The Face of the St. Louis Cardinals

During today’s Hot Stove broadcast on the MLB Network, the Face of the St. Louis Cardinals was announced. Yadier Molina was voted by the fans.
May 8, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina in the dugout during game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Lauren Shehadi of MLB Network noted that there were more votes for the Cardinals than there were for any other franchise. Here’s how the vote went down:
Yadier Molina 74%
David Freese 8%
Chris Carpenter 4%
Albert Pujols 3%
Stan Musial 3%
Adam Wainright 2%

Prior to that, Matt Vasgerian and Harold Reynolds spoke on the phone to Lance Berkman. Some notes from that phone call:
* Berkman feels that the Houston Astros chapter of his life is closed but there is intrigue to possible returning there. One factor that complicates the decision is that there is nobody left from when he was there.
* Berkman feels that they are a few years away from being serious contenders which further complicates his plans.
* As for Berkman’s knee, everything is on schedule as far as what his regular offseason schedule would have been had he signed with a team by now.
* Berkman was asked if money would change his plans for next year. Money could possible change his decision if it comes down to it but Berkman believes that his health issues last season would limit those offers.
* Berkman feels that he does have some good years of playing left but he still needs to get to the point where he is fully healthy. He added that he doesn’t think he’s reached the point where he is starting to decline.
* He wants to get into college coaching when he retires. He was a volunteer assistant coach at Rice this fall. He would need to finish his degree at Rice first.

Following the announcement of the Face of the Cardinals, Ozzie Smith was on the phone. It was a longer conversation than the call with Berkman.
* As for the voting, the Wizard believes that the fans got it right. Had Pujols stayed, he would have been voted as the face. Smith believes that that Yadier’s offense has come around and probably helped in the voting.
* On Playing in St. Louis, he says the fans have a real appreciation for the effort that players give every day and that the Cardinal Way is about putting forth the best effort every day.
* About this year’s Hall of Fame ballot, Smith says it’s going to be testy with the writers this year.
* Smith says it’s a great feeling to be in the Hall of Fame because it means that people respect you for what you were able to do as a player.