Number 8, the Springfield Cardinals failed to reach the playoffs, but hosted plenty of hoopla. The big club made a weekend visit in March, while Hammons Field played host to the Texas League All-Star game in June.
KSPR
Thursday, January 1, 2009
The Top Five Stories Of 2008
Our final post of 2008 is an homage to our readers, who voted for our top Cardinal stories of the year, the topic of the United Cardinal Bloggers latest group activity. We selected the poll options, and the readers voted. So without further ado, our — yours and ours, that is — top stories of the year:
Fungoes
Fungoes
Bud Selig Launches MLB Network
MLB Network is set to air in just under an hour and a half (6pm ET), and with that, Commissioner Selig is set to kick the launch off by addressing the fans.
The Biz Of Baseball
The Biz Of Baseball
Cardinals "Lose Out" On Brian Fuentes, Aaron Miles
When I want to write about non-farm related things, I will do so here. I’ll be sure to make things brief, as I have found the more I type, the more goofs I make. How’s that for an intro?
Play A Hard Nine
Play A Hard Nine
Who Will Thrive In 2009 Is Anyone's Guess
Milestones
Neither is gainfully employed at the moment, but Jason Isringhausen (293) and Armando Benitez (289) could be the 22nd and 23rd pledges of the 300-save fraternity.
Predictions, fearless and otherwise ...
• Kerry Wood will be on the DL (been there 12 times) and Derek Lowe will not (only Major Leaguer with 10-plus years to have never been DLed); Ichiro will get 200 hits; Albert Pujols will get 30 homers and drive in 100 runs; the AL will win the All-Star Game; and, of course, the Cubs will not win the World Series.
MLB
Neither is gainfully employed at the moment, but Jason Isringhausen (293) and Armando Benitez (289) could be the 22nd and 23rd pledges of the 300-save fraternity.
Predictions, fearless and otherwise ...
• Kerry Wood will be on the DL (been there 12 times) and Derek Lowe will not (only Major Leaguer with 10-plus years to have never been DLed); Ichiro will get 200 hits; Albert Pujols will get 30 homers and drive in 100 runs; the AL will win the All-Star Game; and, of course, the Cubs will not win the World Series.
MLB
Going To Bat For Aaron Miles
I didn't have an intention on posting a blog about a former Cardinal and now Cub. I figured that it should just stay my opinion that lost in a world where homeruns and superstars equal excitement and big dollars, that the solid player who gives his full effort and does all the small things without complaint is still respected and applauded for their work. Then, I began to read responses against the praise given to Aaron Miles for what he did as a Cardinal and it turned me inside-out.
Sporting News
Sporting News
Live Blogging MLB Network Launch
It's 2009 at last, and that means the MLB Network goes live at 6 p.m. ET in an estimated 50 million homes. It's the largest launch in cable network history, and we are liveblogging this New Year's Day all the way.
MLB
MLB
Veterans Not Ready For Rocking Chairs
The old guys are primping backstage, hoping for one more flood of spotlight when the 2009 curtain rises. The senior citizens of the mound set want to rock and roll, not settle into a rocking chair.
MLB
MLB
Cardinals Continue To Address 2009 Holes
If there's one thing the Cardinals and their fans should have learned by now, it's not to judge in December what the roster will look like in April.
Cardinals Official Site
Cardinals Official Site
Looking Ahead To 2009
Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a fun and safe evening and were able to sleep in today before doing whatever it is you do on the first day of a new year. For lots of people, that's football. Me, I think I'll start focusing in on spring training. Only 45 more days until pitchers and catchers report, people! Games start on February 25 and we get the World Baseball Classic this year to look forward to. If only I was getting the new MLB Network on my cable package, everything would be perfect.
C70 At The Bat
C70 At The Bat
New Year's Value
In light of the Aaron Miles signing by the Cubs I thought it was a pretty good time to talk about value. The Cubs, the team who stole Jason Marquis from our clutches just a few short years ago, swept in yesterday and stole plucky little Aaron Miles for the next 2 years, paying him nearly $5 M for his services.
Viva El Birdos
Viva El Birdos
In Memory Of Former Cardinals: 2008
Our annual feature remembering 17 former St. Louis Cardinals that passed away during the past year.
The Birdhouse
The Birdhouse
Top 20: 1-3
The top three hold little in the way of surprise. It serves as further illustration though of how far this system has come in recent years that each of these players would be at least even odds to be a league average major league contributor right now.
Future Redbirds
Future Redbirds
2009 Cardinals Prospect #17: Tyler Greene
Can the 2005 first-rounder translate his addition to the 40-man roster into an MLB debut in 2009? Happy New Year! Today’s article is FREE!
The Birdhouse
The Birdhouse
Darren Rovell's Interview With Super-Agent Scott Boras
Superagent Scott Boras has made waves again this offseason as the agent of Mark Teixeira. He's also still negotiating for Derek Lowe and Manny Ramirez, among others.
CNBC
CNBC
Cardinals Winter League Notebook 1-1-09
*Mexican Pacific League*
Playoffs Open Thursday:
Obregon @ Mazatlan
Mexicali @ Mochis
Hermosillo @ Guasave
Top Defensive Players in the regular season: Link
Fernando Salas (Springfield) made seven relief appearances posting a 2-0 record, 9.39 ERA, and one hold for Mazatlan. He allowed eight hits, eight earned runs, three home runs, four walks, and struck out five over 7.2 innings. Salas was placed on the disabled/inactive list Dec. 30.
Edgar Gonzalez (San Diego) is batting .273 with one double, one home run, three RBIs, ten total bases, three runs, two walks, four strikeouts, .333 OBP, .455 SLG, and .788 OPS in six games for Mazatlan.
Hugo Castellanos (Memphs-free agent) made 36 appearances (one start) posting a 1-3 record, 4.50 ERA, 12 holds, and one save for Obregon. He allowed 35 hits, 19 runs (18 earned), one home run, hit five batters, walked 18, and struck out 25 over 36 innings.
Reid Gorecki (Richmond-Atlanta) finished batting .226 with 11 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 27 RBIs, 80 total bases, 32 runs, 52 walks, 61 strikeouts, 19 stolen bases, .369 OBP, .342 SLG, and .711 OPS in 67 games for Navojoa.
Mike McCoy (Colorado Springs-Colorado) finished batting .198 with one double, five RBIs, 20 total bases, 11 runs, 21 walks, 17 strikeouts, two stolen bases, .358 OBP, .208 SLG, and .567 OPS in 30 games for Navojoa.
*Venezuelan League*
Round Robin Tournament Begins Play Friday:
La Guaira @ Caracas
Lara @ Aragua
Jose Rada (GCL) made 18 appearances (two starts) posting a 2-1 record, 2.30 ERA, and three holds for Aragua. He allowed 25 hits, eight earned runs, three home runs, hit two batters, walked nine, and struck out 18 over 31.1 innings.
Juan Lucena (Springfield-Free Agent) was 0-for-4 with one walk and one strikeout in three games for Aragua. Lucena spent the season in the Venezuelan Parallel League, getting the call-up just once during the 2008-09 winter season.
Richard Castillo (Quad Cities)made four appearances (one start) posting a 1.74 ERA for Lara. He allowed eight hits, two earned runs, hit two batters, walked five, and struck out five over 10.1 innings. Castillo spent most of the season with Marineros-Lara in the Venezuelan Parallel Western League.
Cesar Izturis (Baltimore) batted .292 with three doubles, one triple, three RBIs, 24 total bases, nine runs, seven walks, four strikeouts, five stolen bases (100%), .370 OBP, .369 SLG, and .739 OPS in 16 games for Lara.
Gustavo Martinez (GCL-Free Agent) made three relief appearances posting a 0.00 ERA and one hold for Lara. He allowed four hits, no runs, one walk, and struck out two over three innings. Martinez began the season with Licey in the Dominican Republic League.
Katsuhiko Maekawa (Memphis?) made four starts posting an 0-2 record and 6.39 ERA for Caribes. He allowed 12 hits, nine earned runs, two home runs, hit two batters, walked 15, and struck out 12 over 12.2 innings. Maekawa began the season with Gigantes in the Dominican Republic League.
Juan Richardson (N. Arkansas-Kansas City) is batting .429 with one double, two home runs, eight RBIs, 16 total bases, three runs, four walks, two strikeouts, .538 OPB, .762 SLG, and 1.300 OPS in six games for La Guaira. Richardson began the season with Escogido and was traded to Estrellas in the Dominican Republic League.
*Dominican Republic League*
Round Robin Tournament Returns Friday:
Aguilas (0-3) visits Azucareros (3-2) @ 8:00pm AST.
Licey (3-1) visits Gigantes (2-2) @ 7:30pm AST.
Amaury Marti (Memphis) and D'Angelo Jimenez (Memphis-free agent): Play for Licey.
Luis Perdomo (SF Giants-Rule 5 Draft) and Jose Arrodondo (Johnson City): Pitch for Aguilas.
Elvis Hernandez (Palm Beach) made one relief appearance for the Gigantes, pitching 2/3 of an innings giving up one hit and one walk while picking up a hold on Dec 20. (Yes, I missed this)
Tagg Bozied (Sacramento?-Oakland) finished batting .242 with three doubles, three home runs, 15 RBIs, 28 total bases, 12 runs, 13 walks, 19 strikeouts, one stolen base, .383 OBP, .424 SLG, and .807 OPS in 20 games for Azucareros.
Kelvin Jimenez (WhiteSox) made nine relief appearances posting a 5.59 ERA and one hold for Estrellas. He allowed 13 hits, eight runs (six earned), two home runs, five walks, and struck out six over 9.2 innings.
*Colombian League*
Round Robin Tournament Begins Saturday:
Cartagena @ Barranquilla
Donovan Solano (Springfield): Plays for Barranquilla.
*Puerto Rican League*
Playoffs Begin Jan. 7
Teams return to regular season play Friday (7:30pm AST):
Caguas (18-19) @ Arecibo (19-16)
Ponce (24-14) @ Mayaguez (18-20)
Santurce (17-21) @ Carolina (15-23)
Luis Mateo (Johnson City) is 2-for-6 with one RBI, two total bases, two runs, and one stolen base in five games for Carolina.
Yadier Molina (St. Louis) is batting .189 with one double, two RBIs, eight total bases, one run, three walks, five strikeouts, .250 OBP, .216 SLG, and .466 OPS in 12 games for Carolina.
Joe Thurston (Memphis?) is batting .285 with six doubles, one triple, three home runs, 13 RBIs, 52 total bases, 21 runs, 12 walks, 14 strikeouts, seven stolen bases, .369 OBP, .423 SLG, and .792 OPS in 30 games for Ponce.
Eli Marrero (Memphis-free agent) is batting .194 with one double, four RBIs, seven total bases, one run, one walk, nine strikeouts, one stolen base, .219 OBP, .226 SLG, and .445 OPS in nine games for Ponce.
(This is just a brief rundown on Cardinals prospects and former players that played in the organization at the end of 2007 or in 2008. No plans to make this a daily thing.)
Playoffs Open Thursday:
Obregon @ Mazatlan
Mexicali @ Mochis
Hermosillo @ Guasave
Top Defensive Players in the regular season: Link
Fernando Salas (Springfield) made seven relief appearances posting a 2-0 record, 9.39 ERA, and one hold for Mazatlan. He allowed eight hits, eight earned runs, three home runs, four walks, and struck out five over 7.2 innings. Salas was placed on the disabled/inactive list Dec. 30.
Edgar Gonzalez (San Diego) is batting .273 with one double, one home run, three RBIs, ten total bases, three runs, two walks, four strikeouts, .333 OBP, .455 SLG, and .788 OPS in six games for Mazatlan.
Hugo Castellanos (Memphs-free agent) made 36 appearances (one start) posting a 1-3 record, 4.50 ERA, 12 holds, and one save for Obregon. He allowed 35 hits, 19 runs (18 earned), one home run, hit five batters, walked 18, and struck out 25 over 36 innings.
Reid Gorecki (Richmond-Atlanta) finished batting .226 with 11 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 27 RBIs, 80 total bases, 32 runs, 52 walks, 61 strikeouts, 19 stolen bases, .369 OBP, .342 SLG, and .711 OPS in 67 games for Navojoa.
Mike McCoy (Colorado Springs-Colorado) finished batting .198 with one double, five RBIs, 20 total bases, 11 runs, 21 walks, 17 strikeouts, two stolen bases, .358 OBP, .208 SLG, and .567 OPS in 30 games for Navojoa.
*Venezuelan League*
Round Robin Tournament Begins Play Friday:
La Guaira @ Caracas
Lara @ Aragua
Jose Rada (GCL) made 18 appearances (two starts) posting a 2-1 record, 2.30 ERA, and three holds for Aragua. He allowed 25 hits, eight earned runs, three home runs, hit two batters, walked nine, and struck out 18 over 31.1 innings.
Juan Lucena (Springfield-Free Agent) was 0-for-4 with one walk and one strikeout in three games for Aragua. Lucena spent the season in the Venezuelan Parallel League, getting the call-up just once during the 2008-09 winter season.
Richard Castillo (Quad Cities)made four appearances (one start) posting a 1.74 ERA for Lara. He allowed eight hits, two earned runs, hit two batters, walked five, and struck out five over 10.1 innings. Castillo spent most of the season with Marineros-Lara in the Venezuelan Parallel Western League.
Cesar Izturis (Baltimore) batted .292 with three doubles, one triple, three RBIs, 24 total bases, nine runs, seven walks, four strikeouts, five stolen bases (100%), .370 OBP, .369 SLG, and .739 OPS in 16 games for Lara.
Gustavo Martinez (GCL-Free Agent) made three relief appearances posting a 0.00 ERA and one hold for Lara. He allowed four hits, no runs, one walk, and struck out two over three innings. Martinez began the season with Licey in the Dominican Republic League.
Katsuhiko Maekawa (Memphis?) made four starts posting an 0-2 record and 6.39 ERA for Caribes. He allowed 12 hits, nine earned runs, two home runs, hit two batters, walked 15, and struck out 12 over 12.2 innings. Maekawa began the season with Gigantes in the Dominican Republic League.
Juan Richardson (N. Arkansas-Kansas City) is batting .429 with one double, two home runs, eight RBIs, 16 total bases, three runs, four walks, two strikeouts, .538 OPB, .762 SLG, and 1.300 OPS in six games for La Guaira. Richardson began the season with Escogido and was traded to Estrellas in the Dominican Republic League.
*Dominican Republic League*
Round Robin Tournament Returns Friday:
Aguilas (0-3) visits Azucareros (3-2) @ 8:00pm AST.
Licey (3-1) visits Gigantes (2-2) @ 7:30pm AST.
Amaury Marti (Memphis) and D'Angelo Jimenez (Memphis-free agent): Play for Licey.
Luis Perdomo (SF Giants-Rule 5 Draft) and Jose Arrodondo (Johnson City): Pitch for Aguilas.
Elvis Hernandez (Palm Beach) made one relief appearance for the Gigantes, pitching 2/3 of an innings giving up one hit and one walk while picking up a hold on Dec 20. (Yes, I missed this)
Tagg Bozied (Sacramento?-Oakland) finished batting .242 with three doubles, three home runs, 15 RBIs, 28 total bases, 12 runs, 13 walks, 19 strikeouts, one stolen base, .383 OBP, .424 SLG, and .807 OPS in 20 games for Azucareros.
Kelvin Jimenez (WhiteSox) made nine relief appearances posting a 5.59 ERA and one hold for Estrellas. He allowed 13 hits, eight runs (six earned), two home runs, five walks, and struck out six over 9.2 innings.
*Colombian League*
Round Robin Tournament Begins Saturday:
Cartagena @ Barranquilla
Donovan Solano (Springfield): Plays for Barranquilla.
*Puerto Rican League*
Playoffs Begin Jan. 7
Teams return to regular season play Friday (7:30pm AST):
Caguas (18-19) @ Arecibo (19-16)
Ponce (24-14) @ Mayaguez (18-20)
Santurce (17-21) @ Carolina (15-23)
Luis Mateo (Johnson City) is 2-for-6 with one RBI, two total bases, two runs, and one stolen base in five games for Carolina.
Yadier Molina (St. Louis) is batting .189 with one double, two RBIs, eight total bases, one run, three walks, five strikeouts, .250 OBP, .216 SLG, and .466 OPS in 12 games for Carolina.
Joe Thurston (Memphis?) is batting .285 with six doubles, one triple, three home runs, 13 RBIs, 52 total bases, 21 runs, 12 walks, 14 strikeouts, seven stolen bases, .369 OBP, .423 SLG, and .792 OPS in 30 games for Ponce.
Eli Marrero (Memphis-free agent) is batting .194 with one double, four RBIs, seven total bases, one run, one walk, nine strikeouts, one stolen base, .219 OBP, .226 SLG, and .445 OPS in nine games for Ponce.
(This is just a brief rundown on Cardinals prospects and former players that played in the organization at the end of 2007 or in 2008. No plans to make this a daily thing.)
2008 Is Over.....2009 Opens A Brand New Door Of Possibilites
2008.....Wow, it's over. It was a learning experience and long year that I will never forget. If you go to the beginning of the year you can see that I was still posting the full link instead of incorporating into the 'link'. I finally figured that out after some time along with editing the times so they fall in a timely manner of when something was posted and another. I've gone from a short list of sites to hit daily for news and have expanded it to so many that it makes my head spin some days. Very frustrating when you have a full-time job and are a single father going through a divorce. Thank God that it's over and it turned out well for myself & my child. All this along with writing for The Birdhouse. You can say I'm very tired right now. But the rewards have been great....I have seen a rise in hits from search engine sites such as USA Today, TBS Sports, Buzztracker, etc...
My Biggest Article (In My Eyes) That I Worked On At The Birdhouse: Cardinals Sign 1B/OF Jen Argenal (very special thanks to great friend of this site Gerald once again, can not thank you enough)
2009....It comes now. I have decided to leave The Birdhouse and work solely here at the Cardinals Best News Links. It was a mutual decision and I leave the door open to a future return. This means bigger and better things here at the site for all the readers. My plans are to still work closely with Ray at The Birdhouse, Brian at The Cardinal Nation, Dustin at Whiteyball, and anyone else who is associated with The Birdhouse site. But also I would like to work with the various Cardinal blogs, if time allows, and help promote them as well at the CBNL. At the same time bring here what I was working on over there.
Things To Look Forward To In 2009:
My Biggest Article (In My Eyes) That I Worked On At The Birdhouse: Cardinals Sign 1B/OF Jen Argenal (very special thanks to great friend of this site Gerald once again, can not thank you enough)
2009....It comes now. I have decided to leave The Birdhouse and work solely here at the Cardinals Best News Links. It was a mutual decision and I leave the door open to a future return. This means bigger and better things here at the site for all the readers. My plans are to still work closely with Ray at The Birdhouse, Brian at The Cardinal Nation, Dustin at Whiteyball, and anyone else who is associated with The Birdhouse site. But also I would like to work with the various Cardinal blogs, if time allows, and help promote them as well at the CBNL. At the same time bring here what I was working on over there.
Things To Look Forward To In 2009:
- Best St. Louis Cardinals Links (Hopefully!!!)
- Cardinals Winter Notebook (Spring and then in the fall/winter)
- Cardinals Winter League Wrap-Up (Basically 80+ pages of notes & stats I run through and just give you a summary of how those players did & maybe a comment or two on them...last season we watched Richard Castillo, Jose Rada, Amaury Marti, & etc emerge among others)
- Ex-Cardinals Census (It's updated as I get them on the site, but a full list will come in possibly April/May)
- Full Rundowns On The Boxscores Throughout The Season Across All Levels: Individual Highlights & Rough Outings (Majors to DSL/VSL)
- DSL & VSL Weekly Reports Are Moving Here For 2009 - This Is My Baby & I Want To Watch The Players Grow (I'm Also Considering A GCL Report, But Not Fully Committed Yet - Depends On My Time)
- Interviews Are A Maybe, It's Just A Matter Of Who Is Willing To Answer Questions (For some that don't know it's a lot tougher than you think)
- Player Updates As They Come, If I'm Feeling The Mood To Write/Type Away
- Me Getting Less & Less Sleep
So on that note Happy New Year to all and srpead the word that this one-man show needs some Tylenol PM. And I have no plans of adding another blogger to the site in the next year, but do leave it open for the right person.
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