Viva El Birdos: FanShots

With Tim McCarver apparently about to watch the Yankees win another Series, here's a shot of him...

2009-11-05T04:04:43Z

With Tim McCarver apparently about to watch the Yankees win another Series, here's a shot of him celebrating the Cards' clinching the 1964 pennant with Barney Schultz.

Brad Thompson Released

2009-11-04T19:33:29Z

Brad Thompson Released

I know I'm posting this at the risk of being nexdef'd again. I haven't read any post comments yet today.

So this morning, I had a very serious problem. My 6 popped off of my keyboard. This led me pull up...

2009-11-04T14:33:07Z

So this morning, I had a very serious problem. My 6 popped off of my keyboard. This led me pull up youtube and search for my favorite Moblie On the Run commerical...but I stumbled upon this gem...

Hoffpauir claimed by Blue Jays

2009-11-04T02:36:03Z

Hoffpauir claimed by Blue Jays

"On Tuesday, St. Louis Cardinals second base prospect Jarrett Hoffpauir became a member of the Toronto Blue Jays when he was claimed off waivers. The Cardinals were attempting to remove the 26-year-old from their 40-man roster."

Too bad. I liked Hoffy.

Now she isn't wearing any team specific gear... but only one ball park comes to mind with a chain...

2009-11-02T22:42:54Z

Now she isn't wearing any team specific gear... but only one ball park comes to mind with a chain at the top of the wall :)

Goddamnit.

2009-11-02T13:51:13Z

Goddamnit.

Rube Waddell, St. Louis Browns

2009-10-31T19:02:33Z

Rube Waddell, St. Louis Browns

And that was just 1903. In one game against the Athletics, Waddell was at bat in the eighth inning with two out and a tying run on second. The catcher threw to second, trying to pick off the runner, but overthrew, and the ball went into the outfield. The runner took off for home. As he rounded third, the center fielder hurled the ball in to home plate …

… and Waddell, to everyone’s horror, knocked it out of the park.

He was declared out for interference. "They’d been feeding me curves all afternoon," he told a flabbergasted Connie Mack, "and this was the first straight ball I’d looked at!"

From futilitycloset.com

"The fans know and the Cardinals know that I want to be a Cardinal for my whole career," Pujols...

2009-10-31T00:41:02Z

"The fans know and the Cardinals know that I want to be a Cardinal for my whole career," Pujols told WXOS-FM on Thursday. "I love this city. The way that this city has embraced me and my family."

Well this is good news

Simply and dramatically put, Ankiel is the Cardinals’ Hamlet. He was a tortured soul capable of s...

2009-10-29T23:24:47Z

Simply and dramatically put, Ankiel is the Cardinals’ Hamlet. He was a tortured soul capable of sheer brilliance. A compelling and riveting story that didn’t end well. And, ultimately, a personality most will wish they could have known — or rather, understood — better. Ankiel’s career as a Cardinal is one of the most remarkable reinventions in baseball, but it is also a story of talent unrealized. That is his legacy. Not just the roman-candle pitching talent who burned bright before burning out. Not just the outfielder. Not just the HGH admission, or the playoff wild pitches or even the seven-RBI magic on Sept. 6, 2007. How he’ll be remembered as a Cardinal is all of that, all that he was, but also all he didn’t become.

The legacy of Rick Ankiel in St. Louis, STL P-D

This is exactly why I like Derrick Goold. This sums up my feelings about Rick Ankiel perfectly. This installment of The Watercooler also includes some interesting insights by Kevin Wheeler and a surprising lack of compassion from Bernie. Of course, Strauss had to get in a parting shot because waaaaahh, nobody wanted to talk to him.

Pujols wins MLBPA NL Outstanding Player on Mike and Mike

2009-10-29T18:38:03Z

Pujols wins MLBPA NL Outstanding Player on Mike and Mike

Audio of Albert Pujols accepting his award. The maching talks some shop re: trying to hit Cliff Lee's pitching. Props to fellow offensive performers, our own badass starters, and Tony La Russa and Mark McGwire.

Wainwright Wins MLBPA NL Outstanding Pitcher honor on Mike and Mike

2009-10-28T16:13:03Z

Wainwright Wins MLBPA NL Outstanding Pitcher honor on Mike and Mike

Audio of the padawan Wainwright as he confirms that he is badass, and that Carpenter did sit him down and fix his mechanics. And oh, Dave Duncan helped his mental game. Props to Jo-El.

Also has the AL Award (Zack Greinke).

Yesterday: http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2009/10/27/1103609/carpenter-wins-mlbpa-nl-comeback

Mets Fans Have Choice of Two Evils in World Series

2009-10-28T13:20:18Z

Mets Fans Have Choice of Two Evils in World Series

The lead:

In recent years Mets fans could measure baseball seasons by degrees of suffering. Since a called third strike dashed championship hopes in 2006, the team has been defined by fall flameouts, until this year, when there was an early summer flameout.

UCB Radio Hour Special Edition 10/26/2009 - UCB Host on Blog Talk Radio

2009-10-28T12:51:45Z

UCB Radio Hour Special Edition 10/26/2009 - UCB Host on Blog Talk Radio

In case you missed it, team president Bill DeWitt III sat down and talked about a myriad of things with some Cardinal bloggers on Monday.

Carpenter Wins MLBPA NL Comeback honor on Mike and Mike

2009-10-27T21:03:13Z

Carpenter Wins MLBPA NL Comeback honor on Mike and Mike

Audio of Chris Carpenter on Mike and Mike on ESPN. Covers the comeback; the postseason; props to the teammates; Tony La Russa; and Mark McGwire. Also lists his hometown charity.

Next day: http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2009/10/28/1104673/wainwright-wins-mlbpa-nl

Brendan Ryan to work with McGwire in Offseason: Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said...

2009-10-27T17:20:38Z

Brendan Ryan to work with McGwire in Offseason: Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said McGwire is "not a one size fits all" coach.

The big guy gets a new student in a few weeks: Brendan Ryan.

The Cardinals shortstop is going with Schumaker for this winter's workouts. Shortly before Thanksgiving, Schumaker will begin working with McGwire in Orange County, Calif., three days a week.

Ryan will drive in from Los Angeles twice a week for instruction. McGwire's first act as Cardinals hitting coach could be finding Ryan's trigger.

Is it wrong that this makes me excited? As in, waiting to open presents on Christmas morning excited, or I'm back in high school and I have a new crush on somebody excited?

How awesome will Brendan Ryan be next year if he can benefit from this hitting instruction! Wow!!

By the way, I'm working on quad espresso, so my reaction may be somewhat inappropriate, but still...

TLR on Twitter?

2009-10-27T15:06:00Z

TLR on Twitter?

Questions:

1) Is this really Tony La Russa?

2) Did TLR choose the picture for Twitter account? If so, I applaud him.

Further developments on the LaRussa situation, now with sources

2009-10-25T20:05:57Z

Further developments on the LaRussa situation, now with sources

Buster Olney says Hal McRae has definitely been fired, confirms McGwire rumors:

"ESPN's Buster Olney has informed MLBTR, via email, that Tony La Russa has signed a new multi-year contract to return as the Cardinals manager. La Russa's coaching staff will look different though, as the Cards have fired hitting coach Hal McRae. The leading candidate to replace him? According to Olney, it's former Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire."

Cards in on Aroldis Chapman

2009-10-22T19:59:25Z

Cards in on Aroldis Chapman

"The Cardinals have been more aggressive than those clubs, and plan to meet with Chapman next week."

Why Holliday is better than Bay.

2009-10-22T14:56:07Z

Why Holliday is better than Bay.

And why we should be interested in signing neither of them.

Strauss twitter Q on Manny.

2009-10-21T21:18:31Z

Strauss twitter Q on Manny.

Strauss asked if Manny opts out in LA would Cards be interested... Even with his lower numbers in 2d half of season he obviously would be a help to any team in production, we don't really need an outfielder if we sign Holliday back, who I would much rather have..though, we could try and convert Ludwick to 3rd base.. anyways... Even with the production and assuming salary wasn't a big deal...would you want Manny on the Cardinals. I just don't think Manny's personality fits with us. No Grit whatsover and probably a bit of a negative grit factor. And I have always been a fan of grit. and grits for that matter. Anyone agree/disagree.