TOWER GROVE — With the first full day of draft-pick workouts going on at the Roger Dean Stadium complex in Jupiter, Fla., the Cardinals announced that they have agreed to a deal with their second pick from last week’s draft, righty Lance Lynn, and 30 other players.

Six of the team’s top 10 selections have signed.

First-round pick Brett Wallace, taken 13th overall, became eligible to negotiate with the Cardinals after the Arizona State baseball team was…

DOWNTOWN — With two outs and the Cardinals ninth hitter of the inning at the plate in .369-hitting Albert Pujols, manager Tony La Russa wanted to push for something more than the five runs already on the board. There were a handful of reasons for them to a try a hit-and-run, including an obvious one.

La Russa digs it.

Back in 2005, he hit-and-ran the Cardinals into unexpected offense. It just hasn’t been that effective for…

TOWER GROVE — If we agree that the purpose of a professional sport’s draft is to distribute the best available players to the worst teams, in inverse order of the standings, there’s a way to make the MLB Draft fit that ideal.

Why not allow teams to trade picks?

Unlike the other three major professional team sports, Major League Baseball does not permit teams to trade picks, nor does baseball let a drafted player become…

DOWNTOWN — The last time the Pittsburgh Pirates faced Joel Pineiro they had a hard enough time getting past his inner hockey goalie, let alone another in the righthander’s run of undefeated starts against the Bucs.

Pineiro, who freely admits he’s prone to soccer-kicking at a grounders coming back to the mound, made what was, at that time, the defensive play of the season with a kick save that rainbowed right back to him and became…

TOWER GROVE — One thing about a player being on base all the time: he gets loads of practice running them and has plenty of opportunity to excel — and fail. Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols showed this past week that he can pound out the headlines with more than just his bat; carrying a big stick does not require always walking softly.

In the span of a few games, Pujols showed the plus and minus of…

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…

PITTSBURGH — The double play the Cardinals didn’t turn in Wednesday’s game that potentially cost them Wednesday’s game was not only a topic of conversation in message boards around Caridnals eNation and in my inbox but also in the clubhouse.

Aaron Miles said he approached some pitchers about the play.

Anthony Reyes and both middle infielders also chatted briefly about it.

And, of course, the pens and lens crowd had to ask. Again.

In the…

DOWNTOWN — In the eighth inning of a rather usual July game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen stepped into the box and faced Bucs lefty Joe Beimel. Isringhausen had come in to close out what was a 9-6 ballgame, but a turn of the lineup had put a bat in his hand with the bases loaded.

So, naturally he ripped a triple, and the box score reads: 

Rolen Scores; Renteria Scores; Matheny…

DODGERTOWN, Fla. — On the first pitch he saw in his first game back since leaving his first game as a Marlin with a hamstring injury, Cameron Maybin roped a single.

And so continues a minor subplot around baseball this spring.

The arrival of the Center Fielders, Class of ‘05.

Maybin, taken 10th overall in 2005 draft, was the first of six center fielders taken in that first round, several of whom could be the opening day starters…

JUPITER, Fla. — On the first day the sliding drill appeared at spring training and Hall of Fame base thief Lou Brock strolled onto the Cardinals campus, the club is still waiting to see if the stolen base shows up as an option for this season.

Last season, the Cardinals stole the third-fewest bases in the majors — 56, or only Yadier Molina’s one ahead of the San Diego Padres in the National League. Two players…