TOWER GROVE — A day after watching on television as Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen riddled the Houston Astros with sinister curveballs for his fourth save of the season — another in a line of what were no-sweat saves — I was in Houston and asked Isringhausen why so many curves?

“I think it was only five,” Isringhausen said. “Not that many. But now if it jinxes me, I know who to blame. If it’s going…

TOWER GROVE — What with two dugout-clearing donnybrooks this weekend and the ever-agitating Chicago Cubs coming to town this weekend with first place possibly up for grabs, this little island of three games against Cincinnati seemed so quaint, so tranquil.

Then Walt Jocketty used a most curious word.

Vendetta.

“Trust me,” he said at the press conference announcing his hiring as general manager of the Reds. “Me and (manager Dusty Baker) are very motivated. We’re…

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 — While we check around the house to see if anything has been shaken loose, shaken up or shaken down, here are some riffs from the ballpark:

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When David Eckstein became a Cardinal, the team discussed with him a way to increase his arm strength. The shortstop who had a “playable” arm — manager Tony La Russa’s word — and a max-effort motion improved his arm during his three seasons as a Cardinal by going…

TOWER GROVE — Rick Hummel’s look at how Milwaukee has adopted the “Crazy 8″ lineup to such success that catcher Jason Kendall is leading the league in hitting jogged my memory about a email received earlier Tuesday. This one comes from ACTA Sports, the publishing house of Bill James and others, and it’s John Dewan’s “Stat of the Week.” This week’s topic:

Whose batting slot is the best in baseball thus far?

Using on-base-percentage-plus-slugging (OPS), Dewan ranks the best…

FORT MYERS, Fla. — After Brad Thompson has had a particularly difficult inning or just returned from a disastrous at-bat, Aaron Miles will eye the righthander from down the bench. Thompson knows he’s watching, waiting … for the fume.

It just hasn’t been there this spring.

“OK, I like it,” Miles tells him. “I like it.”

Thompson admits he’s been known to be a bit hotheaded on the mound or in the dugout. His body…

(THE FILIBUSTER) JUPITER, Fla. — The only times Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has batted the pitcher eighth is when his team has been struggling and, cynics argue, when it offers a red herring, a distraction from the performance on the field.

The manager might quibble with the cynics — always does. But while he believes it’s the best way to build a National League lineup, he concedes he has only done it when his team is scuffling. Earlier this…

JUPITER, Fla. — Renewal season is upon us, and with it comes the news today that the Cardinals have agreed to terms with 18 players and had to use their right of renewal for two players, pitchers Adam Wainwright and Anthony Reyes.

First, a little bit on how this works.

For players not yet arbitration eligible — the “zero to threes”, in baseball terms — the organization has the power to offer contracts, negotiate deals and, if…

JUPITER, Fla. — Cardinals outfielder Brian Barton left the spring training facility Tuesday morning to have his right knee checked out after experiencing soreness in the joint for several days.

Manager Tony La Russa said the Rule 5 pick has been “restricted” in drills.

Barton had surgery on the knee after last season to repair a chronic clicking and discomfort in the joint. The surgery, as described in an earlier blog entry, was what Barton called ”lateral release”, which is a procedure that…

TOWER GROVE — A brief detour before we plunge back into the Decisions (in) 2008 facing the Cardinals. It’s a topic sure to be watched, analyzed and debated all summer long. After a offseason of shedding its stars, the Cardinals almost beg the question themselves:

What former Cardinal is set to have the biggest year with his new team?

There are many candidates; most are of the comeback variety. Will Scott Rolen’s healthier mood mean a healthier shoulder…