Cardinals Capsules, Vol. 20: Yadier Molina Drives In Tying & Winning Runs As Cardinals Force NLDS Game Five, 2019

Welcome back to Cards Capsules, the series in which we take a look back at memorable Cardinals games from the last 20 years in St. Louis baseball history. Without any baseball to watch in the present due to the spread of coronavirus, what better way to fill the time, eh?

KMOV

Peoria Virtual Opening Day, A July Prediction, & A Duel With Quad Cities

The Peoria Chiefs celebrated Opening Day on Thursday, albeit not on the field.

Peoria Journal Star

First, Matt Carpenter Says He Must 'Earn A Job,' But His Goal Is To Finish Spring Hitting Second

From on-base percentage titan to pull-side slugger, as Matt Carpenter morphed from one style of hitter to another, he could line up his seasons with traditional typecasting for spots in the batting order.

Post-Dispatch

Kwang-Hyun Kim Is Making Cardinals Rotation Look Like Home

Baseball, sort of like fishing, tends to be more or less the same no matter where you go.

BenFred

Back From Groin Injury, Kwang-Hyun Kim Continues Adapting; Alex Reyes Closes It Out; Cardinals Seek Pitcher Improvement -- At The Plate; Up Next

The drive time from Kwang-Hyun Kim’s home in Incheon, South Korea, to the country’s capital in Seoul is roughly 30 minutes if the roads are clear. But when traffic backs up, the commute can easily be extended upwards of two hours.

St. Louis Official Site

Cleanup Quandary: Marcell Ozuna, Cardinals Bet On Bigger, Better Productions -- Just Now With Each Other

When the Atlanta Braves’ new cleanup hitter came to the plate Thursday afternoon, he leaned in for a hug from the Cardinals’ catcher and the Cardinals pitcher purposefully avoided making eye contact. That could wait until he got the guy out, then Jack Flaherty would give him a grin.

Post-Dispatch

Marcell Ozuna Says He Would Have Welcomed One-Year Deal From Cardinals; It Just Wasn't Offered A Second Time

If he knew then what he knows now, Atlanta Braves cleanup hitter Marcell Ozuna would have answered one of the Cardinals’ biggest questions of spring way, way, way back in mid-November.

Birdland

After Rough 2019 Season, Matt Carpenter Banking On A Comeback Season: 'I Still Have A Lot Left'

They booed him during the summer, and begged management to dump during the winter.

USA Today

Braves Hope Marcell Ozuna Can Reclaim Power, Prowess

When Marcell Ozuna arrived at Braves camp on Sunday, he took another step toward attempting to prove his 2017 season was more a sign of his tremendous potential than it was an outlier.

Atlanta Official Site

Josh Donaldson A Hit In First Days At Twins Camp

It's been well documented over the years that Josh Donaldson, the newest member of the Bomba Squad, is a huge hitting nut.

Minnesota Official Site

Nolan Arenado Looking To Move Past Offseason Strife

Declining to say whether he pushed to be traded, Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado vowed to push past an offseason of friction between him and the front office.

Colorado Official Site

These Nine Players Could Change Everything

Mike Trout and Gerrit Cole are easy. Go ahead and write down their 2020 numbers. You'll be close. As for dozens of others, this is where it gets interesting. This is also where postseason berths can be decided. And championships.

St. Louis Official Site

The Five Most Surprising Infield Standouts Of 2019

The release of any new metric involves an eye test: Do the stars we recognize for that skill in real life show up at the top of the leaderboard?

St. Louis Official Site

Cardinals Kept Talking But Marcell Ozuna Winds Up Walking

After the 2019 postseason ended and the free agency period quickly ensued, the Cardinals made free agent left fielder Marcell Ozuna a standard, one-year, qualifying offer of $17.8 million in order to ensure a high draft choice if Ozuna signed with someone else. More than two months later, Ozuna, who turned down that offer, has signed with someone else, the Atlanta Braves, for one year at $18 million, as the Cardinals apparently did not come off that qualifying figure very much, if any, in the 75 days or so since it was made.

Post-Dispatch

Why Marcell Ozuna Signed One-Year Deal With Braves Rather Than Long-Term Contract

Free agent outfielder Marcell Ozuna agreed to a one-year with the Braves on Tuesday, not getting the long-term contract he desired when he hit the open market.

Sporting News

The Nolan Arenado Trade Problem

There have been rumors for much of the offseason that Nolan Arenado might be on the move. Jon Morosi stirred up a ruckus with a pair of reports that the Cardinals were “emerging” in trade talks and that names had been exchanged.

Fangraphs

'To Me, It's Kinda Pathetic,' Mark Mulder Weighs In On Astros Cheating Scandal

Two-time MLB All-Star and former Cardinals pitcher Mark Mulder joined KMOX from the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions in Orlando on Thursday, and said the Astros sign-stealing scandal is indeed a topic of conversation.

KMOX

The Cardinals Are About To Screw Up Yet Another Offseason

The St. Louis Cardinals call it patience. But to fans, what they’ve done this offseason looks more like a high stakes game of chicken.

Cheap Seats

Twins Signed Josh Donaldson To Four-Year Deal

Mark Feinsand Twitter

Get Ready To Welcome Back Marcell Ozuna

Reports from the free-agent Hot Stove, plus recent outfield moves by the St. Louis Cardinals, make it more likely than ever that Marcell Ozuna will return for at least one more year.

Redbird Rants