JUPITER, Fla. — The St. Louis Cardinals are the second stop on union chief Don Fehr’s annual tour around the spring training camps. He arrived this morning and as I write this the Cardinals are about halfway through their meeting —…

JUPITER, Fla. — Cardinals outfielder Ryan Ludwick and the club have agreed to a one-year deal and avoided tomorrow’s scheduled arbitration hearing. General manager John Mozeliak just confirmed that a deal was struck early this evening, allowing both sides to remain…

JUPITER, Fla. — Cardinals outfielder Ryan Ludwick, on the eve of a scheduled arbitration with the club for his 2009 salary, said he’s “optimistic” a deal will be finalized sometime today and that he won’t need to race to catch…

JUPITER, Fla. _ Hopeful that he won’t have to go to Phoenix tomorrow for his scheduled salary arbitration hearing, outfielder Ryan Ludwick worked out at Cardinals camp Sunday a couple of days ahead of when he had planned to come.

Ludwick…

JUPITER, Fla. — Cardinals manager Tony La Russa opened the first day of official spring training workouts by admitting that even he’s not above waxing a little romantic about baseball and spring training, not even on Valentine’s Day.

“It’s always an…

JUPITER, Fla. — St. Louis Cardinals assistant general manager John Abbamondi just called to confirm that shortly before going into the arbitration hearing the club and outfielder Rick Ankiel agreed to a one-year deal. The value of the deal is…

JUPITER, Fla. — Similar to real estate — which apparently can be had at some mighty friendly prices nowadays for these parts — one of the first tell-tale signs for any young, prospect St. Louis Cardinal is finding his locker…

Jupiter, FLA — Chris Carpenter offered a glimpse into his psyche following Wednesday morning’s successful throw off a mound at Roger Dean Stadium.

A short-term positive can’t erase a long-term ordeal.

Throwing off a mound for the first time in five months,…

JUPITER, FLA — Chris Carpenter takes the mound Wednesday for the first time since a nerve disorder shut down his 2008 season and a non-related issue required November nerve transposition near his right elbow.

“I don’t know if there’s any special significance,”…

JUPITER, FLA. — Pitchers and catchers don’t report until this weekend but equipment trucks and trainers already are on site at Roger Dean Stadium, the Cardinals’ spring training home. This is the first of innumerable posts that will emanate (ooze?) from…