After losing three straight to start the spring, the Cards got in the win column today. In a home game against the Marlins, St. Louis got good pitching from Kyle McClellan and Rich Hill and clutch hitting from Joe Mather to win 7-4.

It was nice for the Cards to get a win as the team continues to work towards opening day. The best news of the day may have been the performance from the frontrunners for the fifth spot in the rotation. While they are competing for the job, McClellan and Hill joined forces for the win. McClellan was most impressive. In three innings, he struck out four, walked none, and allowed just one hit. He has been solid in the spring thus far, and is making a strong case for the final rotation spot. If McClellan or Hill have a good year in that role, the Cardinals will be tougher than ever — and may boast the best rotation in baseball from top to bottom. Both are working to get better to help the team in whatever role they are needed.

At the plate, Mather was the hero. He smacked a 3-RBI double in the fourth to put the Cards on cruise control. Yadier Molina also had a solid performance, singling twice.

Breathe easy St. Louis, the Cardinals are on the board. The supporting cast is coming together and you can feel the summer heat trying to break free.

-In other news, the Cards made its first cuts of the spring. Those players will head to Minor League camp to get more reps and continue development. Charlie Zink, Sam Freeman, and Tyler Henley were among the 10 players to make the move to the minors.

Albert Pujols is the face of baseball today, much like Kobe Bryant is in the game of basketball.

Sometimes, it’s hard to realize you are witnessing history. It often takes years for it all to sink in. We are prisoners of the moment in sports. This guy is the greatest ever. That team is the best I ever saw. It’s easy to lose perspective on the past and the present. As prisoners of the moment, we get lost in the moment. But the moment is fleeting. It passes us by and it’s hard to grasp what we just saw.

The fans of the Magic and Bird era were mesmerized by the performance. It was Showtime. It was “Beat L.A.” It was Kevin McHale laying out Kurt Rambis in 1984. It was the city slicker vs. kid from French Lick. It was simply magical. We all know that now. But did the crazed fans at the Forum stop and say, “Wow. We’re witnessing something special. This is part of history.” Or did they taunt Bird & Co. and the rest of Boston? I would think the answer is the latter.

The same can be said of Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and the rest of the baseball legends. Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams. Babe Ruth. Everyone knew they were great. But it’s hard to see the historical implications when you see them everyday. You start to expect greatness, rather than enjoy it. We all do it.

Kobe doesn’t score 30 and it’s shocking. LeBron doesn’t stuff the stat sheet and it’s the leading debate on ESPN all day. Peyton throws an interception and all of the sudden he’s a choke artist.

The moment is a powerful thing. It is also a dangerous thing. If we don’t stop to enjoy the greatness once in a while, we’re going to miss it. Sure, there will be documentaries and stories to remember it all, but there will be a day Kobe doesn’t lace ‘em up. And then it will hit us: “He was something special.”

Until then, Kobe is still amazing us everyday. He’s playing with a broken finger and still hitting clutch shots. Albert Pujols had front row seats to see Kobe’s latest exploits on the court in Miami last night. He and his son along with some teammates made the trip from training camp to check out Dwayne Wade and Kobe. They didn’t disappoint. Kobe hit a jumper over Wade with three seconds left to send it into overtime. The Heat went on to win the game, thanks largely in part to Wade’s 27 points and 14 assists. Kobe finished with 39. Pujols had a great time. But it’s not the ending that made the night memorable for him.

What Pujols will remember happened long before the game, before the crowds arrived. He watched Kobe work out before the game. He was impressed by the intensity of Bryant’s preparation well before game time. He said Kobe took 300-400 shots during his workout. It was quite a sight for baseball’s best. While he was mesmerized by basketball’s best, he should realize many leave with the same sentiments after watching No. 5 take batting practice. It’s quite a show. Yet he heaped praise on the leader of the defending champions.

Pujols was also impressed by Bryant as a person. Kobe took the time to sit and talk with Pujols for an extended conversation. They talked about success and preparation – topics that they are both experts on. Albert said they plan to keep in touch. Maybe Kobe will turn up at a Cardinals game this season, who knows.

The meeting was a reminder that we are in a special era of athletes. Kobe and Albert are widely regarded as the best in their sport. Bryant is among the best ever, just under Jordan and some others. But he still has time to make a stronger case at the age of 31. Pujols is on track to be the best ever statistically. Add Roger Federer to the list of legends at work. He has a record 16 Grand Slams and has plenty of gas left in the tank. Many, including John McEnroe, recognize Federer as the greatest tennis player of all-time. Peyton Manning was touted as the greatest quarterback in history all season until his blunder in the Super Bowl. Still, he is a one-of-a-kind player that prepares in the same way Bryant, Pujols, and Federer do. And yes, Tiger Woods is in the pantheon of today’s athletes/future legends. While his recent actions have tainted his image, no one is better on the golf course. We will witness history when he breaks Nicklaus’ record. We just don’t know when.

The Mount Rushmore of today’s era could easily one day be the Mount Rushmore of all-time. They all have work to do, but they are all within striking distance of the so-called greatest in their sports. Only time will tell. It is time that we all must enjoy. This intersection of greatness may never happen again.

So, Cards fans, remember: Albert won’t be around forever, enjoy it while it lasts.

Brad Penny has plenty to work on before the season begins.

The New York Mets beat the Cardinals again today in Jupiter by a score of 7-3. St. Louis couldn’t put it together against the Mets pitching, specifically Fernando Nieve and Nelson Figueroa. The two combined to give up one run in seven innings. On the flip side, Brad Penny had a rough time in his spring debut. He finished his day with a line of two innings, six hits, and three runs.

A positive note for the Cards was the performance out of three big names at the plate. Colby Rasmus had two hits and two RBIs. Matt Holliday singled and walked twice. And Albert Pujols drove in a run on a sac fly. There were some positives to build on as the team searches for its first victory in the Grapefruit League.

Kyle Lohse will head to the mound Saturday to face the Florida Marlins. It will be his start to a season in which he looks to bounce back from a rough 2009.

The Cards are working hard in Jupiter, the numbers are irrelevant at this point.

The Cardinals played its first game yesterday, and it showed. After months away from the diamond, the team struggled to settle in during a 17-11 loss to the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie. The Cards walked 10 batters and made two errors to contribute to the Mets high-scoring attack. David Wright started the fun with a homer in the first to put the Mets up 3-0. After a Ryan Ludwick blast later, the Cards led 6-4. It was a sloppy back-and-forth contest that can be expected in the early days of Spring.

While some of the Mets starters were sprinkled throughout the lineup, the Cards big guns stayed back in Jupiter to work out again. Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday, and Yadier Molina will all make their debuts today in a home game against the Mets, who will send a split-squad. The other half plays the Marlins. Brad Penny gets the nod for the Cards. His counterpart will be Fernando Nieve.

Lineups for today’s game:

Mets: CF Gary Matthews, Jr.; 2B Alex Cora; RF Jeff Francouer; 1B Mike Jacobs; 3B Fernando Tatis; LF Fernando Martinez; C Omir Santos; SS Ruben Tejada; DH Shawn Riggins.

Cardinals: 2B Julio Lugo; CF Colby Rasmus; 1B Albert Pujols; LF Matt Holliday; RF Ryan Ludwick; C Yadier Molina; 3B David Freese; DH Joe Mather; SS Tyler Greene

Remember that this is only Spring Training. It is about getting back into the swing of things for the players and preparing for the real season. The scorecard tells little to nothing about the team’s performance and progress heading into the summer.

Can Allen Craig trade in his Rebirds gear for Cards? We will find out over the next few weeks in the Grapefruit League.

Spring Training games are starting up. The Yankees took on the Pirates this afternoon, another sign that baseball season is just around the corner. Even up here in Syracuse, where a foot of snow dropped last week, it’s starting to feel like spring — I only had to wear a sweatshirt around campus today. The fresh spring smell is an exciting feeling every year. It is a feeling that is intertwined with the start of the baseball season, which promises the sunny summer days. Right now, teams are preparing to make sure those summer days are enjoyable and not exhausting.

The Cardinals preparation begins tomorrow in its first exhibition against the Mets in Port St. Lucie. The team has been working out in Jupiter, and mixing in live batting practices to work both the pitchers and hitters. But an organized game brings another level of excitement and intensity to the weeks leading up to opening day. While the big stars like Pujols, Holliday, Wainwright, and Carpenter won’t make the trip, these exhibitions hold great importance for the team we see in July. The stars are set.

But the spark off the bench is not. And that spark is just important to a club’s success as the superstar. The MLB season is grueling. Baseball is tough, slumps are inevitable. When Holliday hits a wall for a week, who will pick up the slack and keep the Redbird machine rolling?

Questions like these will be answered starting tomorrow. Joe Mather, Allen Craig, and Tyler Greene are among the group traveling Thursday that will have the opportunity to make an impression on the coaching staff. All three have shown flashes of success during their careers, but need to show more to earn an everyday spot on the roster.

Mather spent 54 games with the big league club last year and was a valuable contributor. He is versatile, which is key for the Cardinals bench this year. Felipe Lopez signed with the Cards largely because of his versatility.

Allen Craig is a different option, but perhaps more intriguing. Craig has a big bat that may get him a spot on the team. The 25-year-old has hit over .300 for much of his minor league career. He also packs a punch, hitting 26 home runs in Triple-A Memphis in 2009. Defensively, he lacks a true position, but his power off the bench could make him a great pinch hitter in the Greg Dobbs mold.

Finally, Tyler Greene could also become a familiar face in St. Louis. The young shortstop was with St. Louis for 48 games in 2009, making cameos for his defensive abilities. With Brendan Ryan’s health in doubt after wrist surgery, he could fill in at shortstop for a few weeks. Greene has also worked hard to improve at the plate this season. Other candidates include Lopez and Julio Lugo.

The role players that can make such an impact to hold a team together will earn their keep in Jupiter. The recognition will come in St. Louis when they are the hero for a day, because Albert can’t always be the man. The glue guys are sometimes just as fun to watch because they work so hard to get where they are. The fans in St. Louis can certainly appreciate that.