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

Ricky Bottalico & The Cardinals' Flawed Bullpen Plan

Ricky Bottalico was acquired by the Cardinals to be a setup reliever, became the closer instead and didn’t perform well enough to keep the job.

RetroSimba

Why Cardinals Saw Eric Davis As Answer To A Need

Eric Davis, who conquered cancer, convinced the Cardinals he could help them as an inspirational and productive player.

RetroSimba

Brett Cecil Now Pitching Well For Cardinals

Brett Cecil is compartmentalized in my mind alongside Greg Holland and Juan Agosto and Jeff Brantley (and Todd Burns and Esteban Yan) — generational bullpen embarrassments for the Cardinals.

Hochman

For One Season, Juan Acevedo Could Do It All For Cardinals

Reflecting his versatility as well as the Cardinals’ need for quality pitching in all areas, Juan Acevedo opened the 1998 season as a middle-inning reliever, moved into the starting rotation in May and became the club’s closer in August.

RetroSimba

How Kent Bottenfield Became Cardinals Starter

The Cardinals thought they were getting a short-inning reliever when they signed free agent Kent Bottenfield. Instead, much to their surprise, they got a pitcher who transformed into a starter and eventually became a big winner for them.

RetroSimba

Why Cardinals Wanted Jeff Brantley As Their Closer

The Cardinals took a chance on Jeff Brantley and lost.

RetroSimba

In Wake Of Trevor Rosenthal's Injury, Cardinals Should Lean On John Brebbia

Trevor Rosenthal's season — and the majority of 2018 as well — may be over, but the St. Louis Cardinals will take the field tonight against the San Diego Padres. A season-ending injury is always devastating, but the Cardinals have been here before with their closers hitting the bricks early.

KSDK

Take 2? Walt Jocketty Recalls Ill-Fated Cardinals Trade

Rarely are there do-overs in life, but Bill Murray's 1993 film "Groundhog Day" offered a scenario in which a person received multiple chances to get a day right before moving forward.

Cincinnati Official Site

Groundhog Day: Jeff Brantley Laments Rushing Back In 1998

In the movie "Groundhog Day," actor Bill Murray played cranky weatherman Phil Connors, who was forced to relive the same day over and over. Each time he faced Feb. 2, Murray's character did something different until he finally made it a perfect day.

Cincinnati Official Site

Matt Adams' Defense Is Golden

Notes on my Scorecard:

Bird Bytes

Reds Stand Pat During Walt Jocketty's Quietest Deadline; Jeff Brantley & Reggie Sanders Candidates For Reds Hall Of Fame

The non-waiver Trade Deadline came and went Wednesday for the Reds like it did for much of baseball, with no deals being made.

Cincinnati Official Site

Cardinals Offense Not Helping Overcome Blown Saves

As previously documented here at The Cardinal Nation Blog, the St. Louis Cardinals have compiled a Major League-leading total of nine blown saves through the first quarter of the 2011 season. While they are concentrated on Ryan Franklin’s four, five other Cardinals relievers have contributed one each.

The Cardinal Nation Blog

Mitch Boggs' 3-For-3 In Saves A Good Start, But Not Unusual

Lacking the excitement surrounding his recently-demoted predecessor Ryan Franklin, new St. Louis Cardinals closer Mitchell Boggs quietly converted each of his first three save opportunities during the club’s most recent homestand.

The Cardinal Nation Blog

Ryan Franklin Too Much Like Jeff Brantley

Ryan Franklin’s terrible start to this season _ blowing three ninth-inning leads that led to Cardinals losses _ brings back unpleasant memories of Jeff Brantley’s stint as St. Louis closer in 1998.

Retro Simba

Politics Of Trading Within The NL Central

For perspective, consider that the last time the St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros found an agreeable deal between two division rivals, the pitcher involved had a recognizable name and a place in history with one of the franchises. He was a fan favorite. He had been the ace of the staff. He was disappointed by losing.

Birdland

Al Hrabosky & Jeff Brantley On The Bernie Miklasz Show 6-2-10

Al Hrabosky and Reds broadcaster Jeff Brantley join Bernie in studio for the hour. Jeff discusses what difference Scott Rolen has made with the young guys on the Reds.

101 ESPN

Reds Are Not In On Jason Bay Or Matt Holliday; Kent Mercker Doing TV & Radio For Reds

I was reading some of the names of free agents. There are some good power hitters on this list. Do you think the Reds will go after Jason Bay or Matt Holliday?
-- Brandon S., Leesburg, Ohio

Two words: no chance. And to expound on that, there is simply no payroll space to make such a splash into the free-agent market.

Reds Official Site

Reds Bring Rigo Beltran Back As Pitching Coach For Class A Lynchburg

From the Reds media relations dept:

Mark My Word

Ask Hal McCoy: Pine Tar Hot On Reds' Fans Minds

Hal McCoy, the hall-of-fame baseball writer for the Dayton Daily News, knows a thing or two about America’s pastime. If you want to tap into that knowledge, send an e-mail to hmccoy@daytondailynews.com. For more Ask Hal, log on to DaytonDailyNews.com/reds.

Dayton Daily News