Joe knows Stan

Did you know that Stan Musial NEVER got threw out of a game!? I didn't. Joe Posnanski, one of the great sportswriters in America, blogs on Stan the Man.

Musial not in New York

Although I'm sure you all noticed and thought that same thing, I haven't seen this discussed very much so I just wanted to throw it out there... When watching all of the Hall-of-Famers lining up for introductions for the 2008 All-Star game in NYC, I couldn't help but notice that Stan Musial was not there. I'm sure it was because of health reasons but still it just didn't seem right without him there. Did anyone else feel this way?

As the players were being introduced, I just keep waiting for the camera to turn to him and when it didn't happen I was disappointed.

Hopefully he will be able to take part in the festivities for the 2009 ASG.

Looking forward to the 2009 All Star Game

In 2009 the MLB All Star Game will take place in the America's best baseball city, St. Louis. The hometeam Cardinals have won more World Series championships (10) than any other team in baseball's senior circuit. The city of St. Louis will make a great host for the ASG, however, the site around Busch Stadium may not be ideal. With delay after delay halting construction of Ballpark Village for over two years now, the area will be no more than an idea when the baseball world focuses upon the Gateway City in July 2009. What a shame. Although we all probably knew this already, Bill DeWitt Jr. confirms that Ballpark Village will not be ready in his interview with the Post-Dispatch:

P-D: You've taken some jabs about the halting progress of Ballpark Village. To some extent things have been out of your control. But to what degree can you offer assurances that it's going to happen?

BDJ: I feel confident that the Village will get developed and, from this point forward, in a more timely manner. The market's changed. There will be less residential and more office. We spent a lot of time on the Centene Project, which we thought if it could work would be a great addition to the Village and downtown. But it didn't work. It set us back a number of months. Now you look out there with the dirt and the water…— we need to get started with construction.

P-D: The club has offered assurances before on behalf of itself and the developer. Why should the public be convinced now?

BDJ: I think we have more certainty now because we know Centene won't be here and we were able to acquire the Bowling Hall of Fame site. That also had its own set of complications. If they hadn't chosen to move, we would have loved for them to be in Village. But in that location on that parcel, it wasn't ideal. That would have complicated things to move them to another part of the Village. We could have done it. But I think the way it worked out is probably a cleaner way for us to have certainty for that site and simplify the project.

P-D: Will the project be recognizable compared to its original rendering?

BDJ: I think it will be recognizable from the original vision. I don't think residential will be Phase I. It will be a second phase. I hope the residential market comes back to where it's viable.

P-D: Projections no longer call for completion of the project before the team hosts the All-Star Game next July. What can be done by then?

BDJ: The site will be a lot nicer for the All-Star Game. We'll definitely need to pave and set up an area for various All-Star activities. We were hoping to have it open for the All-Star Game but as of now that's not going to happen.P-D: When can the city expect to see something coming out of the ground?

BDJ: I think toward the end of the year, the first of next year. I think you'll see some cosmetic things before then. But in terms of real construction ... nothing until later.

P-D: So, for you, is there still a question of whether Ballpark Village will be built?

BDJ: The Village will be built. It's just a matter of when it will be completed.

Ankiel joins Babe Ruth in elite duo

By hitting his 20th homer of the season last night Rick Ankiel joined Babe Ruth as the only major league players to hit 20 HRs in a season and make 50 pitching appearances in their career.

Mulder leaves game after 16 pitches

Talk about bad luck... Mark Mulder left the game after only 16 pitches, complaining of shoulder soreness. Who is fixing this guy's shoulder MacGyver!? ... is he held together by paper clips and duct tape!?

Don't forget about the Cardinals

A poll on MLB.com today asks "With the addition of CC (Sabathia), will the Brewers catch the Cubs?" What!? The Cardinals are the second place team in the NL Central right now and they've been there pretty much all season. The Cardinals will be getting their ace(s) back soon in Wainwright (and maybe Carpenter) so there is no reason to think St. Louis will drop in the standings just because of the Brewers new acquisition. No respect. I don't usually get worked up about things like this but all this Brewers talk over the past few days has turned be sour. It's the Cards who are chasing the Cubs for the division title, not the Brewers!

Introducing the St. Louis Cardinals' 2008 All-Stars

Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick will represent the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2008 All-Star Game. Both are VERY deserving of this honor.

Nothing says America like Cubs vs. Cardinals on July 4

Middle America is the setting for the meeting for one of the best and oldest rivalries in the history of baseball. Today, July 4th, the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs will begin a battle for division supremacy. The Cubs come into Busch Stadium for a three-game series with a lead of 2.5 games. Do the math. With a sweep, the Cardinals can come away with the lead in the NL Central division - a spot that no one, including myself, thought that they would be before the 2008 season began - all thanks to Tony La Russa and a group of players with a lot of heart.

Tonight's pitching matchup: Looper (9-5) vs. Zambrano (8-3). Looper is coming off a bad start and Zambrano is coming off the DL. Who knows what to expect. Hopefully, Zambrano will be all hyped-up, wild, and self-destruct.

Saturday it's Lohse (10-2) vs. Lilly (9-5) and Sunday features Wellemeyer (7-3) vs. Marshall (0-2).