TOWER GROVE — While the St. Louis Cardinals have plenty to busy themselves with in the final five games of the regular season — see today’s game story for, oh, a few things to be spruced-up — and no reason to look beyond October, there are traces of 2010 in many of the comments coming from the club.

The front office and chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. have talked about the importance of re-signing outfielder Matt Holliday, sure, but…

TOWER GROVE — Asked Sunday morning if his lineup would look a little different if the St. Louis Cardinals were playing a team out of contention, manager Tony La Russa paused, rolled his eyes toward the ceiling, and finally acknowledged: Probably.

If he didn’t offer a complete answer, he’ll start today.

Of the five teams either in the playoffs or in the playoff picture (looking at you Colorado and Atlanta), the Cardinals are the only team that…

DENVER — Former Colorado Rockies face-o’-franchise outfielder Matt Holliday held court in the visitors’ dugout for the first time in his career, dutifully answering questions about his first trip back to Coors Field, what being back feels like and how Albert Pujols is the best player ever.

Yes. That’s what he said. Pujols: Best. Player. Ever.

Actually, “all-time” may have been his exact words.

Asked to clarify the statement, Holliday didn’t take the the chance to equivocate.

“I’ve never seen…

TOWER GROVE — The St. Louis Cardinals were the first to see the Rockies revival (just as San Francisco this past weekend may have hastened their crumble), as Colorado arrived at Busch Stadium with the worst record in the NL West, a new manager and … promptly swept a four-game series from the Cardinals.

The Rockies All-Star right fielder Brad Hawpe called it.

I’ve known Hawpe since his days — our days? — at Louisiana State University,…

DOWNTOWN — Plenty of chatter today about the St. Louis Cardinals, their search for a bat and manager Tony La Russa’s unspoken reference to his unrequited winter crush — Oakland Athletic’s outfielder Matt Holliday.

It’s fitting that the Colorado Rockies are coming to town today to start a four-game series because a lot of the hesitance about embracing Holliday as the Hitter Who Can Protect Pujols (dum-dum-dummmm) has to do with the Coors Field Factor. Holliday…