Manager Tony La Russa was spending time with some of his best and furriest friends Thursday morning when his phone twittered. There are few calls that take him away from a tour of an animal rescue shelter or a conversation about the need to have and hold and save pets.

This was one.

“That was the White House,” the manager explained. “The President wants me to greet him at the airport.”

Post-Dispatch staff writer par excellence Elizabethe…

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…

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…

(THE SAMPLER) JUPITER, Fla. — It’s an off day for the Cardinals here at Roger Dean Stadium, and that means no baseball is being played on this side of the campus. No major-league baseball that is. The minors are in full swing on the backlots. So, it is with that in mind that today’s snapshots from spring training begins with a minor-league story.

A quick note: There will be two posts here today, back to…

DISNEY WORLD — If only he had been as aggressive in the first inning Monday as he was in the four innings that followed and in the post-game with the media, Adam Wainwright might really have had himself a dandy start against Atlanta.

It was Dave Duncan that spurred him to perk up in the game.

It was a question about Duncan’s rotation that stirred him after the game.

One of the things manager Tony La Russa and Duncan have discussed…

JUPITER, Fla. — Forgive outfielder Skip Schumaker if he left today’s simulated game a little unnerved and confused.

When he was on the basepaths, the game was less baseball, more dodgeball.

As if near-miss scalded grounders by Albert Pujols and Juan Gonzalez didn’t almost clip him on hit-and-run plays, shortstop Brendan Ryan finished the attack by pegging Schumaker on the neck with a throw between second and third.

“Albert almost took my my ankle out,”…

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…

TOWER GROVE – Although the snow is a nice sendoff for those of us heading south shortly, it’s only further confirmation that spring training is approaching rapidly. The only thing coming faster and with more anticipation is Super Tuesday. And that’s got everybody thinking about voting.

So why not combine the two big February events and hold the Cardinals Nation primaries?

Manager Tony La Russa and his coaching staff will have plenty of Decisions (in) 2008, from…

TOWER GROVE — The forensics on the hot corner deal between the Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays hints at the decisions the players — rather, one player — had to make along the way.

As discussed in today’s article, Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi first approached the Cardinals about the deal at the winter meetings. It was discussed, but didn’t get much tractions. The Cardinals were talking with Milwaukee and had engaged the Los…