Molina, Wainwright feuding over ball

Gordo notes that the following players must be ready if the St. Louis Cardinals are expected to repeat as the World Series champions. Gordo's 10 Most Pivotal Players, in order from most to least important, include: closer Jason Isringhausen, starting pitcher Anthony Reyes, outfielder Chris Duncan, newly acquired Cardinals pitcher Kip Wells, centerfielder Jim Edmonds, starting pitcher Mark Mulder, catcher Yadier Molina, newly acquired Cardinals pitcher Ryan Franklin, third baseman Scott Rolen, and reliever Josh Kinney.

I expect that Kip Wells will get back to his old form and put up some career numbers once he starts working with pitching coach Dave Duncan. The last thing we need to see is a Spivey'd deal. I say that because we waisted a million on Junior Spivey last season. Spivey stunk in spring training and did as poorly with Memphis (AAA).

I'm pretty sure that this is all in good humor. The best bet would be to place it in the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame...at least that's what I would have done in that scenario.

It's about another month and a half to the start of the 2007 Major League Baseball season. I don't know how the rest of you are getting ready but I've been watching DVDs from the greatest games at Busch Stadium.

Pujols arrives early

Pujols and a few other position players have arrived early to Spring Training.

Pujols actually has been in town since Friday and had been working out at a high school with his personal trainer. He was among about 20 Cardinals hitting the field on an informal basis Wednesday in an early start to their title defense.

No NL team has repeated as the pennant winner since Atlanta in 1996 and there have been seven different World Series winners this decade. The Cardinals won only 83 games, fewest ever by a World Series winner, and nearly collapsed in the closing weeks of the season.

"We probably didn't have the best year with our record, but who cares?" Pujols said. "But that's over, all of that's in the past. Now I'm here in camp and celebration is over."[...]

The off-field activities haven't prevented Pujols from reporting in top shape, with none of the foot, back and hamstring issues that have dogged him in recent year. He noted, however, that there hasn't been much baseball-related activity yet.

"I feel too strong right now, but it's better to be ready," Pujols said. "We'll see if I can hold on hopefully, for the whole year."

Catcher Yadier Molina and outfielders Chris Duncan and Skip Schumaker were among other early position-player arrivals. Virtually all the pitchers were in camp ahead of schedule.

Pitching coach Dave Duncan, wearing jeans and a T-shirt, oversaw Wednesday's workout. Manager Tony La Russa is due to arrive just in time for the first workout.

"I think it's abnormal to have this many guys here this early," Duncan said. "And they've been here for a while.

"I think they recognize it's going to be a competitive camp and it's important they be in shape and get their feet on the ground."

Happy Spring Training Day!

Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training today in much warmer weather than what is in the midwest. What better way to start than with a photo of Adam Wainwright signing an autograph?

Exclusive interview with Dan McLaughlin

(Dan McLaughlin is a broadcaster for the St. Louis Cardinals on Fox Sports Midwest. I had the chance to interview him last week and here is the transcript.)

Daniel Solzman: Growing up, when did you consider going into sportscasting?
Dan McLaughlin: About the minute I could probably walk...ever since a little boy.

DS: Who were some of your favorite sportscasters?
DM: Jack Buck, of course. Mike Kelly, Randy ?. Those three come to mind. Dan Kelly.

DS: Between baseball, basketball and hockey, what's your favorite sport to call or analyze?
DM: Well, I enjoy all for different reasons...baseball is a lot of fun...so I really enjoy it.

DS: Did you do any sportscasting in college?
DM: Oh, yea. Every minute I was awake...was at radio station at school. DJ'ing, news, weather, sports.

DS: When you call a game, is it hard to get into a game and remain professional?
DM: Not at all, easy to do. Easy to consider a fan but love what I do...doing something I love.

DS: What's the typical day like for when you broadcast a home game?
DM: Up early, play with my son until 2 and do research during the day. At the park by 3. Pregame interviews and then the booth by six. Broadcast at 6:30.

DS: Favorite catch phrase?
DM: None.

DS: Advice for aspiring sportscasters?
DM: The advice I give to everyone is simple. Practice, practice and more practice. Also, be as diversified as you can. Don't just concentrate on sports. Look into news and other items of interest. This is a business where you have to go with the flow so to speak and keep plugging along.

DS: Did you go to any of the playoff or World Series games? If so, were they as a fan or did you help out with the FOX broadcasts?
DM: I was at the final game of the world series as a fan. Unreal atmosphere. I was with family and they enjoyed it so much. A night I will never forget!

Cards to honor last three World Series winners

The World Series champions from 1967, 1982, and 2006 will be honored on Opening Day.

Hall of Famers Lou Brock, Bob Gibson and Bruce Sutter are expected to attend, along with Whitey Herzog, who produced one championship and two NL pennants in the 1980s.

Championship rings will be presented in a pre-game ceremony on April 3, the second game of the season, with fans receiving replica rings.

Derrick Goold takes a look at the organization and lineups of the future. Here is what he believes are the top ten prospects:

1. Colby Rasmus, of
2. Jaime Garcia, lhp
3. Chris Perez, rhp
4. Blake Hawksworth, rhp
5. Jon Jay, of
6. Bryan Anderson, c
7. Adam Ottavino, rhp
8. Mark McCormick, rhp
9. Josh Kinney, rhp
10. Darryl Jones, of

Kinney is the only one of those players that saw a lot of time at the major league level and played a key role in coming out of the bullpen. Rasmus is being groomed to replace Jim Edmonds when Edmonds probably retires at the end of his contract.

The 40-Man roster

Here is the most recent 40-man roster for the St. Louis Cardinals:
Pitchers: Chris Carpenter (R), Troy Cate (L), Andy Cavazos (R), Dennis Dove (R), Brian Falkenborg (R), Randy Flores (L), Ryan Franklin (R), Josh Hancock (R), Blake Hawksworth (R), Jason Isringhausen (R), Tyler Johnson (L), Randy Keisler (L), Josh Kinney (R), Braden Looper (R), Mark Mulder (L), Chris Narveson (L), Anthony Reyes (R), Ricardo Rincon (L), Russ Springer (R), Brad Thompson (R), Adam Wainwright (R), Kip Wells (R)

Catchers: Gary Bennett, Yadier Molina

Infielders: David Eckstein, Travis Hanson, Adam Kennedy, Aaron Miles, Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, Brendan Ryan, Scott Spiezio

Outfielders: Chris Duncan, Jim Edmonds, Juan Encarnacion, Cody Haerther, John Rodriguez, Skip Schumaker, So Taguchi, Preston Wilson

Non-roster invitees to Spring Training:
Pitchers: Kelvin Jimenez (R), Chris Lambert (R), Mike Parisi (R), Mike Sillman (R), Mike Smith (R), Mark Worrell (R)

Infielders: Tagg Bozied, Jolbert Cabrera, Edgar Gonzalez

Catchers: Bryan Anderson, Ryan Christianson, Brian Esposito, Michel Hernandez, Eli Marrero, Danilo Sanchez

Outfielders: Rick Ankiel, Ryan Ludwick, Miguel Negron, Colby Rasmus

The 2007 Starting Rotation

Spring Training is here this week and, as such, this blog will be in the mode as it was during the 2006 World Series Championship season with blogging more frequent than it was during the off season.

Derrick Goold previews the 2007 starting rotation and who is competing for the five spots:

ANTHONY REYES, RHP
2006: 5-8, 5.06 ERA, 17 starts, 85 1/3 IP, 72 Ks at MLB.
Resume: Reyes tied a career-high with eight innings in his World Series Game 1 victory, working the aggressive Tigers hitters with his four-seam fastball. The club's top prospect entering 2006 has all the ingredients of a big-leaguer, but he must prove his durability and embrace the lower reaches of strike zone.

ADAM WAINWRIGHT, RHP
2006: 2-1, 3 saves, 3.12 ERA, 61 app (no starts), 75 IP, 72 Ks at MLB.
Resume: The only Cardinals pitcher from last season to have more strikeouts than hits allowed (64). Wainwright emerged last spring as a bullpen contributor, became a force by October — four saves, closed out World Series. But he was groomed as a starter and brings starter stuff to the mound.

BRADEN LOOPER, RHP
2006: 9-3, 3.56 ERA, 69 app (no starts), 73 1/3 IP, 41 Ks at MLB.
Resume: Last summer was the first since his rookie year, 1999, without a save, as Looper has been a career setup-man or closer. Save for a handful of starts in minors, he has not been a starter since college. He had success in longer appearances later in season, which got Dave Duncan to thinking.

RYAN FRANKLIN, RHP
2006: 6-7, 4.54 ERA, 66 app (no starts), 77 1/3 IP, 43 Ks at MLB.
Resume: For three seasons, 2003-05, Franklin made at least 30 starts and pitched at least 190 2/3 innings every summer for Seattle, going 23-44 with a 4.49 ERA. His career year was 2003 (11-13, 3.57 ERA). Suspended for a positive steroid test in '05, he was used in relief by Philly, Cincy last summer.

BRAD THOMPSON, RHP
2006: 1-2, 3.34 ERA, 43 app (1 start), 56 2/3 IP, 32 Ks at MLB.
Resume: Thompson is the staff's remaining sinkerball-based pitcher, and after he regained his grip on it last summer, he had a 0.73 ERA in 12 1/3 Sept. innings. Thompson set a record with 57 2/3 scoreless innings as a starter in Class AA and has had ample minor league success in the role.

TROY CATE, LHP
2006: 3-3, 1.27 ERA, 44 app (no starts), 56 2/3 IP, 78 Ks at High-A/AAA
Resume: Once a standout prospect in Seattle's system, Cate powered through his first year with the Cardinals — 78 Ks to 24 hits allowed; .127 opponents batting average — as a lefty reliever. This winter, he has shined as a starter in Mexico, thrusting him unexpectedly into this competition.

CHRIS NARVESON, LHP
2006: 8-5, 2.81 ERA, 15 starts, 80 IP, 58 Ks at AAA
Resume: On-the-cusp-of-the-majors prospect, returned from a shoulder strain to throw a strong half season for Class AAA Memphis and merit a September call-up. The 25-year-old lefty has to improve his control — 38 walks in 89 1/3 total innings last summer — to strengthen his big-league bid.

Chris Carpenter and Kip Wells are a given so it's really a competition for three starting spots. However, Mulder will be ready in the middle of the season so someone will likely be going to the bullpen. If Jason Isringhausen is ready to close at the beginning of the season, I believe that Adam Wainwright will be a starter like he should have been last season.

My ideal starting rotation, now that we no longer have Jeff Suppan: Chris Carpenter, Anthony Reyes, Adam Wainwright, Chris Narveson, Kip Wells.

By placing Narveson into the rotation, it gives us a LHP as a starter.

Quote of the Day

"I didn't understand him. I wonder how much Scott Boras really told him. There were some really brutal statements that weren't close to being true. Me and Dunc called him over and over again to tell him how much we wanted him. Was really upset with the way that thing went down....(Weaver) called Dunc and asked, 'Why aren't you offering me more years? Dunc told him, 'Because you had a terrible year overall. You have to prove your value.' We set a value for Jeff and it wasn't insulting. What's insulting is when someone outside your organization claims to know more about your organization than you do..... I was aggravated by the situation and it was handled very poorly by Scott Boras."
--Tony La Russa on Jeff Weaver, February 8, 2007

Pujols becomes U.S. citizen

I'd like to be one of the first to congratulate Albert Pujols on passing the citizenship exam.

Albert Pujols has won an NL MVP award, a Gold Glove and a World Series. He added a perfect 100 on his U.S. citizenship test to his resume this week.

The St. Louis Cardinals' star became a U.S. citizen Wednesday during a ceremony at the Eagleton Courthouse. Pujols' wife, Diedre, arranged to have about two dozen relatives and friends watch U.S. District Judge E. Richard Webber swear in Pujols.

Chester Moyer, the officer in charge of the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service office in St. Louis, said Thursday that Diedre Pujols served as her husband's tutor. Moyer said the 27-year-old Pujols spent about a year preparing for the citizenship exam.

"He even answered a bunch of additional questions and gave us more answers than we asked," Moyer said. "He clenched his fist and said, 'I got 100 percent!'

"He just had a grin from ear to ear," Moyer said. "He was thrilled to become a citizen."

Pujols' agent and officials with his foundation, the Pujols Family Foundation, did not return telephone calls seeking comment.

The ceremony was open to the public, but there was no publicity about Pujols' participation. He was the only person sworn in Wednesday.

Pujols grew up in the Dominican Republic, moved with his father to the Kansas City area when he was 16, and graduated from Fort Osage High School in Independence, Mo., in 1998. He was selected by the Cardinals in the 13th round of the 1999 amateur draft after playing baseball at Maple Woods Community College in Kansas City.

Exclusive interview with Mike Lindskog

(Mike Lindskog is a broadcaster for the Springfield Cardinals and I had the chance to interview him towards the end of last week.)

Daniel Solzman: Thanks for joining Redbirds Fun today. How is life out in Springfield?
Mike Lindskog: Things are pretty cold right now…it’s tough to believe the season is so close. The community recently went through a tough experience with the ice storm. We were lucky to only lose a few trees without any significant damage to Hammons Field…certainly much luckier than others around town who suffered a lot.

DS: How long have you been in sports broadcasting and what factored into your decision to pursue sports broadcasting as a career?
ML: The 2007 season will be my 15th in Minor League Baseball. Not all of those years were spent on the radio though, as I started by doing some PA announcing and On-field Hosting. I’ve been in broadcasting for about ten years now…it made a lot of sense, with my love for sports and hopefully a good personality and a lot of energy.

DS: Who were some of your favorite announcers growing up?
ML: I didn’t grow up in the Midwest, so my memories of Jack Buck are from the National baseball and football games that he did, rather than St. Louis Cardinals’ games. Being a Mariners fan in the Pacific Northwest, I very much admired Dave Neihouse, who is their play-by-play voice.

DS: Do you use phrases that were coined by others or do you prefer to use original ones?
ML: Everything that I use on the radio is my own…now that doesn’t mean I didn’t get the line from a song or a movie, but I am definitely not taking Sports Center quotes from Stewart Scott and making them my own. When I first broke in, I definitely had more phrases than I do now, but there comes a point where you have to grow as a broadcaster and I think leaving some (phrases) behind is necessary.

DS: What's a day in the life of a sports broadcaster like?
ML: For me, it’s incredibly busy. While some guys just show up to the park an hour or two before they go on air, I get to the ballpark around 8:30am every morning for all of our home games. I usually wrap it up around 11pm every night after the game is over with a post-game press release. The majority of the day is spent printing and organizing stats for the media, writing web content and putting together press releases. I also manage our website and have some ticket and marketing responsibilities as well. Things are a little easier on the road when I travel with the team, as I’m not at the ballpark so early.

DS: Has there ever been a time, while calling a game, that you got into the game or do you try and remain professional?
ML: I’m “into” every single game that we play during the year. One of the things I bring every night is a lot of energy…perhaps some would say too much at times. Experience has helped me remain professional during an obvious bad call or brawl on the field, but every game that I broadcast has intensity and is hopefully a lot of fun to listen to, regardless of the score.

DS: How is the team looking for this season--or are the rosters unknown until we get closer to spring training?
ML: At this point we don’t have a definitive roster until late March. I have a good idea of who will be back but there are some question marks in the outfield and in the rotation. It’ll depend on how guys do during Spring Training. The most talked-about prospect that will play in Springfield this year is Center Fielder Colby Rasmus, who’s a former 1st round draft pick. He will be here at some point in 2007, despite the fact that he’s only 20 years old, which is very young for the Texas League.

DS: What does the broadcast team tend to do during rain delays?
ML: We’ve done a variety of different things. We have the ability to take phone calls and pretty much have a talk show segment. If it’s a long one, we can also allow the station to continue with regular programming, which would typically be Fox Sports Radio.

DS: Last year, the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series. Were you able to attend any of the games?
ML: I think every boy’s dream growing up is to be able to take his dad to the World Series. My dad was actually going to fly in from Washington State so we could drive to KC and watch the Chiefs/Seahawks game. We were lucky enough to secure some Cardinals tickets at the last moment and we ended up driving to St. Louis and watching them clinch the World Series on Friday night. It was something I’ll never forget!

DS: Of players currently playing right now, who do you think will be voted into the HOF on the first vote?
ML: First ballot hall of famer….Before all the steroid talk, Barry Bonds would have been the most obvious choice. I’m curious as to what the writers will do as that situation continues to develop though. Barring any major injuries, Albert Pujols will be a lock for the first ballot. There are actually several Cardinals I expect to get in, but I’m not sure who’ll be first-ballot worthy and who will need some help. Rolen, Edmonds and Carpenter all have a chance and I’d honestly be surprised if at least two of those three don’t make it eventually.

DS: Thanks again for joining Redbirds Fun and go Cards!
ML: We hope to see everyone at Hammons Field this year…and indeed….Go Cards!