--For the eighth year in a row -- he has played only eight seasons -- 1B Albert Pujols was selected the St. Louis Baseball Man of the Year by the local baseball writers. Pujols also received the 2008 National League Most Valuable Player award.
Pujols said Jan. 19 that he had fully recovered from the nerve transposition surgery he had on his right elbow in October. He played all of last season with a sore elbow. --Manager Tony La Russa, talking about OF Chris Duncan, whose 2008 season was ended in July by a herniated disk in his neck that required surgery: "If he's healthy, this a legitimate, rise-to-the-occasion, impact bat with A-plus competitiveness and toughness."
--OFs Chris Duncan, Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick and RHPs Todd Wellemeyer and Brad Thompson all filed for salary arbitration. Wellemeyer ($4.05 million), Duncan ($825,000) and Thompson ($650,000) subsequently settled their cases by agreeing to a one-year deals.
--RHP Kyle McClellan, who had 30 "holds" last year, will be conditioned this offseason to be a starter, although he may remain in the bullpen if the club adds a starter.
--RHP Chris Carpenter, winless the last two seasons as he's battled various arm problems, has begun playing catch and plans to begin throwing off a mound on Feb. 1.
BY THE NUMBERS: 42,382 -- Average attendance for the Cardinals last year. That ranked behind only the New York Yankees, New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "This year, we have a strong core of players, we've added where we had needs, and there are still things we'd like to do. I feel we have the right players. ... I think it's also clear what our direction is." -- GM John Mozeliak, on the present and immediate future of the club.
