2009 MLB Preview: #13 St. Louis Cardinals Posted by Anthony Stalter (03/24/2009 @ 8:41 pm) 
Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams Offseason Movement: The biggest move the Cardinals made this offseason was acquiring former Padres’ shortstop Khalil Greene, who the club hopes will bring a little pop to the lineup. St. Louis also added pitchers Trever Miller and Dennys Reyes, the latter of which posted a 2.23 ERA in 46 1/3 innings last season in Minnesota. Top Prospect: Colby Rasmus, OF Rasmus isn’t just the Cardinals’ top prospect – he’s one of the top prospects in all of baseball. Although St. Louis is expected to go with Chris Duncan as their starting left fielder, Rasmus’ potential is going to force him onto the field in 2009. The 22-year old isn’t expected to produce a high average right away, but he flashes good power and speed, while his defense is above average as well. Rasmus is a stud prospect and could become a household name in the next couple years. Read the rest of this entry » Posted in: MLB Tags: 2009 MLB Preview, 2009 MLB Projections, 2009 MLB Team Previews, Adam Wainwright, Albert Pujols, Chris Carpenter, Chris Duncan, Colby Rasmus, Dennys Reyes, Khalil Greene, Kyle Lohse, MLB Preview 2009, Rick Ankiel, Ryan Ludwick, Skip Schumaker, Todd Wellemeyer, Trever Miller, Troy Glaus
2009 Fantasy Baseball Preview: Shortstops Posted by Anthony Stalter (03/04/2009 @ 8:00 pm) 
All 2009 Fantasy Articles | 2009 Position Rankings Before your 2009 fantasy baseball draft kicks off this year, do yourself a favor and repeat this three or four times to yourself: I will draft a shortstop in the first nine rounds. Not unlike third basemen, the shortstop position is weak this season. After Hanley Ramirez, Jose Reyes and Jimmy Rollins come off the board in the first two rounds, you’re left with roughly eight shortstops that will give you adequate to good production this season. We project those eight shortstops to be selected anywhere between the fifth and ninth round in standard mixed leagues, which is why we suggest nabbing one before the conclusion of the ninth. The good news is that in a 12-team league, you’ll definitely have the opportunity to land one of the big three (Ramirez, Reyes, Rollins) or scoop up one of the eight adequate-to-good shortstops that we’re referring to. The bad news is that shortstops can start flying off the board quickly and if you’re selecting in a snake draft, you could wind up on the wrong end of the spectrum when the run starts. That’s why to be safe, you will draft a shortstop in one of the first nine rounds because you don’t want to be the guy that’s trying to figure out whether or not Edgar Renteria will bounce back now that he’s in the NL again, or having to choose between Orlando Cabrera’s consistent .280 batting average and Khalili Greene’s 25-plus home run potential. (Side note: If you do wind up being that guy come draft day, it might be wise to select two shortstops back to back and hope you catch lightning in a bottle with one of them.) Obviously you still want to be smart on draft day; we’re not advising you to take Derek Jeter in the third because you’re spooked about failing to grab a shortstop before the ninth round. But taking one of the top 11 shortstops a round early might not be a bad idea considering what you’ll be left with later on. Read the rest after the jump...Posted in: Fantasy Baseball, MLB Tags: Alexei Ramirez, Derek Jeter, Edgar Renteria, Elvis Andrus, Hanley Ramirez, J.J. Hardy, Jason Bartlett, Jed Lowrie, Jhonny Peralta, Jimmy Rollins, Jose Reyes, Khalil Greene, Michael Young, Miek Aviles, Miguel Tejada, Orlando Cabrera, Rafael Furcal, Ryan Theriot, Stephen Drew, Troy Tulowitzki, Yunel Escobar
A Chat with St. Louis Cardinals Manager Tony LaRussa Posted by Anthony Stalter (01/15/2009 @ 12:25 am) 
Tony LaRussa is much more than a World Series-winning manager and current skipper of the St. Louis Cardinals. Along with his wife Elaine, Tony is also is the founder of a foundation that reaches out to animals that are very much in need. Tony and Elaine started Animal Rescue Foundation (or ARF) in 1991. The goal of ARF is to find families for adoptable animals before they become euthanized and according to the foundation’s website, the foundation now has a 4-star rating by Charity Navigator, which is America’s largest charity evaluator. Considering only 25 percent of charities reach a 4-star rating, it’s quite an achievement. This Sunday, January 18, Tony will host “Stars to the Rescue”, which is an event that benefits ARF and other St. Louis area animal non-profits. “Stars to the Rescue” will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Chaifetz Arena on the campus of St. Louis University and will feature music and entrainment such as country music star Vince Gill, rockers Huey Lewis and The News, Kevin Cronin and Dave Amato from REO Speedwagon, as well as comedians Lewis Black and Kathleen Madigan, and 2008 CMA Horizon Award winner Lady Antebellum. For tickets and general information, please call Metrotix at 314-534-1111, or visit the foundation’s website at www.arf.net. Tony was gracious enough to sit down with us recently to talk about “Stars to the Rescue”, ARF, and whether or not he would ever consider concentrating solely on his charitable work in the wake of Tony Dungy retiring from coaching to work more on his off-field contributions. We also had the opportunity to ask him some baseball questions, including what it meant to add shortstop Khalil Greene this offseason, how the Cards look heading into the new season and what the health status was of Albert Pujols. Read the rest after the jump...Posted in: Interviews, MLB Tags: Albert Pujols, Albert Pujols health, Anthony Stalter, ARF, Barry Zito, CC Sabathia, Chaifetz Arena Event, Chris Carpenter, Chris Perez, Huey Lewis and the News shows, Jason Motte, Kathleen Madigan, Khalil Greene, Lady Antebellum, Lewis Black shows, Nick Swisher, REO Speedwagon shows, Ryan Franklin, St. Louis Cardinals, Stars to the Rescue, Stars to the Rescue Information, Tony La Russa's ARF Information, Tony LaRussa, Tony LaRussa chartiable events, Tony LaRussa Interview, Tony LaRussa interviews, Tony LaRussa on Albert Pujols health, Tony LaRussa Stars to the Rescue Interview, Tony LaRussa's Animal Rescue Foundation, Troy Glaus, Vince Gill shows, Yadier Molina
Hot Stove League: Someone Light the Pilot Posted by Mike Farley (12/06/2008 @ 10:16 am) Seriously, will someone please sign a big free agent already? The MLB Winter Meetings begin on Monday in Vegas, and hopefully the baseball big shots will spend more time signing free agents and making trades than they do gambling. Well, a few things have happened of note this week. The Red Sox signed AL MVP Dustin Pedroia to a new, six-year deal worth $40.5 million. And this for a guy who was making less than $500K per year. But dude has earned every penny…..Javier Vazquez was traded from the White Sox to the Braves for four young (mostly minor league) players, and Ozzie Guillen is probably smiling if he’s reading this….the Padres sent Khalil Greene to St. Louis…..and the Giants signed infielder Edgar Renteria to a two-year, $18.5 million deal and are also talking about making CC Sabathia an offer and even trading for Florida third baseman Jorge Cantu. Yeah, the Giants are not messing around. And Derek Lowe has been offered two deals, one by the Phillies and another by a mystery team Okay, so I guess some things are happening, but not the big ones we all were waiting for, at least not yet. The Yankees are set to meet with CC Sabathia this weekend to discuss their ridiculously large offer made recently. Here are a few other rumors and possible deals that could happen next week…. The Mets are finally prepared to offer deals to Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes, but it remains to be seen if both offers will happen simultaneously. Speaking of Fuentes, he, along with the likes of Sabathia and Cubs closer Kerry Wood have all been offered salary arbitration, which means anyone signing them will have to give the team that loses them two draft picks in 2009. Fuentes is also being rumored to re-signing with Colorado. And the Mets are rumored to be talking to the White Sox about sending prize prospect Fernando Martinez to Chicago for Bobby Jenks and Jermaine Dye. I just don’t see that really happening, do you? Pat Burrell may sign with the Angels if the Angels cannot retain Mark Teixeira. And if Teixeira goes to the Red Sox, which is more than a rumor, the Sox may deal Mike Lowell to make room for Teixeira, who would be the first baseman with Kevin Youkilis moving to third. Jermaine Dye’s name is being mentioned in trade talks (besides the Mets), and the teams being mentioned are Cincinnati, St. Louis, Atlanta and Tampa Bay. Meanwhile, the White Sox are also listening to offers for Jim Thome and Paul Konerko. Yikes….did someone give Sox GM Kenny Williams some dynamite? Randy Johnson is hoping to sign a one-year deal with either Oakland or San Francisco…..the Cubs are thinking about signing Adam Dunn. Those two items didn’t just put you to sleep, did they? Oh, and here’s a sure sign of the economy slowing. Dunn, Pat Burrell and Bobby Abreu are among the names not offered salary arbitration this past week. That means the D-Backs, Phillies, and Yankees, respectively, would rather piss away two draft picks than have to re-sign the player. Say it with me again, Yikes. Hopefully we’ll have lots to report next week! Posted in: Fantasy Baseball, MLB, Rumors & Gossip Tags: Adam Dunn, Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Bobby Abreu, Bobby Jenks, Boston Red Sox, Brian Fuentes, CC Sabathia, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, Derek Lowe, Dustin Pedroia, Edgar Renteria, Fernando Martinez, Florida Marlins, Francisco Rodriguez, free agency, Hot Stove League, Javier Vazquez, Jermaine Dye, Jim Thome, Jorge Cantu, K-Rod, Kenny Williams, Kerry Wood, Kevin Youkilis, Khalil Greene, Las Vegas, Los Angeles Angels, Mark Teixeira, Mike Lowell, MLB, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Oakland A's, Oakland Athletics, Pat Burrell, Paul Konerko, Philadelphia Phillies, Randy Johnson, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, winter meetings
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