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The Cardinal Chronicle This Date in St. Louis Cardinals History – Born on This Day: Preacher Roe St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurOn February 26, 1916, Elwin Charles Roe was born in Ash Flat, Arkansas. Baseball would come to know him simply as Preacher Roe, a left-handed craftsman whose career bridged wartime baseball and the postwar golden age of the game.Roe broke into the majors in 1938, but like many players of his generation, his career was interrupted by military service during World War II. When he returned, he resumed his work on the mound with the St. Louis Cardinals, contributing to one of the franchise’s most successful eras.He was part of the 1944 Cardinals club that captured the World Series title in the famed “Streetcar Series” against the Browns. That team was built on depth, discipline, and quiet toughness. Roe fit that mold. He was not a power pitcher who overpowered hitters; instead, he relied on command, movement, and an outstanding curveball. He worked efficiently, trusted his defense, and gave his club a chance to win every time he took the ball.Though Roe would later achieve national acclaim with Brooklyn — including a 20-win season and multiple All-Star selections — his years in St. Louis helped shape his reputation as a dependable, intelligent left-hander. He represented the kind of pitcher who understood that winning ballgames required precision more than bravado.Preacher Roe passed away in 2008 at the age of 92, leaving behind a legacy that stretched across decades of baseball history. For Cardinals fans, his name remains tied to the resilient wartime teams that upheld the standard of excellence in St. Louis.Today, we remember a man born on this date who did his job with skill, steadiness, and the quiet confidence that defined an era.&nbsp; The Cardinal Chronicle Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.

Born on this Day : Preacher Roe

The Cardinal Chronicle In the Spotlight: Tink Hence St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurWhen Oliver Marmol spoke Wednesday morning, his words were measured — but meaningful. Tink Hence will remain on a reliever’s schedule through the end of spring training. One to two innings at a time. Multiple appearances per week. A structured routine designed to build comfort, consistency, and durability.The door is not closed on Hence as a starter. But it certainly feels like the organization is leaning toward another direction — at least for now.Hence has long been viewed as one of the system’s most electric arms. The fastball plays. The secondary pitches flash. When healthy and in rhythm, he looks every bit like a future impact major leaguer. The issue has never been talent. It has been sustainability — managing workload, building durability, and navigating the demands of a full starter’s routine over six months.A bullpen role simplifies that equation.Shorter outings allow his stuff to play at maximum intensity. More frequent appearances create repetition and routine. It also gives the Cardinals a way to manage innings carefully while potentially accelerating his path to St. Louis. In today’s game, high-leverage relief is not a fallback plan — it is often a critical piece of winning baseball.This feels less like a permanent conversion and more like a controlled evaluation. Marmol’s wording matters. “Remain on a reliever’s schedule through the end of spring” is not the same as “He is a reliever.” It gives the club information. It gives Hence structure. And it keeps long-term options intact.From a developmental standpoint, the move makes sense. The Cardinals need dependable bullpen weapons. They also need clarity on where Hence best fits moving forward. A defined spring role helps answer both questions.Development is rarely a straight line. Sometimes the path that looks sideways in March becomes the smartest move by July.For now, watch the usage. Watch the consistency. Watch how he handles pitching multiple times per week. The answers will come from the mound — not the label.The Cardinal Chronicle Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.

Tink Hence to Work out of the Bullen

The Cardinal Chronicle St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurHERRERA SET FOR SPRING DEBUT; URÍAS NEARING RETURNJUPITER, Fla. — The Cardinals will welcome back a key bat today as Iván Herrera is scheduled to make his spring debut as the designated hitter.According to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat, Herrera will be in the lineup Thursday, marking his first game action of the spring. After an offseason of preparation and building toward the 2026 campaign, the organization will ease him in with DH duties before returning him behind the plate.Herrera remains a pivotal piece in the Cardinals’ long-term plans. His offensive upside — particularly his ability to drive the baseball to all fields — gives the lineup another layer of depth as the club continues sorting through its spring roster decisions.In additional good news, Ramón Urías is expected to return to the lineup either Thursday or Friday. His presence will bring added infield stability and veteran at-bats as the Cardinals work through the final stretch of Grapefruit League play.With Opening Day drawing closer, the Cardinals appear to be trending toward full strength. Spring is about timing, rhythm, and readiness — and this week marks another step in that direction. The Cardinal Chronicle Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future

HERRERA SET FOR SPRING DEBUT; URÍAS NEARING RETURN

<h3>The Ninth Inning Isn’t Given — It’s Claimed</h3>There’s something different about the ninth inning.Velocity matters. Spin rate matters. Command matters. But, in the end, the closer’s job is about temperament. The ninth inning belongs to the pitcher who wants it most when the game is on the line.The St. Louis Cardinals appear to have three legitimate candidates to claim that role this season, and it feels less like a formal competition than an audition under pressure.RHP Matt Svanson may have the purest closer profile of the group. Two plus breaking pitches paired with a 97-mile-per-hour fastball is the kind of arsenal that shortens games. More importantly, he carries himself like a ninth-inning arm. There’s a difference between pitching the ninth and owning it. Svanson looks like someone who would rather attack hitters than nibble around them. If the job were handed out on the basis of stuff and demeanor alone, he might already have it.LHP JoJo Romero brings a different case. Coming off his best season, he has earned trust within the bullpen. Left-handed closers are uncommon, which adds to his value, and if the Cardinals see him as a potential midseason trade piece, giving him save opportunities could increase that value. Romero does not overpower the way Svanson can, but he competes and throws with conviction. Managers often lean toward the arm they trust most early in the year, and Romero may be that option.Then there is RHP Riley O’Brien. Big arm. Electric stuff. At times, unpredictable command. He can create traffic and then escape it, evoking memories of former closer Jason Isringhausen, who made the ninth inning feel longer than it was—only to walk off the mound with another save. O’Brien has that same high-wire quality. The question is consistency. Closers can survive a little chaos; they cannot survive constant chaos.This job may not be decided in March. The Cardinals have often allowed bullpen roles to settle themselves over time. Early opportunities will likely be shared, and performance will separate the field.That is how it should be.The ninth inning isn’t assigned in a meeting room. It isn’t given based solely on radar gun readings. It is claimed, one pressure pitch at a time.By May, we may have our answer.By September, we will know who truly owns it.

Cardinals Ninth-Inning Auditions to Heat UP

Game Day Preview Today’s Grapefruit League game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie, Florida, set for a 1:10 PM EST first pitch at Clover Park (Cardinals spring training road game). (Amazin' Avenue)Probable Starters/Pitching: For St. Louis, right-hander Richard Fitts gets the ball for the Cardinals — a live arm making his case for more time in the big league mix. On the Mets’ side, the Grapefruit League starter is right-hander Jonah Tong, another youngster trying to impress in camp. Both clubs often mix and match arms this time of year, but you’ll get a good look at how these right-handers handle early spring hitters. (Amazin' Avenue)Team Context: The Cardinals come into today’s game with a 2–2 look on the spring ledger, aiming to sharpen the blade after dropping a game or two. On offense, early stats show guys like Ryan Weingartner (.500) and Yohel Pozo (2 RBIs) among the early standouts, with some young bats getting valuable work. For the Mets, they’re around 2–1 and riding a small spring streak, with contributors like Matt Rudick (1.000 spring average) and Mike Tauchman doing work at the plate. (Fubo)Mets Notes: New York’s camp has been a mix of regulars and reserve depth battles. Star shortstop Francisco Lindor recently had stitches removed and is on track for Opening Day, though hasn’t seen full impact action yet. The club has been experimenting with different infield looks, especially with Lindor’s status still a bit tentative. Also worth watching in camp: veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel has drawn praise for his presence and performance in live batting practice. (Amazin' Avenue)Cardinals Notes: St. Louis enters spring with some roster intrigue of its own — defensive versatility, youth chasing roles, and returning players balancing rehab timing. Spring has been giving opportunities to those trying to nail down bench and rotation depth roles. (Viva El Birdos)Broadcast &amp; Viewing Info: First pitch is at 1:10 PM ET. The game is available on PIX11 locally and certain radio/stream feeds covering Mets spring action. (Amazin' Avenue)Bottom line: early spring games are about opportunity and rhythm more than records, but both clubs will be looking to find some consistency before heading into the stretch run of Grapefruit League play and final roster decisions.

Cardinals Spring Training Game Day

<h3>Is Lars Nootbaar Really on the Block?</h3>Under new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom, the St. Louis Cardinals are clearly reshaping the roster. Veterans have been moved. The direction feels transitional. That naturally fuels speculation — and now the latest name surfacing is Lars Nootbaar.On the surface, the theory is simple: if you’re not positioned to contend immediately, you move assets to accelerate the rebuild. Nootbaar, entering his age-28 season and earning $5.35 million, could draw interest from contenders seeking left-handed on-base ability.When healthy, he produces. Through five seasons, he owns a .341 career on-base percentage and consistently ranks among the club’s best in plate discipline. He controls at-bats. He works counts. He fits the modern offensive profile.The complication, of course, is health. Nootbaar is recovering from double heel surgery to address chronic Haglund’s deformities and is expected to miss the start of 2026. That matters — both for the Cardinals and for potential trade partners. Clubs rarely pay premium value for a player coming off surgery.Which raises the real question: if you’re moving him, are you selling high — or selling uncertain?At 28 and on a manageable salary, Nootbaar isn’t an aging contract to shed. He’s in his prime window. Players with on-base skill, defensive versatility, and postseason makeup typically fit both competitive timelines — present and future.If a contender overpays, you listen. That’s disciplined baseball. If it’s a move simply to “clean house,” that’s something else entirely.Rebuilds require patience. They also require discernment. Rumors are easy in February.Impact decisions are harder.

Is Lars Nootbaar Really on the Block?

The St. Louis Cardinal Chronicle 

The St. Louis Cardinal Chronicle is dedicated to preserving Cardinals history, covering today’s game, and following the next generation through the minor leagues. Written in the tradition of the old beat writers, it’s baseball with perspective — steady, faithful, and rooted in a lifelong love for the game.