Baseball notebook

ASSOCIATED PRESS02/20/2010

Tigers make offer to Damon

Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski says he has made a contract offer to free agent outfielder Johnny Damon.

Damon, 36, hit .286 with 24 homers for the New York Yankees last season. He probably would bat leadoff for the Tigers, filling the void left when Detroit dealt Curtis Granderson to the Yankees.

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Mike Matheny expands role with St. Louis Cardinals

February 17, 2010 - Cardinals hitting instructor Mark McGwire (left) talks with former teammate and current instructor Mike Matheny (right) by the covered batting cages at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. (Chris Lee/P-D)

BY RICK HUMMELST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH02/19/2010

With one former Cardinals favorite, Mark McGwire, already back in the fold Read the rest of this entry

Tony La Russa ready for another season with St. Louis Cardinals

BY RICK HUMMELST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH02/18/2010

JUPITER, Fla. — The man who has managed more big-league games (4,773) than any man alive, won more games (2,552) than any man alive — and lost more games than any man alive (2,217, four ties) — flew all night from San Jose, Calif., to Atlanta to West Palm Beach, Fla., Read the rest of this entry

Mather trying to get back on Cards’ radar

BY RICK HUMMELST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH02/17/2010

JUPITER, Fla. — Spring training statistics can provide a distorted version of a baseball player’s readiness for prime time, especially that of a young player, and gaudy numbers often aren’t replicated during the regular season.

For instance, excluding Ryan Ludwick, who was tied for second with 18 Read the rest of this entry

Mark McGwire gets set for new role with St. Louis Cardinals

BY DERRICK GOOLDST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH02/16/2010

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. — A few days after the announcement that he would leave his private practice to become the Cardinals hitting coach, Mark McGwire invited longtime pupil Skip Schumaker and new charge Brendan Ryan to his house for pizza and a World Series game.

That night, McGwire Read the rest of this entry

Garcia makes his pitch for spot in St. Louis Cardinals’ rotation

Relief pitcher Jaime Garcia #64 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws against the Philadelphia Phillies at Busch Stadium August 3, 2008 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

BY DERRICK GOOLD dgoold@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-828502/15/2010

JUPITER, Fla. — With plenty of time on his hands, Cardinals pitching prospect Read the rest of this entry

Adam Wainwright still a bit miffed over Cy Young outcome

BY JOE STRAUSSST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH02/13/2010

JUPITER, FLA. — A small animal’s act of sabotage delayed Adam Wainwright’s arrival to Cardinals camp this week, three months after a not-so-small slight put a damper on a breakout season.

Wainwright handled one with humor. He’ll handle the other with perspective.

Last season’s NL leader Read the rest of this entry

St. Louis Cardinals spring training preview

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa (Gene J. Puskar/AP)

BY JOE STRAUSSST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH02/14/2010

JUPITER, Fla. — The 2010 Cardinals boast the winningest manager of the last 60 years in addition to the returning core of a team that steamrolled through last August to reach 91 wins and an unexpected division title.

Rather than recline, they Read the rest of this entry

St. Louis Cardinals’ gear goes truckin’ to Florida

February 11, 2010 - Terry Moll, Cardinals’ field crew operator pushes a cart full of the team’s gear at Busch Stadium to be loaded onto the United Vans and taken to Jupiter, Fla., for the start of spring training. (Emily Rasinski/P-D)

By Derrick GooldST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH02/12/2010

Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter came to his workout at Busch Stadium Read the rest of this entry

Cardinals shortstop Brendan Ryan has surgery on wrist

Cardinals shortstop Brendan Ryan handles this ground ball by the Nationals Adam Dunn in the fourth inning Sunday at Busch Stadium where the Cardinals won 2-1. (J.B. Forbes/P-D)

BY JOE STRAUSS jstrauss@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-837102/11/2010

JUPITER, FLA. — It doesn’t happen every spring. It only seems that way.

Shortstop Brendan Ryan Read the rest of this entry