Cardinal legend Nick Punto retires - A Hunt and Peck

On Thursday it was announced that Cardinal legend Nick Punto is retiring from baseball after fourteen years in the league. During that time he played for six teams, known for his versatility on the diamond and his proclivity for ripping uniforms, earning him the affectionate moniker "The Shredder". Though he only spent one season with the Cardinals, it was a dandy of a season, having a consistent presence down the stretch for el Birdos. But more memorable than his play on the field were a few little shredding incidents off it...

May you have a great retirement, Shredder!

Red Sox legend Nick Punto is retiring after 14-year career | Over the Monster

what else is going on in baseball...

• Pitchers and catchers report for 11 teams | MLB.com
• Important Spring Training dates and matchups | MLB.com
• Get ready for baseball with these beautiful photos of all 24 Spring Training stadiums | MLB.com
• A very early version of MLB Power Rankings. | Sports on Earth
• Get excited, everyone: The 'Bull Durham' musical is officially coming to Broadway | MLB.com
• Pitchers and catchers reporting is a day to celebrate. | Sports on Earth
• Adrian Beltre's remarkable run deserves more attention. | Sports on Earth
• The Giants Are Sneaking Into the Velocity Era | FanGraphs Baseball
• How Badly Would You Hurt a Team for a Week? | FanGraphs Baseball
• Lazarito Armenteros, Arbitrary Coherence, and the Vanity of Amateur Competitive Balance | NEIFI
• 5 spring training stories to watch in the National League | SBNation.com
• Orioles will likely sign Yovani Gallardo and Dexter Fowler | SBNation.com

• @ClaytonKersh22 no you goon, you're left-handed. If you've worked the wrong arm all off season we're in trouble

  — Brandon McCarthy (@BMcCarthy32) February 18, 2016

what the cardinals are up to...

• Martinez easing into spring training schedule : Sports | STL Today
• At 93, Schoendienst is still going to camp : Sports | STL Today
• Cards plan to conserve pitchers' strength : Sports | STL Today

KNOW THINE ENEMY...

the nl central

• Fantasy breakdown of the Cubs and Cardinals | MLB.com

viva el stuff...

• FANPOSTS!
  RBI is a useless stat | Viva El Birdos
• Viva El Birdos Top Prospects 2016 | Viva El Birdos
• Hunt and Peck | Viva El Birdos
• Viva El Birdos Community Projections 2016 | Viva El Birdos

other things...

• BenFred: Cards, Blues step up for STL's MLS hopes : Sports | STL Today
• Section of old Boone Bridge comes tumbling down : Gallery | STL Today
• Blues out playing the Kings on ice and on Twitter | St. Louis Game Time