DOWNTOWN — With National League MVP Albert Pujols topping the charts with a $175 autograph fee, the St. Louis Cardinals announced this afternoon the schedule and cost for the annual autograph pell mell that is Winter Warmup in downtown St. Louis. A total of 81 former or current Cardinals are schedule to attend the autograph sessions that are the headline event at the three-day fanfest, January 17-19.

Admission passes for the event are $40 for adults, $10…

TOWER GROVE — Wasn’t too long ago when Ryan Ludwick was viewed as an injury risk, robbed of his prime as a power-laden prospect by timing, Juan Gonzalez and a series of career-threatening surgeries. Today he was voted one of the most valuable outfielders in the game.

Next stop: arbitration.

St. Louis Cardinals’ first baseman Albert Pujols won the 2008 National League MVP (coverage at STLToday.com), the BBWAA announced this afternoon, and Pujols was the only player in…

TOWER GROVE — St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Ryan Ludwick, fresh from the official announcement that he had won a Silver Slugger to punctuate his breakout season, was headed to the gym. The spoils of this season are swell, but he has no interest in being a one-hit wonder.

He even used this past week of rumors, reports and headlines to explain why.

“I think it’s an honor just to be named in the same place as Matt…

TOWER GROVE — Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella, who guided the denizens of Wrigley Field to a league-best 97-64 record and their first back-to-back playoff appearances since 1908, won the National League Manager of the Year award in a vote of baseball writers announced this afternoon. The award is Piniella’s third Manager of the Year award, putting him one behind the record — jointly held by St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and Atlanta…

TOWER GROVE — One of the most intriguing and up-for-grabs awards this side of the National League MVP award is the league’s Cy Young award. It could be viewed as a referendum on what voters value.

Want change? Well, you might get a sea change from those standard triple-crown stats that have been such handy guides to a Cy Young-worthy pitcher. Wins just won’t do it this year.

Even ERA (gasp!) might not reveal the most worthy…

TOWER GROVE — St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols continued gathering momentum toward the ultimate prize of baseball’s award season Friday as the Major League Baseball Players Association and its members named Pujols their Player of the Year.

Pujols edged LA Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez and Cleveland pitcher Cliff Lee for the award, which is based on a vote of his peers, fellow members of the players’ union. The award punctuates a week of accolades…

SOUTH GRAND — So much of what the Cardinals consider doing and end up doing this offseason to improve their roster will be watched and judged through the Chris Carpenter prism.

When Carpenter is healthy, so are the Cardinals’ chances.

When he is not … Well, that is the question presented to the Cardinals this season as they choose whether they will build a team on the hope that Carpenter won’t be limited by the nettlesome nerves…

TOWER GROVE — Cardinals first baseman and MVP candidate Albert Pujols is a finalist for two of the most prestigious Player Choice awards handed out by the MLB Players Association after a vote of his peers, the union announced Friday afternoon. Pujols is one of three finalists for the Player of the Year Award, and he is also the only National League player who is a finalist for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year…

DOWNTOWN — Early Wednesday, the Baseball Writers Association of America took a vote  that could be a trend across the major sports landscape: If a player can receive a financial bonus for winning an award voted on by the writers, that player is no longer eligible for that award.

The rule goes into effect in 2013, so it won’t change any current Cardinals’ contracts, but consider the ramifications for a player who just signed.

Like, say, Alex…

TOWER GROVE — The National Baseball Hall of Fame’s ballot for its Veterans Committee was announced this afternoon, and the names on the ballot are only slightly more notable than the names of the voters who receive the ballot.

Cardinal managers Whitey Herzog and Billy Southworth are on the ballot.

Bob Gibson, for example, is on a select committee that gets to vote on that ballot.

The ballot hints at how the Hall is trying to inspire the…

TOWER GROVE — When Rafael Palmeiro rides his numbers into the Hall of Fame, his plaque should read:

RAFAEL CORRALES PALMEIRO

Chicago, NL, 1986-89

Texas, AL, 1989-93, 99-03

Baltimore, AL, 1994-98, 04-05

One of the game’s steadiest hitters during his career, Palmeiro became the fourth player in history to collect 3,000 hits and 500 home runs, finishing his career with 3,020 hits and 569 home runs. The lefthanded-hitting Cuban was a four-time All-Star and won three Gold Gloves — including…

TOWER GROVE — Any other year, Cardinals outfielder Chris Duncan and his 22 home runs would have an exceptional shot at winning the NL Rookie of the Year. Last year, with his numbers he could have given the Cardinals an award sweep and would have even been the favorite.

Yes, even against the winner, Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard.

But not this  year.

The ballot the BBWAA sent me this  year was for the NL Rookie of the Year. It…