The Cardinal Nation blog

A series of somewhat-related, somewhat non-related newspaper-oriented items in the news.

In addition to a change in personnel, the St. Louis Cardinals Midwest League affiliate’s games will no longer be on radio.

Each year Rochester Community Baseball operates the Batavia Muckdogs, they pick up five percent ownership – but there is a catch.

Autograph prices at the St. Louis Cardinals fan event, Winter Warm-Up, demonstrate an appreciation of the down economy.

After the St. Louis Cardinals ate the final year of Adam Kennedy’s contract, they turned second base over to neophyte Skip Schumaker – and it worked!

McGwire story and association with Yardbarker leads to national exposure for Cardinals-oriented blog.

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.

Using unearned runs to measure fielding prowess, St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers don’t measure up to par.

Some major league clubs have advantageous leases that offer flexibility but shackle their communities. Others carry stadium-related debt.

The Batavia Muckdogs lost less money in 2009 than in 2008, but the deficit still runs in six digits and their patron is hurting, too.

Rankings for the entire Cardinals team, not just their free agents, offer some interesting comparisons.

This blog is officially one year old today, December 12.

The progression of St. Louis Cardinals spring training ticket prices since 2000.

The title pretty much says it all – links to 2010 schedules for the St. Louis Cardinals and their top minor league affiliates.

Commentary on 20 search arguments that recently brought readers to TheCardinalNationblog.com.

Toronto offers at least one recent indication of scouts coming back into prominence.

Chicagoan Nick Kladis, a member of the St. Louis Cardinals ownership group, passed away on Monday.

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

Long-time Double-A Cardinals radio voice and media contact Mike Lindskog takes job in California.

Tony La Russa’s use of pitchers in the eighth spot in the St. Louis Cardinals lineup ended in late July. Did it matter this season?

The new general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals A-Advanced club has a down-to-earth background.

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

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

A comprehensive look at multi-year in-season roster changes across the Cardinals minor league system leads to conclusions that may differ from prevailing perception.

Catch Brian Walton talking Cardinals baseball with Matt Perrault and Ken Miller on KXnO FOX Sports Radio 1460 in Des Moines today (Friday) at 6:05 p.m. Central.

An in-depth look at St. Louis Cardinals participation in the mid-summer prospect showcase shows strong representation from the 2005 draft class.

Rochester group will continue to try to stem continued financial losses in management of Cardinals New York-Penn League affiliate.

Analyzing changes in levels of recognized St. Louis Cardinals minor league standouts since 2004.

The number of St. Louis Cardinals minor league selections for all-star and elite competitions was down 18 percent from 2008.

After a robust 60 games-over-.500 total in 2008, the top six Cardinals minor league clubs posted their fourth losing mark in five years in 2009.

The last two Astros managers lost their jobs when St. Louis arrived in town.

Looking at the results of the first dozen games in September by world champions this decade.

It has been 24 years since the Cardinals’ top two farm clubs have been in the post-season at the same time

The Cardinals Florida facility’s name will remain through 2017

A 2008 New York-Penn League championship did not stem the flow of red ink from the Batavia Muckdogs’ operation

The St. Louis Cardinals have fared very well against elite closers recently

Calling out stat sheet similarities between the St. Louis Cardinals and their Triple-A affiliate, the Memphis Redbirds

Looking at the distances of Cardinals minor league affiliates compared to their NL Central peers

Chris Maloney’s Memphis Redbirds have clawed back from 8 ½ games out to take their division lead.

The St. Louis Cardinals employ two 2009 Minor League Athletic Trainers of the Year, Chris Conroy and Tim Steinhaus

The Birdhouse has become The Cardinal Nation, while The Cardinal Nation blog… remains The Cardinal Nation blog!

The title pretty much says it all.

Riverfront Times did just that with some current and former Cardinals. Their wrists were slapped as a result. Was it warranted?

A corporate management group has taken over operations of the Memphis Redbirds and AutoZone Park. Guess what is coming next?

Jess Todd is the Cardinals organization’s 38th player named to the Triple-A All-Star Game since its 1988 inception.

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

Josh Jones’ weekly report on the 2009 Dominican Summer League Cardinals.

Josh Jones’ weekly report on the 2009 Venezuelan Summer League Cardinals.

The St. Louis Cardinals’ eighth-rounder’s coach says his junior infielder is turning pro.

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.

The 2009 season-opening roster for the Gulf Coast League Cardinals.

Reporting from the new Citi Field in New York as the Cardinals visit the Mets.

Catch Brian Walton live on KXnO FOX Sports Radio Des Moines at 5:30 P.M. Central today, Tuesday.

The 2009 season-opening roster for the Batavia Muckdogs of the New York-Penn League.

The 2009 season-opening roster for the Johnson City Cardinals of the Appalachian League.

Josh Jones’ weekly report on the 2009 Dominican Summer League Cardinals.

Josh Jones’ weekly report on the 2009 Venezuelan Summer League Cardinals.

St. Louis Cardinals runners have scored as a result of each of their last three balks received.

The initial roster for the 2009 New York-Penn League Batavia Muckdogs.

The St. Louis Cardinals made three roster moves from A-Advanced Palm Beach down to short-season Batavia.

Josh Jones’ weekly report on the 2009 Dominican Summer League Cardinals.

Josh Jones’ weekly report on the 2009 Venezuelan Summer League Cardinals.

Josh Jones’ weekly report on the 2009 Dominican Summer League Cardinals.

The St. Louis Cardinals system rosters are refreshed to reflect the start of the regular season of the Dominican Summer League.

Josh Jones’ weekly report on the 2009 Venezuelan Summer League Cardinals.

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

Josh Jones’ second weekly report on the 2009 VSL Cardinals.

The St. Louis Cardinals are dropping their use of tandem starting pitchers in their second of two full-season affiliates where deployed.

The former Cy Young Award-winning pitcher turned doctor and pitching coach responds to recent articles related to his interaction with the St. Louis Cardinals

Josh Jones is providing weekly reports on the VSL and DSL Cardinals this season. Here is his first.

The St. Louis Cardinals’ relievers are leading the world in lowest percentage of inherited runners scoring. That is good, but not the end-all.

The St. Louis Cardinals system rosters are refreshed to reflect the start of the regular season of the Venezuelan Summer League.

Complaints that the St. Louis Cardinals didn’t sign enough veterans to minor league contracts do not hold water.

A take off on a current issue as a way to reconcile a long-standing inconsistency across MLB.

The Quad Cities River Bandits of the Midwest League have dropped from five tandem pairings to four

The A-Advanced Palm Beach Cardinals abandoned tandem starting pitching three weeks earlier in 2009.

Ryan leaves Thursday’s game with a tight hamstring after Greene sits out with a tight forearm. How might the St. Louis Cardinals compensate?

Committing the most errors in MLB over a season doesn’t rule out making the playoffs, but it sure is rare.

Head-to-head stats from the six Cardinals-Cubs games to date indicates a leader among “equals”.

Springfield Cardinals utilityman Steven Hill is leading the Double-A Texas League in batting average, slugging and OPS.

Depending on how you look at it, St. Louis Cardinals average attendance is down either 9.4% or 5.1% year-to-year.

With the worst pitching in the Texas League, the Springfield Cardinals are trying to outscore their opposition. They’re being led by an unexpected source, second baseman Daniel Descalso.

The entire Double-A bullpen for the Cardinals are new to the level this season and their early results reflect the difficulties in making the jump.

The St. Louis Cardinals are hitting and pitching well in the early going of the 2009 season.

A complete listing of all 282 players currently known to be under contract in the St. Louis Cardinals organization from top to bottom by level and position.

Starting pitchers for Memphis, Springfield, Palm Beach and Quad Cities to open the 2009 season.

Catch Brian Walton on KXnO FOX Sports Radio in Des Moines on Wednesday, April 8 at 2:30 p.m. Central time.

The Palm Beach Cardinals of the A-Advanced Florida State League have announced their season-opening roster.

Not yet having the roster for the St. Louis Cardinals A-Advanced club won’t stop us from speculating.

The Springfield Cardinals of the Double-A Texas League have announced their 24-man season-opening roster.

St. Louis Cardinals minor league spring training game action from Friday, April 3.

The Memphis Redbirds of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League have announced their season-opening roster.

The Quad Cities River Bandits of the Single-A Midwest League have announced their season-opening roster.

St. Louis Cardinals minor league spring training game action from Thursday, April 2.

St. Louis Cardinals minor league spring training game action from Wednesday, April 1.

Reactions to what others are saying about the St. Louis Cardinals.

St. Louis Cardinals minor league spring training game action from Tuesday, March 31.

The St. Louis Cardinals made seven minor league player releases on Tuesday morning.

St. Louis Cardinals minor league spring training game action from Monday, March 30.

How St. Louis Cardinals players were treated in the Tout Wars industry drafts in New York over the weekend.