GRAND CENTER — Bunkered in here at Channel 9’s studios, just a Jim Hayes’ Frisbee throw from the grand Fox Theater, and ready to see No. 2 hitter Yadier Molina step in against his favorite pitcher to see at his favorite away ballpark to hit.

And already Max Leinwand has brought up a question to wonder:

Who is the emergency catcher on this year’s team?

Molina grounds out while Max is asking. So, As Rick…

SOUTH GRAND — Starting with a possible trade partner that probably doesn’t have what the Cardinals are looking for and ending with a question about the chances of a fan-favorite outfielder trying on an infielder’s glove, this week’s edition of the mailbag is loaded with all manner of things middle infield.

Oh, and there is also an advocacy of a four-man rotation.

Reliever Russ Springer is back. Rico Washington gave everyone a great story. And…

TOWER GROVE — A little more than a year ago, the Cardinals’ starting rotation was stringing together a ludicrously long streak of scoreless innings. The starters’ ERA for the month was less than 1.00, and dropping because of what one righthander was doing to the Minnesota Twins.

Opposite Johan Santana and facing a lineup that included MVP Justin Morneau and batting champ Joe Mauer, this Cardinal pitcher kept throwing up zeros. He held the Twins to…

JUPITER, Fla. — Still bothered by muscle discomfort in his ribcage, Cardinals shortstop Brendan Ryan will remain in Florida after the team leaves for its two-game trip to Springfield, Mo. The club is packing a couple different options as insurance.

Ryan had to cut short his work in the batting cages Wednesday, manager Tony La Russa disclosed Thursday morning. Ryan is allowed to participate in activities “as tolerated”, and he had no hesitation during baserunning drills this morning. But…

JUPITER, Fla. — The end is nigh.

The Cardinals look to leave Florida on a weeklong winning streak with only one stop and two games between them and the regular-season opening Monday at Busch Stadium. Most of the decisions have been made. Only two questions remain for the roster:

1. Is Brendan Ryan healthy enough to be active?
2. Anthony Reyes or Kelvin Jimenez for the last bullpen spot?

Looks like both of those questions will be answered in…

JUPITER, Fla. — The news this morning wasn’t so much who was on the lineup card, but who wasn’t at their lockers anymore in the clubhouse.

The Cardinals made two reassignments to the minor-league camp this morning, putting both righthanded pitchers Cliff Politte and Chris Perez in Triple-A Memphis. Politte got encouraging words before his assignment as the team told him they needed him to go there, get innings and he’ll “pitch in the big…

JUPITER, Fla. — The Cardinals placed seven players Tuesday on the disabled list for the opening week of the regular season, but the list was noteworthy for who wasn’t on it as much as who was.

Brendan Ryan was not placed on the disabled list and the Cardinals believe that he could be ready for opening day despite the lost time because of soreness in his right rib cage.

“He’s feeling better,” GM John Mozeliak said….

JUPITER, Fla. — Brendan Ryan hopes to return the field sometime next week, but that doesn’t leave much time for the Cardinals to plan for his absence just in case a ribcage injury prohibits him from being available opening day.

That is why Aaron Miles starts at third base today.

The Cardinals take their next-to-last road trip this Easter to Port St. Lucie, where they will face the New York Mets. Orlando Hernandez will be…

JUPITER, Fla. — He crossed up catcher Yadier Molina once with a fastball when Molina expected a slider, but otherwise Cardinals starter Kyle Lohse showed he’s on pace to make a regular-season start after an abbreviated spring training.

“Go out there and break the ice,” Lohse said Saturday afternoon. “I wasn’t as sharp as one could expect. As a competitor, you want to be near perfect and I wasn’t that.”

But he was effective enough.

Lohse threw about 65 pitches,…

JUPITER, Fla. — Sitting back in his office here at Roger Dean Stadium on Thursday, manager Tony La Russa was asked if he would take the swing Albert Pujols has right now into April.

“Shoot,” La Russa said, “I’d take where he was two weeks ago.”

Pujols has received plenty of attention this spring, but mostly for the tattered remains of a tendon in his right elbow, not for the damage he’s done at the plate. The Cardinals MVP has…