The Cardinal Nation blog

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

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?

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

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

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.

Some doubt the presence of Matt Holliday in the Cardinals lineup benefited teammate Albert Pujols.

A long-term contract with a two-year out for Matt Holliday might not be as crazy as it first may sound.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Rick Ankiel will become a free agent. It may be best for all involved for the 30-year-old to move on.

Matt Holliday’s error did not end the 2009 NLDS, yet the blueprint for the blame game has been in place for a long time.

Historically-based factoids from the Cardinals’ NLDS game one loss Wednesday night.

Now available in relief, two veteran Cardinals starters have been there before.

How might Cardinals relievers Dennys Reyes and Trever Miller fare against the Dodgers’ Jim Thome in the NLDS?

Is Chris Carpenter’s NL-leading 2.24 ERA enough to win the 2009 Cy Young Award?

St. Louis’ ugly and costly loss on Friday night has to be hung on the manager.

Adam Wainwright is on his way to the seventh-best pitching season in MLB this decade.

Injured at the plate while swinging earlier this season, Chris Carpenter instead put a hurt on the Reds Thursday with his bat.

Is the Cardinals problem Bronson Arroyo, messed up baseballs or something else entirely?

At least one recent Cardinal thinks a World Series win would set up a “leave on top” scenario for the manager and pitching coach.

Though the odds are clearly against him, Albert Pujols still has a chance to match Ducky Medwick.

The Cardinals current RBI leader has nothing on an under-recognized former great from the 1920’s and 1930’s.

90 percent of Mark DeRosa’s home runs with the St. Louis Cardinals have come with the bases empty.

Cubs’ 1-2-3 hitters were sat down in order via strikeout by Kyle McClellan in a crucial situation Friday night

The Cardinal Nation blog has again been highlighted on KSDK Channel 5, the Sunday home of the St. Louis Cardinals. This time, the focus was on three 15-game winners – if Joel Pineiro can squeeze out one more…

Can aces be pitched too much and peak too soon? Will it be too late to adjust if it happens?

The St. Louis Cardinals have played superb baseball since the late July arrival of Matt Holliday. Why is that?

With three weeks still remaining in the regular season, speculation over Matt Holliday’s future is getting out of hand

Albert Pujols’ 2009 home run, doubles, RBI and stolen base output matches only a select few in MLB history

St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Brendan Ryan picked up his seventh three-base hit of the season on Tuesday night

Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter’s win, low hits allowed and strikeout rates are now in Bob Gibson territory. That is a pretty rare place, indeed.

Joel Pineiro is striving to join two St. Louis Cardinals teammates with 15 or more wins. It would be just the 21st time for the franchise since 1901.

On Friday, Cardinals outfielder Ryan Ludwick had five hits and five RBI, a rare combination

The St. Louis Cardinals left-hander is sitting down opposing hitters at a historic rate.

Average, home runs and RBI for hitters. Wins, strikeouts, ERA for pitchers. The quick measures of a balanced and successful season.

Through Sunday’s game, pitchers starting the last 11 St. Louis Cardinals games have each allowed three or fewer runs

This isn’t the first time that off-field issues may be driving away an important member of the St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher John Smoltz has gotten out of the blocks quickly with his new team – almost as fast as did Andy Rincon back in 1980.

The Cardinal Nation blog has again been highlighted on KSDK Channel 5, the Sunday home of the St. Louis Cardinals. This time, the focus was on Chris Carpenter’s strikeout to walk ratio.

22-year-old Colby Rasmus already has two walk-off home runs this season, tying the franchise record

Albert Pujols leads the Cardinals in every other statistical category, so why not in obscure ones, too?

John Smoltz may be next in a recent line of unwanted Boston players that became St. Louis successes

Ian Walton delves in to the newest Cardinals pitcher’s recent performance and is enthused

Chris Carpenter hasn’t walked three or more batters in a game in 35 starts, covering the last three years

The Cardinals post-1932 franchise season record for stolen bases by a catcher is held by three men. Believe it or not, Yadier Molina is approaching – fast.

While Matt Holliday’s hitting surge as a Cardinal is good for the present, will it damage his chances of remaining with the club in 2010 and beyond?

In addition to pitching consistent winning baseball, Adam Wainwright is looking to extend current game streaks in innings pitched, earned runs allowed and strikeouts.

In 2009, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter is delivering the best season in franchise history in terms of strikeout-to-walk ratio

Another data point regarding Pittsburgh closer Matt Capps’ history changes one man’s opinion of Albert Pujols’ plunking on Sunday

On Saturday, Albert Pujols drove in his 100th run of the season, again.

New Cardinals third baseman Mark DeRosa has eight home runs in his first 22 games with the team

Albert Pujols has two games with multiple extra-base hits this week, something he has done with great frequency

The St. Louis Cardinals’ top three starters have 43 quality starts among them so far this season

A case is made for the St. Louis Cardinals to bat new cleanup hitter Matt Holliday second

Matt Holliday’s scalding offensive start as a St. Louis Cardinal is rewriting the record books

Albert Pujols’ last at-bat game-winning hit on Wednesday was the 28th of his career

Offering a personal angle on the major stories last week across the Cardinal Nation and digging up some old ones, too

Cardinals starting pitchers Chris Carpenter and Joel Pineiro are not beating themselves with the walk, putting together a pair of impressive streaks

St. Louis Cardinals’ trade acquisitions Matt Holliday and Julio Lugo had big first weekends with the club

The Cardinal Nation blog again highlighted on KSDK Channel 5, the Sunday home of the St. Louis Cardinals

An attempt to quantify the value of the Matt Holliday trade

Lots of signals, many of them mixed, regarding a rumored deal between the Cardinals and A’s.

Mark DeRosa’s two home runs were a rare positive in the Cardinals system on Tuesday.

Analyzing why Adam Wainwright’s pitching has been so good in 2009.

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Joel Pineiro carried his club to a win with his arm and his bat on Sunday.

Chris Carpenter’s 12th scoreless eight-inning outing Friday night puts him “just” 55 behind the great Bob Gibson

With two more multiple home run games, Albert Pujols would tie Mark McGwire for the most in a Cardinals season

Hall of Famer Stan Musial made a rare appearance at Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game.

Albert Pujols stubbed his toe in Monday evening’s MLB Home Run Derby. I think I know why.

Closer Ryan Franklin and the entire Cardinals bullpen are markedly improved year-to-year.

In 18 starts, Todd Wellemeyer has etched his name among the highest ERAs ever posted by a St. Louis Cardinals starter in a season.

Ian Walton puts forth his case as to which of the two struggling starters should remain in the St. Louis Cardinals rotation.

Among Albert Pujols’ feats against Chicago on Friday were a home run and one of the rarest offensive plays, a triple.

Factoids about Cardinals second baseman Jarrett Hoffpauir that can be used to amaze your friends…

Joel Pineiro’s complete game three-hitter against Milwaukee on Thursday wasn’t his first such gem this season.

With three home runs in five July games and ten on the season, Cardinals outfielder Colby Rasmus is joining some elite company.

Albert Pujols put the St. Louis Cardinals on his back again on Friday night in Cincinnati.

Despite what some think, the St. Louis Cardinals are spending money. Where is all the “DeWallet” whining now?

Chris Carpenter’s six runs on 11 hits on Tuesday broke an impressive run of pitching.

Albert Pujols hit two home runs and was also walked twice as the Cards thumped the Twins at Busch.

This blog will be a part of a Albert Pujols segment on Channel 5 this Sunday.

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Chris Carpenter has failed to secure a win twice in the last month despite his continued mound excellence.

Chris Carpenter is facing the New York Mets for only the fifth time in his career and third as a St. Louis Cardinal.

The St. Louis Cardinals system rosters are refreshed to reflect the three US-based short-season clubs: Batavia, Johnson City and the Gulf Coast League Cardinals.

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols is even more deadly at the plate with the sacks jammed.

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Joel Pineiro shut out the New York Mets on two hits Tuesday.

Albert Pujols led the way in the St. Louis Cardinals’ weekend sweep of Kansas City.

Albert Pujols has 285 two-or-more RBI games this decade, the most by any Cardinal.

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Chris Carpenter has gone ten games and counting without allowing more than six hits or three runs.

Until Friday, the St. Louis Cardinals hadn’t hit three home runs in an inning since July of 2007.

With four hits on Friday, Colby Rasmus is only the 15th youngest Cardinal since 1954 to accomplish the feat.

The St. Louis Cardinals recalled Khalil Greene and Josh Kinney from Memphis with P.J. Walters and Nick Stavinoha heading back to Triple-A.

Albert Pujols tied the second-longest home run streak for the St. Louis Cardinals since 1954 until broken on Tuesday.

The St. Louis Cardinals made three roster moves from A-Advanced Palm Beach up through Triple-A Memphis.

On Saturday, Albert Pujols slammed consecutive home runs for his 27th time as a Cardinal.

The St. Louis Cardinals made at least eight roster moves from A-Advanced Palm Beach up through St. Louis on Friday.

St. Louis Cardinals starters lead the National League in ERA and in fewest home runs allowed.

Albert Pujols’ rate of reaching base is approaching historic proportions.

Even as the rest of the St. Louis Cardinals’ offense sputters, Albert Pujols keeps getting on base – one way or another.

The St. Louis Cardinals have called on their sixth starter six times this season. The fill-ins have yet to take a loss and have delivered an ERA comparable to the top five.