TOWER GROVE — One of the players the Cardinals just signed from Latin America they found because they were looking at the same player as everyone else.

On one of several trips to Venezuela for the Cardinals vice president of player development Jeff Luhnow, the Cardinals held a private workout with shortstop Cesar Valera and outfielder Yorman Rodriguez. The former signed with the Cardinals last week.

The latter is coveted and going to command what…

TOWER GROVE — Sure Jim Edmonds was taken aback by Tony La Russa’s refusal to acknowledge his presence — or some sort of gamesmanship like that — this past week, but the former Cardinal quickly came up with a favorite response for fans.

During the Cubs’ batting practice on Saturday, a fan called out to Edmonds: “You used to be my favorite Cardinal.” Edmonds turned and said something to like he still could be, that…

DOWNTOWN — Not to be missed amidst a quick burst of roster moves Sunday morning was a tall lefthander striding through the Busch Stadium outfield to do what he hasn’t done in nearly a year.

Mark Mulder was off to throw a bullpen.

Cast as a reliever in his return to majors after two years of rehab from shoulder surgery and several failed attempts to start again, Mulder is back in the rotation, Cardinals manager…

TOWER GROVE — Flush with the giddiness of Rick Ankiel’s game-winning single this afternoon, manager Tony La Russa sat in office at Busch Stadium, removed his white socks and, having worn out all of the other adjectives available for his center fielder, offered up a new one.

“He should get some consideration, right?” La Russa said. “He’s an All-Star.”

The rosters for this year’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game — the midsummer classic, held this season…

DOWNTOWN — Calling it one of the surest signs of their now-established footing in Latin America, the Cardinals will announce three signings Friday that surpass any of the previous bonuses given to international players.

On Wednesday, baseball’s lesser-covered free agent market opened and teams could begin signing Latin American players who are 16 or older. Over the past several years, the Cardinals, under the guidance of vice president Jeff Luhnow, have spent to create a facility…

TOWER GROVE — The timing might have been as awkward as the inquiry, but Aaron Miles was game after last night’s loss to consider a question about the Cardinals recently called-out offense: Would it surprise him that they topped the league in scoring during June?

“Really?” Miles said. “I don’t know. I guess, I guess it does. It seems like so many of the questions the last few weeks have been about the guys left…

DOWNTOWN — Brett Wallace, the Cardinals first pick in the recent draft, is expected to visit Busch Stadium today, meet with team doctors and possibly finalize a deal that will put him in uniform and playing pro within a week (as the story broke here, and the reporting continued with this in today’s paper).

As general manager John Mozeliak said when the team hosted second pick Lance Lynn for a bullpen session a few weeks…

TOWER GROVE — Wrote recently about how Mark Mulder settled on his lower arm slot after first joking about slinging the ball from the sidearm and remaking himself as a wily lefty specialist coming out of the bullpen. As he thought more about it, the idea to drop his arm began to take root and germinate.

Now he’s throwing from a different slot, when he’s throwing.

So, about that second part of Mulder’s joke …

Hall of Famer Rick…

TOWER GROVE – Naturally, Albert Pujols comes off the disabled list this afternoon to have (ho hum) another four-hit (yawn) day and (no big whoop) drive in the go-ahead run seconds ago here in the ninth inning.

So if you had Pujols in the pool about which would return first — the MVP or the P-D mailbag — you win. But only by five plate appearances.

After a sabbatical of sorts to get the inbin good…

TOWER GROVE — At one point this season, manager Tony La Russa approached Brendan Ryan to assure the young, live-wire infielder that some people just had it wrong. No matter what he heard or read or inferred from any comments, La Russa told Ryan he really, really did like him, 3-0 swinging and all.

Now it’s time to show him.

With shortstop Cesar Izturis on the 15-day disabled list with a sore hamstring, there is an opportunity…