Cardinals Were Peristent In Pursuit Of Fernando Vina

The Cardinals tried for a year to acquire second baseman Fernando Vina and when they finally succeeded they were rewarded for their effort.

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

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

The Cardinals' Bullpen Is A Raging, Stinking Tire Fire. So Go Get An Extinguisher

Over the last month the Cardinals’ relievers lead MLB in bruises and contusions. These fellows are getting walloped, with little relief in sight, or on site … unless, of course, you were eerily excited by Preston Guilmet’s two-appearance audition.

101 ESPN

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

Ricky Bottalico On The Pat Imig, Dre Montez, & T.J. Moe Show 4-28-15

Inside STL

Retrieving Scott Rolen

Hated in Philadelphia over the last decade of his career, he'd spent the previous six years giving hope to a fan base in desperate need of it.

The Good Plight

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

Ex-Cardinals Watch 4-13-09: Dewon Brazelton & Ryan Bird Sign Deals, Jeff Suppan Struggles, Ricky Bottalico Gets More Air Time

Dewon Brazelton (Camden):
RHP Dewon Brazelton, who got $4.2 million and won eight games from 2002-05, is making a comeback, signed by the independent Camden (N.J.) team after showing up unannounced at a recent tryout.
St. Petersburg Times

Jeff Suppan (Brewers):
When will Jeff Suppan become an effective pitcher again?

That question surely is on the minds of puzzled folks who support the Milwaukee Brewers this morning. And, truth be told, those who run the baseball operation have to be wondering the same thing.
JS Online

Ricky Bottalico (Retired):
Former Phils reliever Ricky Bottalico is enjoying more SportsNet work, thanks to his steady face time during the Phillies' playoff run last season and analyst Mitch Williams' heavier workload on MLB.com. He's doing pregame and postgame shows for SportsNet, getting frequent shots on Daily News Live, and just started a Sunday afternoon features show on WPHT-AM (1210) with Phillies publicist John Brazer. Bottalico, 39, occasionally does analyst work on Lehigh Valley IronPigs games.
The Philadelphia Inquirer

Ryan Bird (Southern Illinois):
The Southern Illinois Miners are excited to announce the re-signing of the 2008 Frontier League Pitcher of the Year, Ryan Bird.
WPSD Local 6

Michel Hernandez (Rays):
Was placed on Triple-A Durham's reserve list.

Minor League Moves Of Ex-Cardinals:
CBNL's Summary From Baseball America


jrocke217 says: had to cut this short for Monday night, hopefully pick everything up tomorrow.

Jamey Wright In Running For Royals Bullpen Spot

Jamey Wright: He's been around the Majors since 1996, and turned exclusively to relief last year with the Rangers, appearing in 75 games with an 8-7 record but a 5.12 ERA. His experience is a value and he's looked pretty good as a non-roster candidate.

Royals Official Site

Who's Next? Cardinals Search For New Closer

For 11 seasons with Dennis Eckersley and most of eight years with Jason Isringhausen, Tony La Russa had ninth-inning peace of mind.

The Telegraph

Ricky Bottalico & Jim Fregosi Up For Phillies Wall Of Fame

Fifteen former Phillies have been nominated for this year's Wall of Fame voting.

Phillies Official Site

Jason Isringhausen Nearing 300 Saves

It has become tradition for Jason Isringhausen to acknowledge a member of his fraternity reaching 300 saves by sending a bottle of champagne to the appropriate clubhouse.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/E732CC79BF79DFF28625743800106330?OpenDocument

More On Cliff Politte

Once again, the St. Louis Cardinals return to their past, re-signing a local reliever they initially drafted in 1995 and is now trying to return from rotator cuff surgery.

http://stlcardinals.scout.com/2/713666.html


Cliff Politte stats: http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/P/Cliff-Politte.shtml

Cliff Politte Signs Minor League Deal

Ten years after throwing the first pitch in Roger Dean Stadium history, Cliff Politte is returning to the Cardinals’ spring training campus to win a job.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/F9A2CBA025FB9750862573B9000F6019?OpenDocument