Rule 5: You Do Talk About The 5 Draft

Nothing exemplifies the Hot Stove season quite like worrying about the Rule 5 draft. Most of the players don't stick it out all year; most of the ones that do are eventually traded for Ronnie Belliard or Blaine Boyer; and most of the time it would be completely absurd to spend time thinking about this. Fangraphs won't return my calls, but according to my new WARP/seconds-in-your-limited-lifespan converter most of these guys peak around fifteen, twenty seconds. (Brian Barton, simply because his nickname was briefly "Enunciate It", broke the curve at forty-five.)

Viva El Birdos

Club Check: Springfield Cardinals

Hammons Field is a great ballpark and I fully intend on spending a weekend there again this year. Hopefully, the club is still playing as well then as they are now. The offense that is . . . because the pitching has some issues.

Future Redbirds

Fewer Recent Cardinals Top Draft Picks Made The Bigs

The St. Louis Cardinals media notes last week called attention to the fact that Colby Rasmus’ MLB debut marked the first first-round draft pick by the organization to reach the big leagues with the club since J.D. Drew (pictured) in 1998.

The Cardinal Nation

Cardinals Are Spending At Front End Instead Of Major League Level

The Cardinals ownership group, led by Bill DeWitt, is pouring more money into the baseball operation this year.

STL Today

2004 Draft Sighting And Updates On Others

The promotion of Cardinals righthander Mike Parisi to the major leagues inspires a buzz of palace intrigue — Is Anthony Reyes on his way out of the organization by way of Triple-A? Will Joel Pineiro’s back spasms allow him to make his start as scheduled Monday in Colorado? But Parisi’s imminent debut with the Cardinals has a historic ring all its own.

http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/bird-land/bird-land/2008/05/behold-a-2004-draft-class-sighting/

Cardinals Taking Steps To End Draft Nightmares

When it comes to reflecting on the 2004 draft, particularly on the decision to grab Boston College pitcher Chris Lambert with the 19th overall selection, the topic generates buzz in the St. Louis Cardinals front office, if not brings an embarrassed grin.

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080425/SPORTS02/804250405/-1/BLOGS01

D'Angelo Jimenez Still Has A Chance, Adam Wainwright's Injury Clause, Ryan Ludwick Breaks Out Of Slump, 2004 Draftees

Brendan Ryan’s rib injury has the Cardinals unsure if the spunky infielder will be available for opening day, and his absence has revived the major-league chances of D’Angelo Jimenez.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/C697AD8A6FE48C3786257414000CF3BD?OpenDocument

Albert Pujols' Swing Fine, Joel Pineiro & Matt Clement To Pitch In Minors Next Week, Mark Mulder To Face Hitters, Juan Gonzalez Not Coming North

Sitting back in his office here at Roger Dean Stadium on Thursday, manager Tony La Russa was asked if he would take the swing Albert Pujols has right now into April.

http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/bird-land/bird-land/2008/03/el-hombres-spring-fling/

Memphis Beats Las Vegas 6-2, Dennis Dove & Mike Ferris Released

The Redbirds left Dodgertown for the final time with a 6-2 win Thursday afternoon.

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080320&content_id=372206&vkey=news_t235&fext=.jsp&sid=t235

Cardinals Release 15 From Minor League Camp

A former second-round pick, a one-time Spring Training sensation and a potential hometown hero were all released by the Cardinals from Minor League camp on Thursday. First baseman Mike Ferris, right-handed reliever Dennis Dove and lefty Eric Haberer were the biggest names on a list of 15 Minor Leaguers released.

http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080320&content_id=2446455&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl

More On Adam Wainwright's Contract, Cesar Izturis Commits Another Error, 15 Released, Larry Bigbie Story

The Wainwright contract puts the Cardinals in an interesting situation with as many as five starters already signed through the 2009 season and the possibility of three starters signed through the 2012 season. General manager John Mozeliak said Thursday morning that the Wainwright deal did not paint the Cardinals into a financial corner when it comes to pursuing free agents.

http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/bird-land/bird-land/2008/03/the-ball-that-ties-babe-jackie-to-waino/

Memphis Splits Games Over Weekend

New Orleans Beat Memphis 5-4, 3-15-08
Memphis Beat Albuquerque 8-1, 3-16-08

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080317&content_id=360990&vkey=news_t235&fext=.jsp&sid=t235

Vuch Report 3-16-08

The news that George Kissell was making a visit to Roger Dean Stadium this past week, prompted a quick Google search just to see what, if anything, Kissell had been up to recently. It was while Googling that I came upon this quote from Kissell, which ran in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette:

http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/bird-land/bird-land/2008/03/vuch-report-cardinal-according-to-kissell/

Vuch Report 3-15-08

New Orleans Beats Memphis 5-4
Springfield & Binghamton Tied 2-2
Palm Beach Beat St. Lucie 4-1
Quad Cities(1) Beat Savannah 5-3
Quad Cities(2) Beat Gildea's Raiders 11-3

http://stlcardinals.scout.com/2/737829.html

http://futureredbirds.com/2008/03/15/the-vuch-report-31508/

http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/bird-land/bird-land/2008/03/vuch-report-three-wins-one-answer/