Bernie Bits 5-10-17: Speed Thrills...Run Magneuris Sierra Run...LH Batters Are Crushing The Cardinals Pitching...Shut Up About Matt Adams...If You Find A Lost Curveball, It Belongs To Brett Cecil

Good morning. Or afternoon. Or whatever time it is that you’re reading this. I hope you are calm, because the Cardinals are making your blood rush these days, playing a bunch of close games that are jam-packed with plenty of tension and drama.

101 ESPN

Mathew Bowman Beats The Odds, Stays With Cardinals

Marooned in Las Vegas and in jeopardy of squandering one of his best assets — his identity as a pitcher — Matt Bowman reached out to an executive with the New York Mets, his parent team, for help. The minor-league righthander wanted to know a major-league pitcher he “could emulate,” someone built like him, who threw like him, but already had more success than him.

Post-Dispatch

Barry Bonds Could Have Helped Your Team In 2008

Barry Bonds was 43 years old at the beginning of the 2008 season. He was a free agent, available to any team after his contract with the Giants had run out. The all-time home run leader, scandalized though he may have been, would have been a drawing card for any team, but beyond that, he still was a productive player, having hit .276 with 28 home runs, a 1.045 OPS and a major league-leading .480 on-base percentage in 2007.

Sporting News

Sugar Land Activated Nick Stavinoha, Placed Brian Barton On Inactive List

Atlantic League Official Site

Southern Maryland Signed Antone DeJesus, Sugar Land Activated Brian Barton & Place Nick Stavinoha On The Inactive List

Atlantic League Official Site

Bridgeport Reinstated Joe Mather To Active List; Sugar Land Placed Brian Barton On The Inactive List

Atlantic League Official Site

Sugar Land Placed Brian Barton On Inactive List

Atlantic League Official Site

Southern Maryland Trades Brian Barton To Sugar Land

Atlantic League Official Site

Former Cardinals On 2014 Atlantic League Opening Day Rosters

Brian Barton (former St. Louis) - Southern Maryland
Shaun Garceau (former Springfield) - Long Island
Scott Gorgen (former Memphis) - Camden
Mike MacDougal (former St. Louis) - Camden
Charlie Manning (former Memphis) - Southern Maryland
Luis Montanez (former Memphis) - Somerset
Pete Parise (former Memphis) - Somerset
Prentice Redman (former St. Louis) - Bridgeport
Luis Rodriguez (former Memphis) - Bridgeport
Nick Stavinoha (former St. Louis) - Sugar Land
J.R. Towles (former Memphis) - Bridgeport
Lance Zawadzki (former Memphis) - Lancaster
C.J. Ziegler (former 2004 draft selection) - Southern Maryland

Southern Maryland Re-Signs Brian Barton For 2014

Looking to bolster his bullpen and lineup, Blue Crabs manager, Lance Burkhart, added three more players to his 2014 roster. On Friday, he announced the signing of outfielders Brian Barton and Cyle Hankerd along with the addition of right-handed pitcher Eric Massingham. Barton will be entering his fourth season in Southern Maryland while Hankerd will be returning for his second stint as a member of Crustacean Nation and Massingham will be entering his first season with the Crabs.

Atlantic League Official Site

Southern Maryland Activates Brian Barton From The Disabled List

Peter Worrell Twitter

Brad Thompson Not Ready To Quit The Game He Loves

It was three years this week that Brad Thompson last threw a pitch in the major leagues, retiring Hideki Matsui on a popup for the final out in the top of the ninth inning of a 7-1 Angels win over the Kansas City Royals.

STL Sports Page

Former Cardinals Playing In The Independent Atlantic League 2013

Brian Barton - Southern Maryland
Kevin Howard - Lancaster
Ryan Kulik - Camden
Charlie Manning - Southern Maryland
Joe Mather - Lancaster
Lou Montanez - Somerset
Mike Parisi - Bridgeport
Josh Pressley - Sugar Land
Prentice Redman - Bridgeport
Ian Snell - Long Island
Brian Tallet - Lancaster
Brad Thompson - Somerset
Brett Tomko - York

Southern Maryland Re-Signs Brian Barton

The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs manager Patrick Osborn continued to fill-in the 2013 roster, as he announced three more additions to the team today. Outfielder Brian Barton will rejoin the team this season, while infielders Renny Osuna and Kody Hightower will play their first season with Southern Maryland in 2013.

Southern Maryland Official Site

Former Cardinals On Atlantic League 2012 Opening Day Rosters

Brian Barton - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 
Freddie Bynum - Somerset Patriots 
Brad Furnish - Bridgeport Bluefish
Shawn Garceau - York Revolution 
Richard Giannotti - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 
Reid Gorecki - Long Island Ducks 
Randy Keisler - Long Island Ducks 
Blake King - Camden Riversharks 
Jeff Lyman - Long Island Ducks
Josh Pressley - Sugar Land Skeeters
Prentice Redman - Bridgeport Bluefish 
Rich Rundles - Lancaster Barnstormers
Ramon Vasquez - Bridgeport Bluefish
Les Walrond - Lancaster Barnstormers
Bob Zimmermann - Long Island Ducks

Southern Maryland Signs Brian Barton

The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs continued to rebuild their offense today after signing last year’s Atlantic League batting average leader Brian Barton.

Atlantic League Official Site

Reds Release Brian Barton

Jamie Ramsey Twitter

Albert Pujols: Drought Was Overblown; Tony Cruz Starts, Delivers; Etc...

The day after snapping the longest home run drought of his 11-year career, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols voiced frustration over media perceptions of his season as well as his uncommon number of near misses.

STL Today

Former Cardinals In Action 3-28-11: Brian Barton Single & 3-Run HR; Russell Branyan 2-Run HR; Matt Pagnozzi Solo HR

Mike McCoy (Blue Jays) entered late in the game at second base and batted fifth. 0-for-1 with one run and one strikeout.

Red Sox beat Blue Jays 3-2

Cesar Izturis (Orioles) entered late in the game at third base and batted leadoff. 0-for-2 at the plate.

Orioles beat Tigers 14-9

Brett Wallace (Astros) started at first base and batted third. 2-for-3 with one walk.

Placido Polanco (Phillies) started at third base and batted leadoff. 0-for-2 with one run, one walk, and assisted in one double play.

Phillies beat Astros 7-6

Chris Perez (Indians) entered in the ninth and pitched to six batters. He allowed one hit, two earned runs, two walks, hit one batter, and struck one out for the hold (3). (g/f:0-1)

Indians beat Cubs 4-3

Edgar Renteria (Reds) entered late in the game at second base and batted second. 0-for-3 and assisted in one double play.

Scott Rolen (Reds) started at third base and batted fourth. 0-for-3 at the plate.

Miguel Cairo (Reds) entered late in the game in right field and batted sixth. 0-for-1 with one strikeout.

Brian Barton (Reds) entered late in the game in right field and batted sixth. 2-for-2 with one home run, three two-out RBIs, and one run.

Reds beat White Sox 9-1

Matt Pagnozzi (Rockies) started at catcher and batted ninth. 1-for-3 with one home run, one RBI, one run, one strikeout, and allowed one stolen base.

Brendan Ryan (Mariners) started at shortstop and batted eighth. 1-for-3 with one run and two strikeouts.

Jack Wilson (Mariners) started at second base and batted ninth. 0-for-2 with one walk and one strikeout.

Mariners beat Rockies 7-6

Ryan Ludwick (Padres) started in left field and batted sixth. 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.

Luke Gregerson (Padres) entered in the fifth and pitched one inning. He allowed one walk and one strikeout. (g/f:1-0)

Brewers beat Padres 5-4

Russell Branyan (Diamondbacks) started at first base and batted sixth. 1-for-2 with one home run, two RBIs, one run, one hit by pitch, and one strikeout.

Rangers beat Diamondbacks 6-4

Matt Meyer (Angels) entered in the ninth and pitched to one batter. He allowed no hits or runs, and struck one out for the hold (3).

Aaron Miles (Dodgers) entered late in the game at third base and batted sixth. 0-for-1 with one run and grounded into one double play.

Mike MacDougal (Dodgers) entered in the fifth and pitched one inning. He allowed no hits or runs, and struck one out. (g/f:1-1)

Angels beat Dodgers 5-4

Coco Crisp (Athletics) started in centerfield and batted leadoff. 2-for-4 with one double, one run, and one strikeout.

Daric Barton (Athletics) started at first base and batted second. 1-for-4 with two two-out RBIs and assisted in one double play.

Mark DeRosa (Giants) entered late in the game as a pinch hitter and batted fifth. 0-for-1 at the plate.

Giants beat Athletics 4-3

Former Cardinals In Action 3-20-11: Felipe Lopez 1 RBI; Chris Perez, Mike MacDougal, & Brett Tomko Each Earn Save; Jamey Wright Pitches Two Scoreless

Michel Hernandez (Orioles) entered late in the game at catcher.

Felipe Lopez (Rays) entered late in the game at third base and batted fifth. 0-for-2 with one RBI.

Orioles beat Rays 9-8

Rick Ankiel (Nationals) started in centerfield and batted second. 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and one fielding error.

Tigers beat Nationals 6-1

Brett Wallace (Astros) started at first base and batted third. 2-for-3 with one run and one strikeout.

Joe Mather (Braves) entered late in the game at first base and batted second. One walk at the plate.

Braves beat Astros 5-3

Mike McCoy (Blue Jays) entered late in the game in centerfield and batted leadoff. 0-for-1 at the plate.

Blue Jays beat Twins 3-0

Ronnie Belliard (Yankees) entered late in the game at second base and batted fifth. 1-for-1 with one double, one run, and one throwing error.

Yankees beat Phillies 8-1

J.D. Drew (Red Sox) started in right field and batted seventh. 1-for-3 at the plate.

Dennys Reyes (Red Sox) entered in the eighth and pitched one inning. He allowed one hit, no runs, and struck two out. (g/f:1-0)

Rich Hill (Red Sox) entered in the ninth and pitched one inning. He allowed one hit, no runs, one walk, hit one batter, and struck one out. (g/f:1-1)

Cardinals beat Red Sox 10-3

Russell Branyan (Diamondbacks) started as designated hitter and batted fourth. 0-for-2 with two walks and one strikeout.

Chris Perez (Indians) entered in the eighth and pitched 1.1 innings. He allowed no hits or runs, hit one batter, and struck three out for the save (1).

Indians beat Diamondbacks 5-3

Brian Barton (Reds) entered late in the game as a pinch hitter and batted ninth. 0-for-1 at the plate.

Chris Narveson (Brewers) started and pitched 4.1 innings. He allowed nine hits, seven earned runs, one home run, two walks, and struck two out. 0-for-2 with one strikeout at the plate. (g/f:4-6)

Reds beat Brewers 9-8

Mike MacDougal (Dodgers) entered in the ninth and pitched one inning. He allowed one hit and no runs for the save (2). (g/f:2-0)

Josh Kinney (White Sox) entered in the eighth and pitched one inning. He allowed five hits, five earned runs, two home runs, and struck one out for the blown save (1) and losing decision (0-1). (g/f:1-1)

Dodgers beat White Sox 9-7

Daric Barton (Athletics) started at first base and batted third. 1-for-4 with two strikeouts and grounded into one double play.

Athletics beat Giants 6-4

Adam Kennedy (Mariners) started at first base and batted sixth. 1-for-3 and assisted in two double plays.

Jack Wilson (Mariners) started at shortstop and batted seventh. 0-for-3 and assisted in two double plays.

Brendan Ryan (Mariners) started at second base and batted eighth. 1-for-2 with one triple, two runs, one hit by pitch, and assisted two double plays.

Jamey Wright (Mariners) entered in the sixth and pitched two innings. He allowed one hit and no runs for the hold (2). (p-s:18-14)(g/f:5-0)

Mariners beat Padres 4-1

Brett Tomko (Rangers) entered in the sixth and pitched four innings. He allowed four hits, one earned run, two walks, and struck two out for the save (2). (p-s:66-38)(g/f:6-1)

Pedro Feliz (Royals) entered late in the game at third base and batted fourth. 0-for-1 at the plate.

Rangers beat Royals 5-2