DOWNTOWN — The curtain pulled back and the Cardinals’ new third baseman was unleashed to an adoring public.

Or, maybe it was vice versa.

A standing ovation greeted Troy Glaus, the first headliner of the 12th annual Winter Warm-Up. Glaus, acquired this week in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays, made his first public appearance as a Cardinal at the Millennium Hotel this morning, shortly before 11 a.m. local time.

“Welcome to baseball heaven!” shouted a few fans.

On the main stage of the event, Channel 5’s Katie Felts introduced the slugger and asked him a few questions about the deal, his foot’s health and his memories of his first  major-league home run. (”In Toronto,” Glaus said, “off Chris Carpenter.”) There will be more Q & A’s at the event this weekend, but the real answers usually come in the presentation rooms.

None better than the one given annually by the general manager of the club.

This year’s added a twist: a new GM, John Mozeliak, and a new direction.

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– Scenes from the first morning of the Winter Warm-Up –

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Fans peppered Mozeliak and assistant general manager John Abbamondi with questions about the woulda, coulda, shouldas of the roster changes. Asked if the Cardinals would be in a position to pursue Johan Santana in a year (should the lefty become a free agent, that is), Mozeliak gave a fan exemption to playing hypotheticals and said:

“I guarantee you we’ll kick the tires.”

He did caution fans about the volatile nature of pitching contracts. Using the recent deal signed by Carlos Silva as an example, Mozeliak outlined how a deal may look good in Year 1 ($12 million for Silva to be a defacto No. 2, say), but not so wonderful in Year 4 ($12 million for Silva to be the hopeful No. 5, say).

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Along those lines, Mozeliak described the one that got away a year ago: Miguel Batista. A year ago the Cardinals were courting the author and righthander and Mozeliak negotiated a three-year, $20-million deal. Later that day, Gil Meche signed his $55 million deal. “That’s a problem,” his agent told the Cardinals. Mozeliak upped the offer to $25 million. Batista, like Silva (and Jeff Weaver for that matter), signed in Seattle.

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Speaking of Santana … Mozeliak said the Cardinals did call Minnesota to see if there was a deal that could be completed for the lefty. He acknowledged that the package of players the Twins wanted was not one the Cardinals could provide. The teams “don’t line up.”

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When Glaus visited St. Louis early this week the Cardinals approached him about what number he’d like to wear. Glaus has been No. 25 with his previous teams, but the number has been unofficially retired with the Cardinals, for Mark McGwire. There was some thought that Glaus would be the ideal player to bring the number out of reserve — All-Star, slugger, friend of McGwire’s. New face. New start.

Glaus declined. He chose No. 8.

“I’ve been 25 a long time, I’ve known Mark for a long time,” Glaus said. “He’s an icon in this city and I’m not going to do that.”

The signficance of No. 8? The college shortstop explained: Cal Ripken Jr.

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Hitting coach Hal McRae, who wore No. 8 last season, will switch to No. 15 — Jim Edmonds’ vacant number — for the coming season.

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Scored a Bob Uecker rookie card for $7. It says on the back: “Bob has had some experience at third base.”

It does not say if it means as a hitter or fielder.

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Joel Pineiro, wearing a shirt that glittered with the word “Awaken”, signed the early shift Saturday morning and then met with the media. He said knowing he’s coming into spring training as a starter — just as he knew coming the Cardinals he’d be a starter — is the goose he’s needed.

“To me it’s just confidence,” Pineiro said. “Knowing I’m going to be one of the starters. I do have the stuff; it was just needing the confidence. In Seattle, it was, There are young guys coming up, they’re going to take your job. It’s confidence.”

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In a session with Hall of Fame writer Rick Hummel – pinch hitting for JSL!!!!@#$!! — a fan authored a heck of a line: “Rick, it seems like the theme of this coming Cardinals season is a question mark.”

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Albert Pujols, who will be at the Warm-Up on Monday and receiving an award that evening at the Baseball Writers’ Dinner, is currently golfing it up with Michael Jordan at his annual Celebrity Golf Tournament in the Bahamas.

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Will be back with a Q & A with prospects Joe Mather and Chris Perez shortly.

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Said Glaus of his first WWu experience: “It was a first. I’ve talked to some friends (who have been through it before) and they explained how passionate the fans are about their baseball. I’m not sure words do that justice.”

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