A Penguin in the Orchard

Spring Countdown

Spring is definitely in the air, regardless of what the temperature may indicate.

The Joplin Globe - Online Editions

It doesn’t feel like winter has truly arrived yet, which makes the approach of spring training all the more unlikely.

But the St. Louis Cardinals report to Florida in 23 days.

The Cardinals will begin developing the supporting cast around a solid nucleus of players who have been primarily responsible for the club winning 100 games each of the past two seasons. If St. Louis is going to go beyond merely having the best regular-season record in baseball this summer, some of those relatively unheralded acquisitions must play major roles.

Little more than three weeks …