LATEST STORIES FROM RED BIRD RANTS
Exciting Spring Developments
David Freese is hopefully putting it together this year (source: Post Dispatch)
Adam Wainwright’s injury and the cloud of uncertainty surrounding the Pujols situation has made for a somewhat somber, pessimistic spring camp. Many sportwriters are readjusting their season predictions, and the Cardinals have already been written off as also-rans.
While there remains cause for concern...
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March 08, 2011
Discuss
A Platoon For Colby?
Let’s start with this simple and direct statement: Tony LaRussa doesn’t like Colby Rasmus. He doesn’t like the way the kid plays in the field. He doesn’t like his approach at the plate. He doesn’t much care for the quiet, “aw shucks” attitude, either.
Out of an embarrassing 2010 season, the worst aspect was the LaRussa/Colby ******** that derailed the last two months...
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March 06, 2011
What ISN’T Hurting Lance Berkman?
Is Lance Berkman the new Brad Penny? Probably not – Berkman has too much pride to take the money and spend the summer getting drunk and eating Little Debbie Nutty Bars all day (YUM!). But the guy sure is hurting an awful lot so far for someone who is just 35 years old.
Remember all of those stories about Berkman being in the best shape of his life after a rigorous conditioning...
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March 03, 2011
Grapefruit League Game #4: Cards Vs. Nationals
THE GOOD: Lots of timely hitting today. Pujols had two hits, Yadi had two hits, and recent signee Zack Cox showed off his bat with a double and a single. Non roster signee Brandon Dickson pitched effectively, inducing six ground balls (Dave Duncan was probably DROOLING in the dugout).
THE BAD: Not much, really, aside from an error by Molina (who definitely redeemed himself at the...
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March 03, 2011
Could Adron Chambers Be An Answer This Season?
Could Adron be the replacement for an injured Berkman?
I first heard of Adron Chambers last year in reference to his speed. After some research, I found him to be one of the more intriguing prospects quietly percolating in the minor leagues. The 24 year old outfielder has consistently hit around .280 throughout four seasons in the system. And he’s fast, probably the fastest player...
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March 02, 2011
Grapefruit League Game #3: Cards Vs. Mets
THE GOOD: Jon Jay (2-3) and Tyler Greene (1-3 with a run) continued to make their cases offensively. Lance Lynn was very effective in relief of a decent-but-unspectacular Jake Westbrook, with three shutout innings and three strikeouts. The rest of the pitchers (Motte, Miller, and Salas) did great work as well. Keep an eye on Adron Chambers (1-1 today, a .600 average).
THE BAD...
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March 02, 2011
Grapefruit League Game #2: Cards Vs. Marlins
THE GOOD: The bats were out in force today. Four home runs (Holliday, Craig, Jay (!), and Hamilton all smacked round-trippers. Ryan Theriot had a great day (2-3 with a run), as did Craig and newcomer Mark Hamilton. On the pitching side, a great overall performance from six pitchers.
THE BAD: Chris Carpenter and Mitchell Boggs pulled up lame today. Carp apparently strained a hamstring...
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March 01, 2011
You Decide!
By this point, I think it’s pretty safe to say that the majority of Cardinals fan are quite tired of hearing about the troublesome state of their beloved organization. While it’s clearly way too early to give up hope and write the Redbirds off, things are not looking so great. Spring training is supposed to be all about the excitement and anticipation of a new season. So much...
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February 28, 2011
5 Things That Must Happen For Cardinals To Make Playoffs
1. Jamie Garcia and Chris Carpenter pick up right where they left off last season. While many people are all caught up with who will replace ace Adam Wainwright in the starting rotation, I’m focused on the two guys who have proven that they can get the job done. Yes it would be nice to see a surprise pitcher come out of nowhere to impress us all much like Jamie Garcia did last...
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February 28, 2011
The Ultimate Sacrifice
Before I get too far ahead of myself, I’d like to start off by saying that after writing this article, I will try my absolute best to avoid talking about the Albert Pujols contract situation until the 2011 season comes to a conclusion. Why, you ask? Quite frankly, speculation is not going to accomplish anything. There’s nothing that I can add to this story that hasn’t already...
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February 28, 2011
Cardinals’ Rotation has a Bright Future
That’s right folks. Believe it or not, the rotation has got quite a promising future outlook. Don’t believe me? Well then, just sit back, relax, and digest the following…
Before we get into the outlook for this rotation, though, don’t think that my words will pertain to this year. The Cardinals will definitely sturggle this year with the loss of Wainwright, and most of...
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February 28, 2011
Let the March Madness Begin
With the Cardinals having played their first summer league game in the Grapefruit league earlier today, things are finally beginning to come together. After blogging hopelessly for months now about every minor tidbit of off-season news, it finally seems like the regular season is upon us. The only thing left in between the Cardinals and the 2011 campaign is the month of March. Buckle...
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February 28, 2011
Grapefruit League: Game #1 Cards Vs. Marlins
THE GOOD: Lance Berkman homered in his first at-bat, an opposite field shot spanked into the wind despite a sore elbow. Berkman also added a single to go 2-2. Tyler Greene also put his best foot forward with a 2-3 performance with a run scored. And Adron Chambers went 2-2 with a walk, a stolen base, and an RBI to provide much of the Cardinal’s offense.
THE BAD: The highly anticipated...
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February 28, 2011
Seemingly Impossible Optimism
Right about now, Cards fans are lower than they have been in a long time. And that is completely understandable. Within the last two weeks, two catastrophic events have taken place. The first, really more of a lack of an event, involved the superstar and face-of-the-franchise not signing a contract extension. This fact means that Albert will be a free agent next winter. Then,...
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February 27, 2011
Weekend Roundup
Pretty funny pic over at Punching Kitty
It’s been a pretty frustrating spring training for the Cardinals and their fans. Thankfully it’s early, and unexpected miracles can still happen at this stage. Come cry with me in September if we’re ten games out.
Anyway, here are some quick links to stories about the Cards this weekend.
So Berkman’s arm is hurting. Apparently this...
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February 27, 2011
The Wainwright Effect
So it’s official. The St. Louis Cardinals will be without superstar pitcher Adam Wainwright for the entire 2011 season. After injuring his right pitching elbow in a bullpen session on Monday, Wainwright left the team’s spring training facilities in Jupiter, Florida to seek a second opinion on the injury. Obviously, the second opinion wasn’t any friendlier than the first, which...
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February 24, 2011
Pujols and Wainwright
I’m sure we can all agree that most major stories that make the evening news are generally negative ones. There was a shooting here or a drunk driver there. But when it comes to sports related information, most of us hope to be saved from this negativity and instead hear some positive insight about our teams. Unfortunately for St. Louis fans, this last part of the offseason...
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February 24, 2011
Is There A Doctor In The Clubhouse?
Rick Wright and George Paletta pose in front of the Cardinals medical facility
When the Cardinals signed pitcher Brad Penny to a one year, $8 million dollar contract on December 8, 2009, fans embraced the power pitcher as the final piece to solidify an uneasy rotation. And Penny started the year off impressively, averaging five strikeouts a game and keeping an ERA near 3.00. Then...
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February 24, 2011
Wainwright To Have Possible Tommy John Surgery; Fans Weep Openly In The Street
One too many pitches like this one can do anyone in, even Wainwright (source: Associated Press)
When you hear that Nick Punto will be out twelve weeks due to injury, it’s like hearing that your Uncle Vinnie is getting a mole removed from his ass; you shrug and mumble, “okay, whatever.” But when you hear that Adam Wainwright’s increasingly tender right elbow – the one he...
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February 23, 2011
First Injury Of 2011: Nick Punto
Nick Punto has a long history of grit-related injuries. He just tries too damned hard.
When the Cardinals signed Nick Punto in January, his main role was to back up third just in case the delicate butterfly wishes holding the ankles of David Freese together abruptly failed. It was almost a given that Punto would be playing instead of Freese, who could, at any moment, drop a weight...
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February 22, 2011
Hoping For Consistency With Colby
Rasmus takes consistent at-bats in spring training (source: Chris Lee, Post Dispatch)
One of the big stories of the 2010 Cardinal season – unfortunately – was the Colby Rasmus / Tony LaRussapsychodrama that played out in the ugliest way imaginable and derailed the emotional lift of the team right when it counted most. We all know LaRussa has a difficult time accepting and consistently...
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February 21, 2011
Did Edmonds Really Retire As a CARDINAL?
Remember this? Cardinals fans should keep this in mind when making a case for Edmonds retiring as a Cardinal.
Unsurprising news came today that Jim Edmonds, who had yet to report to spring training, decided to retire. The injury to his foot that ended his campaign last year still has not responded to treatment.
Cardinals message boards and Facebook pages lit up across Cardinal...
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February 18, 2011
If I Was Bill DeWitt …
Cardinal Nation remains in turmoil today after a brutalizing week of rumors, innuendos, and dashed hopes swirling around the Albert Pujols contract situation. Fans are playing the blame game. And, for now at least, both sides seem to be cautiously respectful of each other and the process. It feels a bit like the inside of a hurricane.
Despite the brave faces shown by owner Bill...
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February 17, 2011
Did The Cardinals Low-Ball Pujols?
DeWitt wants Albert to set his sights a bit lower than expected (Source: AP)
So the negotiating deadline passed today, and the world kept turning anyway. And shortly afterwards, as expected, details began to emerge about the substance of the offer the Cardinals presented to their star, Albert Pujols.
Basically, owner Bill DeWitt tried to low-ball Pujols, who was right to reject it...
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February 16, 2011
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