Cardinal Beat

Perceptions Vs. Reality on Field No. 4

Joe Strauss — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:23:41 +0000

JUPITER, Fla. - Depending on whose take one embraces, the Cardinals either spent last summer mortgaging their future or simply leveraging a portion of their recently cultivated minor-league depth for instant gratification.

Baseball America, one of those “third-party publications” the Cardinals pay heed,…

Comings and Goings While Waiting for Arti Gras

Joe Strauss — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:42:04 +0000

JUPITER, Fla. – Since Monday and Thursday serve as designated “throw days” for early-arriving pitchers, today is set aside for conditioning for anyone checking in at Roger Dean Stadium. The surrounding Abacoa community is prepping for this weekend’s three-day street festival…

Schumaker, Cardinals agree to 2-year deal

Derrick Goold — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:10:18 +0000

ST. LOUIS — A year after he shifted positions to prove his job versatility, second baseman Skip Schumaker has been rewarded with some job security. The St. Louis Cardinals and their leadoff hitter agreed to a two-year deal Monday to…

Tyler Greene: Count Me In At Third

Joe Strauss — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:16:21 +0000

JUPITER, Fla. — Tyler Greene made 29 starts as a rookie last season, 20 at shortstop. The Cardinals’ former first round draft pick was drafted and developed there. He’s not tied there.

With third base the most obvious variable within the team’s…

Cardinals to Name Page Quad Cities Hitting Coach

Joe Strauss — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:59:06 +0000

JUPITER, Fla. — Five years following his abrupt dismissal as Cardinals hitting coach, the club is expected to announce Mitchell Page as hitting coach for its Midwest League (Class A) Quad Cities affiliate later this week.

Page served as major-league hitting…

What’s to See (While Being Seen) at Roger Dean

Joe Strauss — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:28:29 +0000

JUPITER, Fla. – Monday is “throw day” at the Roger Dean Stadium complex, a.k.a. the spring training headquarters of your St. Louis Cardinals. Under the gaze of Memphis Redbirds pitching coach Derek Lilliquist, a string of hurlers toiled off the mound…

Jupiter, We Are Here!!!

Joe Strauss — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:03:12 +0000

JUPITER, Fla. — Roger Dean Stadium was open for business Friday. Sort of. More than a week before pitchers and catchers officially report to Cardinals spring training, pitchers Kyle McClellan, Jason Motte and Adam Ottavino were on campus to work…

Strauss on Pujols, prospects, Tony’s future & more

Mike Smith — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:39:04 +0000

Here are 12 key questions and answers about the Cardinals culled from Wednesday’s “Joe Strauss Live” chat with STLtoday.com readers:

Question: The Cardinals have hung around the $90-100 million “salary cap” for awhile and this is the last year for many season…

The Simo Man lives!

Mike Smith — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:35:15 +0000

Add another flag to the Jason Simontacchi collection: The U.S. citizen and Italian Olympian pitched 4 2/3 innings for Venezuela’s Leones del Caracas team in its victory over Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Series.

Dubbed “The Simo Man” by Mike Shannon back when Shannon…

Jeff Weaver signs minor-league deal with Dodgers

Reid Laymance — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:53:24 +0000

Jeff Weaver, winner of Game 5 for the Cardinals in the 2006 World Series, has agreed to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a minor league deal that includes an invitation to spring training.

Weaver went 6-4 with a 3.65…