Opening Day at Busch Stadium is, of course, a one-of-a-kind event — and yesterday was no exception.
Here’s a look at some of the highlights of Opening Day 2013 (the pre-game, mostly), which included our favorite traditions as well as a touching remembrance of the Greatest Cardinal of Them All. Photos are courtesy of Kelly and Nicole — thank you both for sharing!
It’s always that sea of red on Opening Day. (Photo by Kelly)
It will be a few more days before Yadier Molina and Carlos Beltran are back at the St. Louis Cardinals spring training camp in Jupiter, Fla.
Puerto Rico’s 4-3 exciting win over Team USA last night means that they’re in the World Baseball Classic finals in San Francisco, along with the Dominican Republic, Japan and the Netherlands. And last night’s game really was exciting.
Puerto Rico had a 4-0 lead in the sixth before the U.S. scored one in the seventh and two in the eighth, with one on a two-out bases-loaded walk. At that point, J.C. Romero was brought in and he retired the final four batters he faced. (Yes, really. J.C. Romero.)
Yadi was, not surprisingly, Yadi as you can see in this clip when Jimmy Rollins tried to steal in the sixth inning. The video also gives you a hint of the atmosphere during these games, with the horns and the enthusiasm from the crowd (and Yadi’s own reaction). It’s comforting that no one ever seems to learn you can’t run on Yadi. Please continue to try, though …
» Continue reading “Catching Up With The Cardinals: Congratulations, Yadi And Carlos Edition”
Monday morning already. At least it’s now March, although it’s still four (long) weeks until the St. Louis Cardinals start the 2013 season. Plus manager Mike Matheny has a ruptured disc and might need surgery. And who knew that not having surgery for a torn elbow ligament would mean trouble for Rafael Furcal? Shocker! (Except not really.)
Add all of that to more winter weather in the Midwest, and all we’re really up for today is looking at some nice pictures from spring training to help us feel better — right?
Here’s hoping these will help. (All photos from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.)
Feel better yet?
» Continue reading “Cardinals Monday Motivation: More Spring Training Photos”
The home opener at Busch Stadium is one of those experiences you just have to take in with all of its glory from the Clydesdales, to the parade of living legends and current players. This year… it was just a little more special with the honoring of the 2011 World Series Champs as well as some champions from the Cardinal past.
Yes, it was cold, windy and rainy … but it warms the heart to see all of that gorgeous Cardinal red! Here’s some pictures from Friday’s festivities!
Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith shakes hands with Red Schoendienst, Bob Gibson and Lou Brock. Bruce Sutter and Whitey Herzog. joined Hall of Famers.
Remember that vague announcement from several weeks ago that Jim Edmonds would be a spring training instructor this year and maybe more? Jimmy’s now in Jupiter … and things still seem kind of vague.
For starters, the headline to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article by Joe Strauss is “Edmonds arrives in Cardinals camp; role remains undefined.” Jimmy did speak to a group of minor league outfielders on Wednesday morning. Yet he also said he was “a little anxious, a little apprehensive” about his whole Cardinals role.
Edmonds admitted to phoning general manager John Mozeliak on Monday with some last-minute misgivings before ultimately boarding a plane for Florida.
“I said, ‘I’m panicking a little bit. What’s expected? Let me know,’” Edmonds said. “He’s been real good with me. He’s really good at communicating and has been really good to me.”
Mozeliak has remained circumspect about what role Edmonds might play within the organization. Edmonds was equally vague Wednesday, saying he would use the next week to determine whether he prefers daily interaction with younger players or is most comfortable in an office environment.
“They were so open to letting me make my own decisions and schedule,” Edmonds said. “I’ve always wanted to help. I just never know how much of the day-to-day process would be on the field or off the field. You never know what you’re getting into until you take that step.”
It looks like an old Cardinals friend will be in spring training with the team again.
As reported by Joe Strauss in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Jim Edmonds is set to become a spring training instructor for the Cardinals. Well, that’s what the headline says anyway.
The actual article is a little less definitive:
The move, yet to be announced or even completely defined by the club, might lead to deeper involvement with the organization, possibly in a consultant role to general manager John Mozeliak.
Mozeliak said Wednesday morning that he was not prepared to comment publicly about Edmonds’ responsibilities but confirmed he has invited him to camp.
Initially reluctant, Edmonds has told associates he feels that a year of de facto retirement is enough separation for him to return to the game in another capacity.
That’s certainly clear … or something. » Continue reading “Welcome Back, Jimmy and Frankie!”
Valentine’s Day is, of course, all about love.
As St. Louis Cardinals fans, we obviously love our team … on Valentine’s Day and every other day too. And those of us who are bloggers especially love the Cardinals — we willingly spend our free time watching, thinking, writing, tweeting and writing even more about them.
So, with our question for the latest United Cardinal Bloggers roundtable falling today, we couldn’t resist a question focusing on this holiday.
Our question for our blogging cohorts: what one Cardinal, past or present, would you send a Valentine to this year and why?
Ray DeRousse
stlcardinalbaseball.com
My first response to this question was Willie McGee. I really wish McGee was more a part of this organization, and if my Valentine could move him to do that, then I’d send it to him. I love you, Willie!!!
Given that my plan probably wouldn’t work, I’d send my Valentine to John Tudor. He was inspirational to me in 1985. I was learning to pitch at the time (rather than just throw),and Tudor was my major influence. Watching him work that year was like watching Michelangelo paint the Sistene Chapel. In my mind, it’s the single best Cardinal pitching performance in my lifetime (just missed Gibby).
Besides that, Tudor was a true competitor who was humble and self-deprecating. I just love the guy and always will.
New Year’s Day is always about football — and, with today being Sunday, it’s all NFL.
But you’re a St. Louis Cardinals fan. So here’s a look at some of the articles about our Cardinals you might have missed to help you start out 2012.
Lance Berkman, of course, has become one of our favorite Cardinals. (We’re the home of the LB Fan Club, after all.) And here’s just another reason to love LB: he and his wife Cara are No. 7 on the Giving Back 30, which is “a list of the 30 celebrities who made the largest donations to charity in 2010 according to public records.” The Berkmans contributed $2,412,245, with most of their giving to Christian-based organizations. In addition, LB was named Sportsman of the Year for the San Antonio Express-News.
Lance Lynn, our favorite Wolf Pup, helped host a clinic for high school pitchers in Westfield, Ind., last week and was featured in the Indianapolis Star. One of the good things he had to say:
“I learned a lot about how to go about your business while also trying to win. It was a little different than just trying to learn on the job.”
» Continue reading “Catching Up With The Cardinals: New Year’s Day Edition”
I’ve been content with just letting this go. What’s done is done. But … some people can’t leave well enough alone!
Yeah. Deidre Pujols decided to stir the pot that is the Cardinals’ fans disgust with this whole situation involving her husband’s free agent signing with the L.A. Angels.
She took to the airwaves Monday morning on JOY FM in St. Louis with two individuals who were drinking the red-flavored Kool-Aid Mrs. Pujols brought with her to the studio.
It was a spin machine and no one could catch their balance!
That sounds pretty cynical, doesn’t it?
Well, just listen to that interview. You’ll feel overcome with cynicism too. I had actually come to the point where I didn’t care anymore. This interview didn’t help my thought process with what happened. At all! In fact … it has made things worse!
Let me just hit on a few of DeeDee’s talking points. » Continue reading “Deidre Pujols Should Stop”
An unforgettable NLCS moment -- and no NLCS will ever happen between them again after 2012
With the sale of the Houston Astros to Jim Crane approved yesterday came the further news that the Astros will officially be moving to the American League in 2013.
While it makes sense that all six divisions will then have five teams, it isn’t necessarily logical that the Astros basically were forced to move as a condition for Crane to buy the team. But I suppose there really is no easy solution to undoing the unbalanced four-team AL West and six-team NL Central that Bud Selig created back in 1998, right?
So an era will be ending once the Cardinals and Astros play their final games in the upcoming season. And while the rivalry between the two teams isn’t now what it was six and seven years ago, there were some terrific games between these two teams — especially a classic NLCS in 2004 and one unforgettable NLCS moment in 2005.
Even the last series between the two teams this season was certainly memorable. Sure, the Astros had already lost 100 games and were obviously in last place — but they beat the Cardinals on Monday, Sept. 26, in a tough 10-inning battle when a win would have put the Cardinals into a tie for the wild card. Of course the Astros looked more like that 100-loss team the next two games and everything worked out fine, but it was a meaningful series.
