Constantly disabled Khalil Greene surged back from his DL stint earlier this month and homered in three straight games. Everyone thought the time off may have cured his disorder since the performance was there. Unfortunately, he's not fully recovered from a disorder that most players don't want to admit they have.

Many players through the years have had this problem, such as Zack Greinke, and he's recently overcome a long battle and putting it all together for a stellar season. Greene's replacement on the shelf came as a surprise, but then again, he was playing third, a position the Cardinals just acquired in Mark DeRosa.

Hopefully, Khalil can get back on track which would be great for the Cardinals. He's shown signs of solidity when he had his best season in San Diego. Brendan Ryan has been playing a great shortstop defensively for the Cardinals while swinging a pretty consistent stick. I truly hope Khalil can get his issue treated, and wish him the best. Good luck Khalil.

Just as many suspected, the Cardinals were quietly looking for a constant at third base. It'd been rumored that Garret Atkins was a possibility, as well as Mark DeRosa. Tony LaRussa didn't feel like waiting til the July trading deadline neared as he wanted the trigger pulled on the deal before July could even come around. DeRosa mentioned that he suspected something could've been up since he was held out of the lineup on Saturday night. The Cardinals and fans were happy something was up and welcomed him to a standing ovation on Sunday as soon as he buttoned up his uniform (minus the two top buttons of the uniform he never finds).

St. Louis had been in talks with Cleveland for a short while, wetting their appetites with flame-throwing right hander Chris Perez, 23, who was thought to be first in line for the closers role at the start of this season. Perez had lost weight in the offseason, but struggled early in the season. Cleveland had hopes of competing in the AL Central and getting back to the playoffs as they did in 2007. The Indians acquired DeRosa in the offseason hoping he'd be part of the missing piece they needed to get to the next level, but had failed to meet expectations (31-46, 5th in the AL Central).

The Birds possesed a surplus of right-handed relief pitching and with Jason Motte appearing to pass up Chris Perez in the depth chart, it made Perez expendable. Cleveland needs all the help they can get to bolster a meak pen, which made Chris exciting to them. Afterall, Perez has power stuff, and is very young. The deal will also send a player to be named to cleveland, which will be chosen later in the year from a list of players the Cardinals and Indians agreed upon.

Acquiring DeRosa not only gives the Cardinals an option at third base, but bolsters the versatility of their club. In his first game in St. Louis De Rosa played left, and showed off his glove making a tumbling catch. DeRosa shows that the Cardinals fully believe they are in it to win it this year, and shows commitment to winning. Upon finalizing the deal, General Manager John Mozeliak was asked if this will nullify any other deals the Cardinals could make before the trade deadline. Mozeliak didn't comment.

A battle for first place in the division is in full swing with Milwaukee as the Cardinals and Brewers are deadlocked atop the division. Cincinnati is surprisingly sitting at 2.5 games back. Brad Thompson mans the bump for the Cardinals tonight against San Francisco ace Tim Lincecum. Look for DeRosa to be the impact player the Cardinals are hoping him to be. 

 

Mets ace John Santana looks to take his eight wins sub 3.5 ERA into New York and come away with a victory against the Cardinals. Santana brings electric stuff to the table and is hands down one of the best pitchers-if not the best-in all of baseball. His fastball moves and jumps out of his hand, but it's his change-up that does the real damage. His 97 strikeouts rank him eighth in the majors in whiffs. In his only start against the Cardinals, which came last season, he tossed a six hit gem. The nearly 17 million dollar man yielded only one run (earned) and fanned five in a complete game victory.

Opposing him is St. Louis ace, Chris Carpenter. The 6'6" work horse goes into the new Citi Field with a lifetime 5.09 ERA against the Metropolitans. Following two trying and injury plauged seasons, Carp looks to be back to his old self, the Cy Young type pitcher that you can count on to end a losing skid or wrap up a series. The 2005 Cy Young brings his 5-1 record to New York as well as a sub 1 WHIP which is the best among all starters with at least 50 innings pitched. Through 58-2/3 innings, Carpenter has only put nine men on base via the walk, a great stat to have on your side as a starter, not to mention his 1.53 ERA.

After a trouncing from the potent Met offense, Carpenter looks to stifle the Mets and fly out of New York with a split in the four game series. Following the game tonight in Queens, Cardinals make their way back home to face Minnesota. In the finale of the Twins series, the Redbirds will face my favorite pitcher, Francisco Liriano. I look forward to the matchup.

The I-70 series against the Kansas City Royals has treated the St. Louis hitters extremely well as their bats have heated up immensely. Albert Pujols who is seemingly always hot has continued his All-Star pace with a homer and four RBI's in the series. Recently activated Khalil Greene homered in back-to-back days, a solo shot and a three run bomb. Ryan Ludwick has picked up where he left off with a grand slam on Friday and a follow up two hit game on Saturday. Colby Rasmus enjoyed the first four hit game of his career on Friday which sparked the Cardinals offense early and often.

Although, the offense has been blistering K.C. pitching, the Cardinal starters have thrown the ball extremely well. Brad Thompson gave the Cardinals seven solid innings only giving up four runs on Friday and earned the victory, his second of the season. Veteran Chris Carpenter went deep into eighth-inning, before being relieved by Trever Miller with two outs. Carpenter scattered only three hits over seven and two-third innings, yielding only one run and fanning six Kings. Chris earned the victory to improve to 5-1, with a season ERA of 1.53. After two seasons of injuries the Cardinals are glad to have the ace of their staff back, and it's paying dividends.

Winning last night pushed the Cardinals into the first place slot, where they stand alone. Only a half game separates them and the Brewers, but as the season progresses the more your're in first place, the better chance you have. Although, it's only a matter of time before Chicago finds their groove and explodes offensively, so it's now or never for the Cardinals to separate themselves from the pack.

With powerhouse slugger Troy Glaus on the DL since the start of the 2009 season, the Cardinals have struggled to find any sort of offensive consistency from third base. Early in the season the Birds tried a platoon of Brian Barden, David Freese, and Joe Thurston which didn't have the same impact as a bat like Glaus. Manager Tony LaRussa has yet to name a starter, but it's clear that Thurston has won LaRussa over based on the playing time he's received.

Uncertainty surrounds the return of Glaus, who blasted 27 homers and drove in 99 runs behind Albert Pujols. Glaus provided a protection that was imminent in Albert's production, as well as Ryan Ludwick, but other than Pujols the offense has sputtered. The Cardinals should look to a team who is looking to deal a third-basemen that can hit with some power to protect Fat Albert. Cleveland's Mark DeRosa would be a great fit in St. Louis. DeRosa has a flare for the dramatic and can play multiple positions at a very high level. Not to mention he can rake. If Arizona feels they want to dismantle a little of their roster, Mark Reynolds would also be a nice fit for the Cardinals. He provides a power, the defense is somewhat shaky, but he's young which is an upside. Colorado could provide Garret Atkins as long as they don't have double-digit win streaks anymore. Atkins is a proven power but, is somewhat prone to the strikeout, but plays pretty solid defense and would be an upgrade from the inconsistency the Cardinals are dealing with now.

It's only a matter of time before teams start to give Pujols one hittable pitch a game, if that. With teams not afraid to pitch to any other player in the lineup, the Cardinals desperately need someone to fill the void of "the protector." Hopefully, sooner the team will look to acquire someone sooner rather than later. 

Looking at the numbers of the thought-to-be powerhouse DH David Ortiz, you become startled by a thought that lingers in the depths of every baseball fans mind: Is or was he on steroids? It's terrible that such thoughts have to linger in the backs of our minds, but when information keeps leaking to the public, it reopens the wounds.

Manny Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez headline the new group of players who have been caught for performance enhancer, but won't be the last to be put in the category. The departure of Manny Ramirez looks to have to left David Ortiz hung out to dry, and without any dirty needles to stick in his body.

The season is more than thirty games in, and Ortiz doesn't even have a home run credited to his name.  After launching 54 home runs in 2006, Ortiz has declined every following year, with 35 in 2007, and only 23 in '08. Now, in 2009, he's yet to hit a ball that would make you think for a second, "that ball is gone".

Major League Baseball has cracked down heavily on steroids, especially now that such big names have become public information. The latter part of last year and all of this season so far, it's apparent that David Ortiz is missing the presence of his buddy, Manny Ramirez. Not only does he miss his protection in the lineup, but as well as in the club house where a dirty needle might be where Ortiz is missing him the most.

It seems to me that throughout the whole steroid era, Ortiz has gotten a walk, just like Manny had up until last week. From a guy who was barely seeing the field in Minnesota to a star in Boston? Something just doesn't seem right.

Watch Ortiz for the remainder of the reason, and his name might appear in the tabloids just as fellow teammate Manny Ramirez's did. Drug protection in Boston has departed now that Manny is gone.

The highest rated prospect in the Cardinals organization for the last two years, Colby Rasmus, delivered a clutch RBI double which allowed the Cardinals to fly away Sunday with a victory. Rasmus was joined by Shane Robinson, who collected his first major league hit on a pinch-hit ground rule double in the top of the eighth.  Unfortunately, the ball left the field of play for a ground rule double, otherwise he would've claimed his first major league RBI, and probably a triple with the speed he possesses.

A perfect Ryan Franklin came on in the bottom of the eighth to face the last two batters, which he walked, and struck out. Ryan was looking to close the door and notch his tenth save of the young season, and help the Cardinals avoid a sweep in Cincy. He stuttered in the ninth, giving up two runs, both by means of the long ball. A pinch-hit solo home run for pitcher Micah Owings tied the game at seven a piece. After a long season of blown saves and a shaky bullpen last year, Franklin blew his first save and gave up his first earned run of the season.

The newly acquired Blaine Boyer took the bump in the tenth for two thirds of an inning, and Chris Perez was brought in for the final out. Perez, who was thought to be the closer when the season opened, earned his first save, and has looked solid after a rough start to his 2009 campaign.

St. Louis currently is holding down the fort atop the NL Central (20-12) with a two game lead on Milwaukee. If the bullpen can prove to be solid, the run support will be there, and with the possibility of a healthy Carpenter to go along side Wainwright, Lohse, Wellemeyer, and Pineiro, the Cardinals have some muscle to flex in the always surprising NL Central. 

Just a handful of days before Spring Training was getting ready to start, the Cardinals made a somewhat surprising transaction: releasing second-basemen Adam Kennedy. It was clear that Kennedy wasn't happy with his playing time last year, asking to be traded later in the season, which didn't happen.

The reason this comes as such a surprise is the Cardinals somewhat committed to Kennedy earlier this offseason, after losing utility men Felipe Lopez and Aaron Miles. Up until a few days ago Kennedy, and most Cardinal fans were under the impression he was going to receive the vast majority of the time at second base. Manager Tony LaRussa made it clear within the past week the job would be up for grabs, thus, displeasing Kennedy somewhat I'm sure. With word that Skip Schumaker possibly getting some time at second this spring, a few of us chuckled, but it was all serious within the organization.

General Manager John Mozeliak said today, "we've exhausted all trade possibilities for Adam." It seems as if all along the Cardinals were intending on finding a team to deal Kennedy to before Spring Training neared, but had no luck. Unfortunately, for St. Louis, they will have to eat the remainder of Kennedy's salary.

As LaRussa said just a few days prior, the job is definitely up in the air, and will have plenty of competition to see who will claim the starting role. Possible candidates are Brendan Ryan, Brian Barden, Spring Training invitee Joe Thurston, and the longest shot, Skip Schumaker. Needless to say this Spring will need to answer some questions the Cardinals have in who will make the opening day roster, and lock up starting roles.

With the recent signing of record-holder Francisco Rodriguez, and the trade for flame-thrower J.J. Putz, the pool for closers is closing rather quickly for the hopes of the St. Louis Cardinals. The New York Mets have assessed their bleak bullpen issues from last year by adding the single season saves leader, and another reliever who has closing experience in Seattle. The Indians also included themselves in the field in signing former Cubs closer, Kerry Wood. All of this movement has shown Cardinals GM John Mozeliak he needs to act fast to acquire a stopper since they're flying off the market by the day.

Manager Tony LaRussa told reporters Brian Fuentes is the "top priority" for the Cardinals now that the pool is shrinking. Baseballs Winter Meetsings are on their last day of action in Las Vegas, with the Cardinals looking to add Fuentes, as they've specifically met with Fuentes and both sides have expressed mutal interest. Mozeliak hasn't specifically stated that Fuentes is the key person of interest for the Cardinals, but with LaRussa's statements, that the left-handed closer from Colorado is the guy the Cardinals will pursue the most in the remaining hours of the Winter Meetings.

Although, if Fuentes doesn't decided to ink his name on a contract with St. Louis, they have a few backup plans. Matt Capps, a young reliever from Pittsburgh is an interesting name that the Cardinals have swirled. Capps is young, and has a few more years on his contract which allows team to not pay him much money at all. Jose Valverde has been rumored around the Cardinals, as well as Jon Rauch. The only downfall to Rauch is that he's been used over 240 times since the start of the 2006 season.

LaRussa has made it compeltely clear the returning members of the Cardinal bullpen will not be the people who close games this season. That having been said, you can look for a new ninth-inning stopper in St. Louis.  

Just when it looked as if the Cardinals were going to lose out on veteran pitcher Trever Miller, the Cardinals swooped in and finalized a deal. General Manager John Mozeliak had been working heavily on acquiring Miller, but it felt like the deal would never get done. Miller came to St. Louis for a physical, leading everyone to believe the deal was all but signed. Unfortunately, Miller left St. Louis that same day, only to not have had his name inked on a St. Louis contract. The left-handed specialist closed the deal with the Birds on Wednesday, leaving most of the St. Louis fans and management very happy.

Details on the contract would allow Miller to earn up to $2 million for one year of work if he reaches all of the incentives in which the Cardinals have included in the deal. Specifics have not been released on the exact incentives that Miller would have to reach to obtain his full $2 million.

Not long after the deal was completed with signing Trever Miller, the Cardinals wasted little time in zoning in on another essential need for this off-season, middle-infield help. With the Cardinals not re-signing Cesar Isturiz, they needed some help at second-base or shortstop, in which they found in the form of trading for Padres shortstop, Khalil Greene. It is unclear what exactly the Cardinals have to give up for Greene, but sources say two pitchers are what he's being traded for. Those two pitchers are likely to be younger pitchers who haven't reached the big league level thus far.

Greene, who was a highly touted prospect to come up in the Padres system has never really lived up to all the hype he received as a young player, but is still and upgrade over Isturiz. Injuries have been plaguing Greene throughout his short career, but shows signs of solidity when healthy. Greene possess a strong throwing arm while swinging a pretty decent stick at the plate, and will definitely bring some energy to the 2009 club.

Two essential needs down for the Cardinals, but there are still a few to go for Mozeliak and his staff. St. Louis needs to put their sights on a second basemen as well as another starter, or left-handed reliever. With the moves the Cardinals have made thus far, it would leave them with approximately $10-15 million to fill their remaining holes.

Look for St. Louis to stay decently active and move in on possible targets such as Felipe Lopez and Mark Grudzielanek for second base, Arthur Rhodes as another reliever, and other starters free on the market.