

St. Louis Cardinal Kyle Lohse has quietly put together one of the best seasons among National League pitchers.

Two of the St. Louis Cardinals biggest RBI men padded their totals on Sunday.

On Sunday, Jaime Garcia became the sixth left-hander in St. Louis Cardinals history to strike out at least 10 and walk no one in a game.

The St. Louis Cardinals lost Friday night for only the 18th time in team history when their opponent did not have a run batted in.

The St. Louis Cardinals will need to make a change to their rotation when Jaime Garcia returns on Sunday. Vote on your preference.

A look at some estimates at the costs involved in the 2012 St. Louis Cardinals keeping or not keeping reliever Octavio Dotel.

Wondering how much difference one short-duration member of the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals would have made to the 2012 club.

A couple of other comparative contact cases to consider in the context of Adam Wainwright.

Considering various timing and action alternatives by the St. Louis Cardinals regarding Adam Wainwright’s contract.

Looking at Adam Wainwright’s contract situation in comparison to other big deals across MLB.

Looking at the St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect’s surprising jump from Double-A to the majors from multiple angles.

To begin his MLB career, the St. Louis Cardinals reliever has gone four games of 4 1/3 innings without allowing a single baserunner, tying a record.

The lengths to which Major League Baseball is going to generate interest in the All-Star Game have crossed the line, in my opinion.

Wednesday night marked the 17th time since 2000 that two different St. Louis Cardinals pitchers allowed home runs in the same inning.

Through 75 games, only one catcher in St. Louis Cardinals history had more home runs than does Yadier Molina this season.

Jaime Garcia’s health remains a concern for the St. Louis Cardinals. Vote on how to replace him if needed.

Carlos Beltran is approaching one of the 10 most productive Mays in recent St. Louis Cardinals history.

The St. Louis Cardinals have retired Tony La Russa’s number 10. Should Albert Pujols be similarly honored in the not-too-distant future?

Jake Westbrook did something Thursday that has occurred only 64 times prior – a St. Louis Cardinals pitcher stealing a base.

Can professional athletes and fans get too close to one another for their own good?

Two starters some fans wanted the St. Louis Cardinals to get rid of are leading the staff in the early going in 2012.

Philip “Perfect Game” Humber entered baseball’s history books on Saturday. Like Adam Wainwright, he is a Tommy John survivor, but one who took a long route to success.

Despite the current injury situation of the St. Louis Cardinals, their top first base prospect remains at Triple-A. I believe that is the right way to go – at least for now.

The top Scrabble-scoring names by decade in St. Louis Cardinals team history.

Excitement about St. Louis Cardinals prospect Matt Adams sent me back to the records to compare his Arizona Fall League results with Albert Pujols’ 11 years earlier.

On Monday, the St. Louis Cardinals moved Lance Lynn from relieving to starting. Why did they wait for an injury to another?

A scan of national and local sportswriters’ opinions on the Yadier Molina contract and its potential impact on other impending free agent catchers.

If you were running the St. Louis Cardinals, would you have given catcher Yadier Molina a five-year, $75 million contract extension?

Why not let Yadier Molina and the St. Louis Cardinals work on a new deal without such a high level of sensitivity?

The many questions about recovering from significant off-season losses seem to be strengthening the 2012 St. Louis Cardinals’ resolve.

Former St. Louis Cardinals greats Stan Musial and Albert Pujols had some off-field financial similarities in their contracts.

A new Albert Pujols-related tempest has ensued over billboards in California.

Followers of the St. Louis Cardinals had differing views of catcher Yadier Molina’s update on his contract situation upon his reporting to spring training.

Despite reports to the contrary, the Topps Rally Squirrel baseball card does not replace Skip Schumaker’s regular 2012 card.

Readers can vote for salary and number of years making up their best contract offer to St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina.

Now we can learn the inside story of Albert Pujols’ signing from the perspective of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Should Albert Pujols be kept out of the Hall of Fame if he was found to have lied about his age and identity?