Nothing Can Replace Cardinals Opening Day, But A Tony LaRussa Pep Talk Ties For First On List Of Alternatives

The text message had barely reached Arizona when the phone rang back here.

BenFred

Mike Shildt's Strengths Should Give Cardinals An Edge In Baseball's Waiting Game

One of the spring training stories Mike Shildt tells from time to time dates to 2008, the first season he was in charge of planning and running a Cardinals minor-league camp.

BenFred

Tony LaRussa Defends Mark McGwire & Steroids Legacy, Laments His Own Personal Life, In TV Interview

Tony La Russa never was one to back down, as the manager of the Cardinals or two other big-league teams, and still is swinging away in his post-managerial life about a variety of topics in baseball and his sometimes rough private life.

Post-Dispatch

Why Cardinals Took A Chance On Brad Penny

A grand start to his Cardinals career culminated with a grand slam for pitcher Brad Penny before an injury described as minor became something major.

RetroSimba

Pitching Swap Gave Cardinals A Rocky Mountain High

With one bold move, the Cardinals got a No. 1 starter for their rotation and a closer for the bullpen.

RetroSimba

Bo Hart's Arrival In 2003 Cemented In Cardinals Lore

When Bo Hart lined a pitch into left field for his fourth hit of the Cardinals’ 13-9 win over the Royals on June 28, 2003, Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan looked over at bench coach Joe Pettini.

St. Louis Official Site

Mark McGwire & Tony LaRussa Inducted Into Athletics Hall Of Fame

After hearing about the inaugural class inducted into the A’s Hall of Fame last year, Mark McGwire couldn’t help but wonder if he’d ever get the chance to join some of his former teammates. Sitting at his Orange County, Calif., home in June, he got that call from team president Dave Kaval.

Oakland Official Site

The Cardinals Have Control Of Their Own Destiny, But Must Keep Fighting

A month ago things were hopeless.

Cheap Seats

A Tribute To The Late, Great, Beloved Chris Duncan. Let's Raise A Glass To Him. And Make It A 'Man Soda.'

Chris Duncan’s tragic fate was inevitable despite his excruciatingly fierce efforts to survive an invasive attack of brain cancer. But the news of Dunc’s death was stunning, numbing and heartbreaking.

101 ESPN

Tony LaRussa, Others Remember Chris Duncan; Extra Bases

His manager remembers the 22 homers the late Chris Duncan hit during the regular season of 2006, let alone the one he hit in the World Series the Cardinals won.

Post-Dispatch

Gone But Not Forgotten: How Chris Duncan Chased & Fulfilled His Dreams

Nobody made fun of Chris Duncan more than Chris himself. That to me tells you all that one needs to know about the man and what his soul was made of. It wasn't pure self-deprecation; just a guy who didn't mind designing the punch line as well as executing it.

KSDK

Chris Duncan Dies From Brain Cancer At 38

Chris Duncan, a former World Series champion with the Cardinals, passed away Friday at the age of 38.
St. Louis Official Site

A slugger with a familiar last name who often powered through pain and lifted the Cardinals to a World Series championship in 2006 and then later had a second act as a candid sports pundit on St. Louis radio, Chris Duncan died Friday in Tucson, Ariz., after years of battling brain cancer. He was 38.
Post-Dispatch

Former St. Louis Cardinals outfielder and local sports radio host Chris Duncan, 38, has died after a long battle with cancer. News about the 2006 World Series Champion's death was announced by Rick Horton and John Rooney on KMOX, during the broadcast of Friday's Cardinals game in Pittsburgh.
KMOX

There’s so much I can tell you about Chris Duncan. So much. I’ll just tell you a few stories to give you what I think the essence of my friend was.
101 ESPN

Former Cardinal Chris Duncan has died following a years-long battle with brain cancer, the team announced Friday. He was 38.
Fox2Now

Former Cardinal and member of the 2006 World Series championship team Chris Duncan has died, according to Fox Sports Midwest announcer Dan McLaughlin.
KMOV

Former Peoria Chiefs first baseman and retired St. Louis Cardinals player Chris Duncan died Friday at age 38 after battling brain cancer for years.
Peoria Journal Star

Walk The Plank: Pirates' Pitching Inside Has Drawn Ire, Awareness From Division Rivals; Matt Carpenter, Mike Mayers Near Returns; Yairo Munoz Mans Center; Brett Cecil, Etc

Having cut his teeth and delivered a few bruises as a young starter for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston righthander Gerrit Cole heard Cubs manager Joe Maddon’s furious criticism earlier this month about the Bucs’ “pitching philosophy,” which can be aggressively inside and sometimes up in the zone.

Post-Dispatch

Bernie At The All-Star Break: Attention, Cardinals! It's Time To Post The First-Half Grades

Here’s my assessment of the Cardinals at the break.

101 ESPN

Jordan Hicks & Alex Reyes Injuries Will Test John Mozeliak's Beloved Pitching Depth

Whatever can go wrong will go wrong. Murphy's Law, they say. I have a new definition for the Cardinal Way in St. Louis. It's doom for young pitchers.

KSDK

A Scout, A Backup Catcher, Albert Pujols, & A Trade That Would Have Changed Cardinals History

In the years after his playing days, as he grabbed a radar gun and began a second career ballpark-hopping with other scouts and swimming in their tales, Ben Johnson started hearing the lore of his role in a trade that, as one Cardinals executive recently put it, “could have changed baseball history.”

Birdland

As Albert Pujols Returns, Let's Appreciate What He Meant To The Cardinals. And Mourn What's Been Lost.

I was privileged to have a prime seat for witnessing the best of Albert Pujols. He gave St. Louis and the Cardinals 11 seasons of excellence and intensity, fearlessness and ferociousness, pride and purpose, MVP awards and pennants, All-Star games and World Series titles.

101 ESPN

How Jose Jimenez Baffled The Diamondbacks

In their two matchups against one another, Randy Johnson, as expected, pitched like a Hall of Famer, but Jose Jimenez unexpectedly was better.

RetroSimba

Win Vs. Cardinals Was Turning Point For Scott Sanderson

Scott Sanderson enhanced his status as a starter by pitching a 10-inning gem against the Cardinals before the largest crowd to attend a baseball game in Montreal.

RetroSimba

The Cardinals' Homegrown Pitching System

“Our success is based on traditional thinking with strong scouting and player development. We compliment it with modern business strategies and innovation.” —John Mozeliak

Beyond The Boxscore