Talkin' Baseball with Mary Wednesday, March 10

MLB WEBSITE BY MARY CLAUSEN

25 DAYS  UNTIL CARDINALS' OPENING DAY - GAME ON - GETTING CLOSER!

CARDS VS TWINS, 3/9/10 - We lost 7-6 to the Minnesota Twins Tuesday in Grapefruit League play.  Adam Wainwright was the starter.  He pitched two innings and gave up four runs.  Ouch!  Wainwright wasn't at all happy about this.  He said, "I hate to give up leads, even in Spring Training."

We go back to Jupiter to play the Nats on Wednesday. Brad Penny get start that game.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS - PUJOLS MINOR BACK STIFFNESS
3/9/10.  Albert Pujols' stiffness in his lower back continues.  He missed the away game Monday against the Red Sox (he stayed in Jupiter to go to a chiropractor).  Manager, Tony LaRussa, said that he will be out of the lineup until at least Wednesday. Don't worry Card fans.  We hear Albert's back gives him trouble quite a bit. He's always putting heat on it, so this is not really something new.

3/10.  Albert is back in the lineup for the game on Wednesday.  He will bat is the #3 spot as the designated hitter. Yea!

FLORIDA RAYS (NOT DEVIL) - SIGN BLALOCK
3/9/10.  The Rays signed first baseman, Hank Blalock, to a Minor League contract Monday.  He will make $925,000 plus performance incentives.  Stories say that he might be part of a left-handed platoon for the DH with Pat Burrell. 

ATLANTA BRAVES - JAIR JURRJENS TO MAKE SPRING DEBUT
 3/9/10. Braves' pitcher, Jair Jurrjens, is set to make his spring debut at their game on Thursday.  Jurrjens had some shoulder inflammation and had a MRI for it in mid-February.  He's feeling good now and is ready to make his debut.  If all goes well, they think he will be ready to pitch when the season opens.

NEW YORK YANKEES - ALEX RODRIGUEZ A BAD BOY?
9/10.  The Toronto-based physician, Anthony Galea, who was arrested for selling steroids said that he treated Rodriguez for his hip last year.  The Yankees could suspend him for this because they did not give their approval for this treatment.  His surgeon, Marc J. Phillipon, says that he did not give approval for this anti-inflammatory treatment either. Uh Oh!